In review and in prospect
One would think that with the enormous investment Filipino parents sink into their kids' education in "the best" schools such as the Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University, that the generation to succeed them would be better equipped not just to merely face life's challenges but to make their mark. As it turns out, there isn't much to see in that space if we are to take stock of today's intellectual landscape. While there is no shortage of coverage on the "activist" "achievements" of Filipino university students and recent grads (by recent, I mean people who graduated over the last ten years), one would be hard pressed to think of anything else in the way of value delivered to society by this generation.
It's possible, a lot of great work does happen in the shadows, away from the limelight and, therefore, the attention of the country's traditional opinion-shapers. Maybe there are truly brilliant Filipinos quietly beavering away at developing the next great digital enterprise or what would become the seminal work that would put the Philippines in the global cultural map. Maybe if we look hard enough beyond or underneath the cliques of “thought leaders” chattering amongst themselves about “human rights”, who the next leader of the Opposition might be, or what political force might coalesce from out of the bickering camps that make up today's “national discourse” we might find insightful minds coming together to think about what might need to be built to set the country up for success in a world increasingly energy insecure, its people on the brink of a face off with intelligent machines, and now finding even fundamental physical truths being trumped by mere social constructs deemed “correct” by edict.
For now, what dominates the conversation fails to inspire the courage to become a leader that could reimagine what is, hopefully just for now, an utterly defeated and discredited Opposition. Perhaps a reinvented Opposition might campaign on the back of something new — not the traditional pandering to victimhood that cost their lot three national elections in a row but more around a thematic grounding on social, cultural, and technological fundamentals that underpin a collective capability to face our real future of new and unpredictable hegemons and new existential threats to our very humanity evolving over a trajectory we have little ability to grasp.
Last two weeks’ blog posts
Rappler exhibits BAD TASTE in offensive and discriminatory Father’s Day greeting
June 18, 2023 by benign0
"The three men too are fathers. They may be of political camps that the editors of Rappler regard as abhorrent. But they are fathers, just the same."
Administration split between Marcos, Duterte camps throw shade on US regional designs vs China
June 18, 2023 by Ramon Ortoll
"Sara is part of the reason why President Bongbong Marcos remains popular. The moment a break in that alliance happens will be the downfall of one because the political repercussions will be serious..."
June 17, 2023 by benign0
"Ressa, in an all-too-familiar effort to have the last word on the matter, rejected the apology over a 10-tweet thread where she called upon her cronies in the industry for backup…"
Disunity cracking the UniTeam: Knives out as players jostle for position
June 14, 2023 by Ramon Ortoll
"The coalition is holding because the powers that be declare that it should be the case; for the time being. But in a banana republic where money and politics or politics and money are interchangeable, the opportunity to grab the top spot isn’t one to be passed on."
Getting the Philippines to Denmark (Part I)
June 14, 2023 by The Unpopular Opinion
"For the Philippines, having a strong state that doesn’t undermine but instead engages the strong civil society is the most important ingredient to lead the country towards Denmark."
Ph Opposition in desperate search for a leader as failed presidential candidate Leni Robredo flags
June 12, 2023 by Ramon Ortoll
"Tulfo is a masa idol and while he doesn’t have intellectual depth either, his common sense approach to national issues makes it easy for the D and E demographic to identify with him. However, Tulfo isn’t inclined to side with the opposition..."