President Benigno Aquino (PNoy), during his speech at the Euromoney Philippines Investment Forum 2014, was quoted as saying that consistent economic growth over the years has moved the Philippines’ development forward so that its label “Sick Man of Asia” is now just a “distant memory”.
PNoy mentioned the recent investment grade status and increasing economic and financial rankings as proofs that the world economy is recognizing the full potential of the Philippines as an emerging country.
He specifically mentioned a 2013 survey by the Japan External Trade Organization which showed the Philippines as the second most profitable among ASEAN-5 countries, next to Thailand. He said this report is “impressive” considering that the country is at “dead last” in 2010.
Nobody, sure, is going to refute this ‘impressive report’, but one can’t help being quizzical about it.
Sick man of Asia no more? Being a distant memory?
C’mon! Haven’t we heard this before?
It sure sounds nice to hear and/or read statistics on economic growth that purportedly makes us a healthy nation, but have we ever wondered why we never could recover and continue instead to stay in that sickbed?
If it were not for the brand of politics we are used to having and the kind of people involved in corruption in government, who describe themselves as public servants, then we could have been up and about a long time ago, admired and respected as a nation.
Alas, to this day, the country’s situation continues to be a catch-22, a no-win situation, as we continue to be mired in all kinds of scams, where among other things, public officials/lawmakers themselves are being implicated.
Could you believe that?
This is not taking away the credit away from PNoy, for it is because of him and his administration that in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Rankings, the Philippines is now at 59th place or 26 spots higher since he step into office in 2010.
The country has also recorded a marked improvement in the World Bank and International Finance Corporation’s Ease of Doing Business Report after it moved thirty places in a single year.
It is because of PNoy’s leadership that the Philippines is now referred to as “Asia’s Bright Spot,” or the “New Asian Tiger.”
The question now is how could government be able to sustain the economic turn-around and translate it to better quality life for the poor Filipinos and reduce the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by creating more jobs in the country?
This brings us then to another question: Is 6 years short enough for an honest and determined president trusted by the world community?
This is an important question that we all have to ponder as PNoy steps down from the presidency in 2016.
It is rewarding and productive for the ‘sick man of Asia’ to be out of that sickbed for good, but only if we, the electorate, could adopt another set of political play that will ensure putting competent, honest, reliable and qualified people as public servants that will have the concern, interest and welfare of the country and its people foremost in their minds, rather than elect those who will only put this country and people in desperation all over again.
What I am simply saying is that let PNoy’s legacy of love for country and honest governance continue by somebody he endorses or anybody with the same commitment, but please spare this country from the Binays, the Estradas, the Revillas, the Enriles, the Marcoses, and all the rest of the actors and clowns we have in our political circus today.
Quierosaber's Blog 
There is a congressional move to change a “teeny weeny” portion of the Philippine Constitution, in particular, the one about foreign investment, by inserting something like “unless, provide by law”. Anything can happen if that will be allowed. That is how things are happening in the Philippines. One thing follows another if given a chance. What happens now, if because of “providence” Pnoy decides to go on with his leadership because he really wants to make sure that all his projects will materialize, foremost of which is the Mindanao issue with MILF, which is estimated to get ironed out way beyond his term? Add to that the pork barrel and PDAF issues that should be “meticulously” smoothened to prevent kinks, hence, scandals, which is also dragging at a snail’s pace. That is the problem with a catholic country like the Philippines, decisions of the presidents or officials are influenced by the “providence”.
Sometimes we think we already made a long stride only to realize that it was after all a step backward. Pathetic!