Photo source
A certain Internet bigot named Devina DeDiva gained notoriety and quickly drew flak from angry (or butthurt) Filipinos all over the world for bashing newly crowned Miss World Megan Young and describing Filipinos as “maids”, “smelly” and “poor”.
Personally I don’t know if this degenerate woman is a racist or not, but she’s certainly a bigot or a matapobre (someone who looks down on poor people).
Who is this Devina DeDiva and what made her post her hateful comments on Facebook? Was she trolling? Well, I think trolls are the most honest, most emotional types of commenters/bashers in the world wide web. Was she using a fake or dummy account to bash Filipinos on social media?
These were just some of the questions that haunted me while reading the bigot’s Facebook posts.
A few minutes of google search on Devina Dediva, to find out if she really exists or not, turns out a wealth of information on the newly crowned Internet Bigot of 2013.
Philippine Star describes her as “a graduate from an American university”. No additional information about the woman’s nationality, education background or work was given.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer withheld her name and described Devina as a “Singapore-based woman”.
ABS-CBN News said “DeDiva used to attend Manchester University”.
The woman’s LinkedIn account indeed shows she’s based in Singapore and currently working as a “Lab Analyst” at Intertek Testing, a Singapore-based company that provides laboratory testing, outsourcing, consulting, cargo inspection and certification services for global clients.
Her Facebook account says nothing about her ‘basic information’. [UPDATE: Devina’s Facebook account has been deactivated as of 5:57 in the morning, Oct. 2, Manila time].
Her Wayn.com account states: “Hi, my name is Devina DeDiva. I’m 26 year-old Singaporean female, currently in Singapore, Singapore. I have 33 friends around the world.”
Viral photos now circulating online quoted Devina as saying: “Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a joke! I did not know those maids have anything else in them.”
Perhaps she thought contestants from poor countries should be banned from joining international beauty contests. I think she’s not just a bigot; she’s a brain-damaged creature as well. I don’t think she even deserves to be called “bimbo”, because she’s certainly not that attractive. Also, I don’t think she’s got the beauty and the brains to win a local beauty pageant.
Devina DeDiva allegedly deleted this post
Some Filipino netizens responded to Devina’s bigoted comments by creating “hate” pages, blogs and memes. That’s most expected since Filipinos sometimes have a tendency to get butthurt over trivial things.
Here are some of the newly created hate pages dedicated to the Singapore-based bigot:
When her Facebook friend told her, “that’s an extremely rude comment”, DeDiva said: “Ya I know but it’s a fact.”
When someone described her comments as “racist”, she responded: “they are less privileged there.”
That some of Devina’s friends disliked her “extremely rude” and “racist” comments shows us that bigoted and irrational people on this planet are a minority. Real and educated people don’t act stupidly and don’t post stupid and self-destructive comments online.
Devina DeDiva’s post reveals nothing but her real nature and personality. She’s a bigot and she’s not acting rationally. She should seek psychiatric help immediately.
Yet what she posted should serve as a wake up call for us Filipinos.
Observe that the woman attacked Filipinos not because of their skin color (that’s why I can’t call her a racist), but for their poverty and poor economic conditions.
Now I don’t know where this woman came from. All we know is that she’s based in Singapore. But what does this tell us?
She’s lucky she lives and works in Singapore and that she’s one of the million beneficiaries of Lee Kuan Yew’s proper understanding of economics and adoption of America’s openness and free market system. It was Singapore’s openness to trade and economic freedom that brought it to where it is today.
Lee Kuan Yew, the city-state’s founding father, once said: “We are keeping our links with America, with Japan, with Europe. THEY BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE.”
Devina DeDiva should be ashamed for being a social parasite in free market-oriented Singapore, currently the world’s second freest economy, according to the Heritage Foundation.
Singapore did not become an economic tiger in Asia by adopting Devina’s bigoted, ethnocentric mentality; it achieved its current economic success by attracting and embracing people from various cultural groups and countries. This makes her an ‘spiritual parasite’, as she’s totally unaware and clueless of Singapore’s philosophic foundation.
Lee Kuan Yew himself said that Singapore “has to be a place that’s useful [and relevant] to the world.”
Devina DeDiva’s irrational, primitive mindset actually reflects Filipino protectionists’ and ethnocentric leftists’ and politicians’ tribal mentality. Her bigoted post and comments should shame both our tribal (jingoist) politicians and protectionists.
It was Philippines’ protectionism and destructive nationalistic/ethnocentric policies (which were designed to limit foreign investment and totally ban foreign professionals) that made the Philippines a nation of “maids” and “domestic helpers”.
I stated in a previous blog the following: While RP upped the level/degree of its welfare statism and protectionism in the 1980s, many formerly socialist -or ‘socialistic’ – Asian countries (e.g., China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, etc.) opened their economies to foreign investors.
Here’s an excerpt:
Since 1979, China (under the rule of its ‘pragmatic’ leader Deng Xiaoping) betrayed Maoism and embraced an ‘open door’ policy. Of course China retains its socialistic “political structure” (e.g., one-party system, central planning, etc.), but in terms of some of its economic structure and policies it is actually MORE ECONOMICALLY FREE than the Philippines. Foreigners and Filipinos can own up to 100% equity in land and business in China. Also, many Chinese provinces compete for FDI by lowering their tax rates and relaxing their economic policies.
Both Singapore and South Korea also eagerly welcomed foreign investors.
My theory is that RP was considered economically stable from the 1940s to 1980s (stronger peso and lower unemployment) due to the following reasons:
- US was RP’s trading partner. The most defiled and hated ‘parity rights’ by the leftists and political ignoramuses was a actually great idea. Our lawmakers had to adopt that policy because in the first place, they wanted to keep foreigners away from our shore! But parity rights expired with the end of the Laurel-Langley Agreement in 1974, and many land-owning Americans were forced to forego ownership of their lands. The Americans should have done the same thing to non-American Filipino citizens in USA!Technically, Filipinos living in USA TODAY enjoy the same PARITY RIGHTS given to Americans from 1930s to 1974. Many free economies give the same ‘parity rights’ to any Filipinos who posses financial and technical capabilities to exploit their resources! See? This country was founded by idiots and diploma-toting morons!
- ‘Almost’ the rest of Asia was ‘socialistic’. Japan, China and most of today’s economic tigers were all dogmatic practitioners of protectionism or economic socialism.
- That means there was lack of economic competition among states in Asia. The freest country achieved the most. Definitely RP was one of the freest during those forgotten years.
But everything changed in the 1980s. The formerly protectorate Asian economies gradually embraced free market policies. Singapore is the best Asian model of ‘limited government’.
In that blog I asked:
So, why are we not happy with the result of our collective madness? THIS IS THE PATH WE AS A PEOPLE CHOSE… We voted for it through our expressed support or inaction. Why are you protesting? Why are you crying? Filipinos should be happy! What we have and see today is the ULTIMATE RESULT of our ‘collective’, national choice. Don’t blame your politicians. Blame yourselves!
I have this observation that many statists, leftists or left-leaning people in Singapore hate/dislike immigrants. In fact, Singaporean leftist groups have been opposing the government’s new immigration policy designed to embrace millions of immigrants to correct the regrettable population control policy it implemented in the past.
Politically, Devina DeViva is a statist. I can even assume she’s against Singapore’s new “open” immigration policy. Also, I’ve been seeing a lot of hateful comments by a number of Singaporean netizens against Filipinos. This shows the gap between the people’s ethnocentric mentality and the government’s openness to other cultures. This is what happens when a country adopts “open” immigration and free market reforms. There are always irrational, ethnocentric and bigoted people like Devina DeViva. These people have no idea that actually made their country great.
Ethnocentric Singaporeans are the equivalent of Filipino protectionists and leftist-jingoists. Isn’t this ironic? The Filipino socialists openly call for closing our doors to foreign investors, while the protectionists demand that we further limit foreign participation. Now it’s time for them to meet their socialist counterparts in Singapore.
For decades the government has been implementing the economic advice of the country’s protectionists and leftists in the academic and business sectors. We partially closed our economy to the outside world in the name of national patrimony, anti-imperialism, and Filipino First Policy. We turned former president Carlos P. Garcia’s protectionist policy– e.g., that Filipinos must “be masters in their homes or their government”— into law.
Based on our protectionist ancestors’ failed and unscientific economic logic, the Philippines should have been richer and more prosperous than Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and China, which are all open to foreign trade and investment.
Devina DeViva may be a sociopathic bigot (or a bigoted sociopath), but her Facebook rant should serve as a wake up call for our “poor, smelly, uneducated” nation.
RELATED BLOGS:
A Tale of Two Leaders: Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong Vs. P-Noy
The Reason Singaporeans Wanted to Boycott Jollibee: Pinoy-First Policy
Singapore Adopts New Immigration Policy to Correct its Regrettable Population Control
- Let the anti-Devina DeDiva bashing begin…
- Different leadership styles and mentality
- RP’s protectionism in picture
- Why we’re “economically stable” in the past
- The freest economies in the world: they import maids and domestic helpers.
Vincenton Blog 
Interestingly enough – the tell-tale sign of her whereabouts can be found by looking in the upper left hand corner of her “cell phone screen shot” where the text conversation is noted. Her SP is AT&T – an American based company.
Mr. Sinatra, its not her cellphone screenshot. It is someone else who hates what she said and posted all the comments in her wall for the world to see. I just hope that her account is not apparently hacked as the usual alibis of such bigots. She should not be tolerated by whichever country and company she is at the moment.
Devina DeDiva’s Wayn account.
http://www.wayn.com/profiles/DevinaDeDiva#
Just a curious question .. so .. Just Inbeaver – for a start, punishin this bigot – as you say, how will it make Philippines a better place ?
Well, while FIlipinos have been busy defending our useless pride and declaring those who say bad things a PNG, the rest of the world doesn’t give a hoot and is busy becoming better countries and becoming richer
yah, defend out pride, but at what cost ? at the cost of mocking the original bigot so after all, we all are nothing less or better than the woman dedavina…
While the rest of the world looks for ways to become productive and make $, we filipinos are busy protesting and being happy about it .. o
Hey! We can keep on bashing her and do our jobs! we are multitasking! just like what you are doing right now teaching “protectionism” etc….
I didn’t suggest such a thing…
You cant call her racist because she did not mention about the colour of Filipinos. Dumb!!! Racist – (noun)a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others. Proof read your blog before posting it nagmumukha kang tanga!
I didn’t call her a “racist”. Read the blog again.
Sandi Dabid,
Obviously you didn’t read the blog, which shows you’re so irresponsible with your “dumb” comment.
I said: “Personally I don’t know if this degenerate woman is a racist or not, but she’s certainly a bigot or a matapobre (someone who looks down on poor people).”
I also said: “Observe that the woman attacked Filipinos not because of their skin color (that’s why I can’t call her a racist), but for their poverty and poor economic conditions.”
Obviously she’s a racist because she thought she’s better than any other race(Filipino) remember the definition of racist. Look at her comment she thinks that shes better than any race esp Filipinos because they are smelly her comment falls under the definition of racist. That is why you can call her racist or you just dont know the meaning of racist.
“That is why you can call her racist or you just dont know the meaning of racist.”
WRONG! Actually I know.
Like I stated in a previous blog,
that is her comments, but she can not hide the truth that ms megan young is now the reigning ms world…and the fact that she was selected by the majority if not all of the carefully and intelligently selected professionals and well-known personalities who stand as judges in the recently concluded beauty competition/pageant.
just let her die in envy and pain brought by bashers who support and believe ms young…megan is bringing home the crown and title of ms wolrd (2013) no one can stop her…not even by her self-centered and attention-grabber messages
I have to say that when i first visited the Philippines last year, I asked around the place to get info on how to start doing business there in time. Short answer? I could not. It’s not possible for me to get a legal bank account in the Phils because I am not a Philippine citizen. So in other words, I could not relocate there with my girlfriend in time, because I’d have to 100% retire instead of bringing my business there and easily give the local community 10+ new jobs and decent income without going for OFW… The Phils have to sort that out, you’d triple your expected BNP in no more than a decade…
Our laws are ethnocentric and racist (for banning and discriminating against non-Filipinos). In fact, our laws and Constitution are Corporatist or FASCISTIC. https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/we-are-a-fascistcorporatist-state/
Just imagine if OFW-destination countries (e.g., the US, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Taiwan, Singapore, Norway, to name a few) adopted our protectionist, anti-foreign policy. Millions of Filipinos would die of hunger and starvation and live under extreme poverty.
Even our government cannot deny the fact our economy is kept afloat by OFW remittances. Based on the RP’s political elites’ and protectionists’ policy, it is better to send Filipinos abroad to work as maids and domestic helpers rather than allow foreigners to compete with the country’s oligarchs and cronies who monopolize our big industries (e.g., telecom, power sector, transportation, etc.)
There is no perfect government. Those countries that are prosperous now may not be prosperous tomorrow. There is always a price to pay for everything. Remember that!
Just as there are no “perfect” human beings. But we can make our society friendlier to other cultures and peoples. Filipinos who truly understand their country’s laws and the nature of their Constitution know that they need real reforms. That is, they neer Charter Change to make their society a better place to live. That’s what Singapore did over three decades ago. Now it’s offering its progressive society and economy to millions of potential immigrants. Like Lee Kuan Yew said, it is economic freedom and openness to trade that made Singapore a success story.
In my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong in exporting human labor to other countries, after all that’s what we have a large surplus of – mostly educated, skilled and English-literate workers. Nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to frown about. Only fools look down on honest, hardworking people who strive to help family and relatives back home. In fact, that is something to be proud of as a Filipino, we have the Bayanihan spirit. The OFWs are our modern heroes, let’s salute them! Our biggest bane is our big population but it can be an asset if we utilize it well. Philippines is not a big country, so in terms of natural and mineral resources, there are just not enough to sustain in the long run without completely destroying our already rapidly shrinking forests and agricultural lands. Typhoon-prone as Philippines is, it is now experiencing severe flooding, landslide, drought because of environmental mismanagement. Philippines is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. We owe it to our Creator to help preserve the environment that millions of animals and organisms depended on for survival. Mankind was created to be STEWARDS of the EARTH but we are also commanded to Love God, and to Love your Neighbors as you love yourself.
“Love your neighbors including your enemy and pray for those who persecute you”.
Let us forgive Devina DeDiva and pray for her. May the Holy Spirit open her eyes to the truth and the reality of life and put love in her heart.
But if we want to improve our economy, we only need to follow in Singapore’s free market footsteps.
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/filipinos-fallacy-of-politico-economic-equivalence/
I think you need to have a business partner who is a citizen here. I know some people even use Filipinos as front to look like they are the owner of the business to get their business started.
I know that I could use a front man, but really, sometimes you want to have it all out in the open from day one. If I can’t have that, I’d rather keep my business here. And I am sure I’m not the only one thinking like that..
DDediva is not even a Singaporean. She came from planet shithead.
At first , my reaction to Devina’s rude and negative to the newly crowned,Miss World 2013, Megan Young was so spiteful and thought of giving her the name of DEVILINA instead of Devina. But towards theLet us forgive Devina of my readings of most reactions, I came to agree that the best we can do to help Devina’s unbecoming behavior is one of Jal Leave’s advice towards the end of his reaction and I quote: Let us forgive Devina and pray for her. May the Holy Spirit open her eyes to the truth and reality of life and put love in her heart. Additionally: TO ERR IS HUMAN, TO FORGIVE IS DIVINE
You must be utterly ignorant of the nature of the Philippine economy and ignorant too of the history of how the economically advanced countries have achieved that feat. What distinguishes rich countries from poor countries is that rich countries are industrialized countries while poor countries are agricultural economies. Their history shows that they had to adopt protectionist policies at the start, to allow their industries to grow and to develop against foreign competition. Being already strong and with stable and strong industries, they can already exercise parity rights. And what has parity rights achieved for the Philippines? It has kept us an agricultural country, the dumping ground of foreign made finished products, while we primarily export raw materials. In the very first place, it is not to the interest of America that we become industrialized. Ok, parity rights are gone. But the US have imposed on us decontrol policies which allowed their products to flood our markets and thus continue to deny to our industries the chance to grow strong. The Philippines failed to industrialize precisely because we have not adopted protectionist policies which would have allowed our industries to grow and to develop. Your parity rights precisely and decontrol policies imposed by the US have kept us agricultural; kept us the dumping ground of foreign made finished products while we merely export raw materials. That precisely explains why our balance of trade is always a deficit. By reason of our failure to industrialize, we do not have enough jobs for our citizens. Our economy save for a few constitutional provisions is not protectionist and out and out free market.
I don’t think you read the blog. I’ve discussed everything you said in my previous blogs. I don’t think you understand our laws and politics.
Are you saying the 60-40 protectionist law does not exist? If that’s what you’re saying, then you’re the one who’s utterly ignorant of things? Are you saying foreign professionals can practice their respective professions here? Are you saying foreigners can invest in our media industry? Are you saying foreigners can OWN lands here? Know the law before exposing your arrogant ignorance here.
From my previous blogs:
Filipinos’ Fallacy of Politico-Economic Equivalence
We are a Fascist/Corporatist State!
Post-pic of the Day: Pinoy Protectionism Vs. NoKor’s Closed Door Socialism
That Protectionist Winnie Monsod!
How Protectionism and Oligarchic System Cause Artificial Water Crisis in the Philippines
Philippine Constitution Versus Economic Freedom
You said, “Are you saying the 60-40 protectionist law does not exist? If that’s what you’re saying, then you’re the one who’s utterly ignorant of things? Are you saying foreign professionals can practice their respective professions here? Are you saying foreigners can invest in our media industry? Are you saying foreigners can OWN lands here? Know the law before exposing your arrogant ignorance here.” I know the law, I am a lawyer. Did I not mention that the Philippines save for a few constitutional provisions is not protectionist and I am referring precisely for those few constitutional provisions you mentioned. So how can I be arrogantly ignorant if I am aware of them. Those laws do exist. But TELL ME,do we remain economically backward economy, particularly an agricultural economy because of those laws? Or are we a poor country because we have HAVE FAILED TO INDUSTRIALIZE? That you did not respond to at all. Apparently, you have engaged yourself in shadow boxing. You have misrepresented my statements and knocked non-existent opponents. Tell me, why did we fail to industrialize? It is precisely because of our dominantly free market economy, which allows foreign finished products to flood our markets, thus killing our nascent industries. Tell me, how were countries like the US and the UK able to industrialize? Is it not because they initially adopted protectionist policies, which allowed their industries to grow, develop and become strong. These arguments you did not respond to at all and contented yourself in shadow boxing. Tell me, did parity rights in the Philippines allow us to industrialize or did it precisely kept us agricutural, a dumping ground of finished products. Tell me, after the end of parity rights in the Philippines, did not the US impose decontrol policies, economic liberalization, which continued the system of free market. Free market then did not end with the termination of parity rights in the Philippines. Why are there so many jobs in rich countries? It is because they are industrialized. Why there are few jobs in our country? Because we are agricultural and we are so not because of protectionism but precisely because of laissez faire. You honestly believe that the economy left to itself will take care of itself and like an invisible hand promote the common good? That presupposes that there is genuine competition. but what we have are cartels and monopolies, so where is your invisible hand which will promote the common good. Government thus must be there to intervene in the economy to break monopolies and cartels to promote the common good. where is your invisible hand during calamities, when businessmen will exploit consumers by means of hoarding. So where is your law of supply and demand which will promote the common good. Someone said, there are high prices because of the law of supply and demand. A Congressman then retorted, then let us amend the law of supply and demand. On reflection, he has a point, because the law of supply and demand can be manipulated, It will never work when there are cartels and monopolies. It will never work because of hoarding. So where is your laissez faire now. You are definitely wrong, Japan or Korea are not superior to us because they are economically freer. they are superior because they suceeded in industrializing which we have failed to do. And tell me, how were they able to industrialize, if they did not initially adopt protectionist policies. Perhaps you have not gone to department stores and markets. Do you not know that foreign made goods are even cheaper than our domestic products. So what protectionism do you speak of when foreign made goods continue to flood our markets. Speak of the invisible hand to the thousands of workers who are exploited, because of their oversupply and thus who are paid starvation wages. Tell me, should not the government intervene to protect them? So who is arrogantly ignorant now?
You said: “So how can I be arrogantly ignorant if I am aware of them.”
Your first reply shows it.
You said in your first reply: “Their history shows that they had to adopt protectionist policies at the start, to allow their industries to grow and to develop against foreign competition.”
That’s utterly wrong. What you said is both historically and economically WRONG. That’s not what China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and others did in the past. Are you saying they all started from being free market economies and then embraced protectionism? Actually that’s what you’re trying to imply. If you’re indeed a lawyer you should know our laws. But being a lawyer doesn’t mean you also understand the economics side/aspect of our Constitution and legal system. Read the LINKED BLOGS!
Like I stated here https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/a-tale-of-two-leaders-singapores-lee-hsien-loong-vs-p-noy/ :
You said: “What distinguishes rich countries from poor countries is that rich countries are industrialized countries while poor countries are agricultural economies.”
You’re indeed both politically and economically clueless/ignorant. I tackled that baseless argument here— https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/filipinos-fallacy-of-politico-economic-equivalence/
You said: “Ok, parity rights are gone. But the US have imposed on us decontrol policies which allowed their products to flood our markets and thus continue to deny to our industries the chance to grow strong.”
That’s because we entered into a quid pro quo agreement. If you read the Supreme Court decision after WW2, you would know that it’s us who needed America’s help. America was a free market economy and we had to relax our economic restrictions and protectionism because of our almost total protectionist system. I tackled that issue here https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/ingrate-mediocre-filipinos/
I said:
Here’s a related op-ed on the matter— https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/why-america-should-give-filipinos-parity-rights/
You clearly don’t know anything about the parity rights issue.
Mr. Severo L. Brillantes,
Since obviously you didn’t read my replies above, allow me to re-post this one…
Why America should Give Filipinos ‘Parity Rights’
THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL RECIPROCITY PRINCIPLE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW!
Vinceton—I have no idea who you are or what you do for a living. But I agree with most of your opinions on these issues. This guy Brillantes, well, his line of thinking is unfortunately in wide circulation over there in the Philippines. It’s as detrimental to Philippine progress as the ultra-conservative Catholicism that’s also rampant there. Yup, let’s keep blaming the Americans for the ills of the Philippines. What a joke. The inability to look in the mirror and admit, ‘I’m fucking things up myself. I have no one to blame for this but myself…I should do something about this besides finger-point,’— it’s tragic.
Protectionism is the answer according to this guy? Wow. Just when the whole world is two decades deep in globalization— with those fighting this tide being left behind and regressing (Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador to name a few countries)— we have this genius advocating limiting international commerce. I’m just glad President Aquino is not following this guy’s blueprint for success.
The Philippines needs to open up for international business, disregard collective nationalistic ‘butthurt’ as you call it, laugh at leftist sloganeering, and ban the Church’s enormous influence on politics.
And this guy Brillantes, he’ll fight and scream as his boat, too, is lifted by the rising economic tide. Maybe someday he’ll ‘forgive’ the technocrats for being ‘unpatriotic.’
AL,
I am working for a NY-based market research company. This is just one of the many reasons why I am for economic freedom and scrapping of RP’s protectionism.
vincenton: don’t go too far .. the recent court order declaring Fedex as a public utility and as such, cannot GO ALONE and forced to wind up all operations here, unless they engage a local partner (read – a croney / connected business man who will suck part of the profit for nothing ) sends a clear message to investors, again.
Foreign investors NOT WELCOME
I was more than amazed that a doezne or so professors wrote thesis papers in support of Fedex being kicked out, than realasing the folly of forcing foreigners away …
BTW, show me one business where foreigners got it right ? the answer maybe None. since they had to have a local partner who eventually screws up, and then the blame goes to the foreigner for not doing a good job.
Case 1 I know
A canadian invested in a call center business, and in line with PH Law, had to have a local partner
Things went hunky dory, till the Canadian left operations to his local partner and call qualities started to drop
He mad a mystery visit to find less than half the staff at work. and when confronted, the local partner, first, insisted that he cannot force people to turn up work, and have to ensure locals are employed or there will be hell to pay etc, etc (including the threat of a bullet in the brain .. ) and when the Canadian told the local partner he is going to pull the plug on the venture, next came the threat of deportation by telling BI that the Canadian was working illegally..
It didn’t end nice .. for above as well as more than a few foreigners who I know, and who were mad to invest in Philippines..
Nuff said ..
Thanks. I also tackled the FedEx issue here—
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/fedexs-multi-million-dollar-gamble-risky-uphill-legal-battle/
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/ca-banned-fedex-for-being-a-threat-to-local-competitors-and-ph-economy/
One of millions of pinoys who have ignorant understanding of our politics and economic system is a guy named Severo L. Brillantes, a self-claimed lawyer. Read his comments above. 😉
Calling me ignorant is not a rebuttal of my arguments. One who is so destitute of valid arguments has no other recourse but to evade the issue and attack the person instead and that is you Vincenton or whoever you are who would not have the courage to reveal your true identity. That is an ad hominem argument which sadly is all you can come up to. that is your philosophy then? To engage in name-calling, in a cowardly attempt to muddle the issue. So I am right then that you are just capable of shadow boxing. You must be a squid who would spit his black ink and make a most cowardly retreat from an intellectual challenge. Vincenton, don’t tarnish whatever reputation you have (if ever you have any) by running away from an argument. the Philippines needs an honest to goodness discussion of issues. So who is cowardly ignorant now?
Mr. Severo L. Brillantes,
That’s just hilarious! Did you even bother to read your weak, ignorant, non-factual, anti-history arguments?
Every thing you said is non-factual and not based on history. You’re saying those Asian countries became successful because of protectionism. That’s not true. Like I said, that’s both historically and economically wrong, and I’ve presented my counter-arguments above.
China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong did not start as free market economies. It’s quite the opposite, Mister. They started from being PROTECTIONIST or semi-socialist states (China was full-blown socialist under Mao) and then they all embraced free market reforms. This is a very simple concept and history that you can’t just understand, which makes you an IGNORAMUS.
Bow down to me Vince! You are outwitted
Who said “Bow down to me Vince! You are outwitted”? I did not type that? So am I being hacked now, with someone putting words into my mouth?
I indeed said in my first reply: “Their history shows that they had to adopt protectionist policies at the start, to allow their industries to grow and to develop against foreign competition.”
then you said, “That’s utterly wrong. What you said is both historically and economically WRONG. That’s not what China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and others did in the past. Are you saying they all started from being free market economies and then embraced protectionism? Actually that’s what you’re trying to imply.” Any elementary school student would know that you understand things the exact opposite of what I said. My statement is most clear. Their history shows that THEY HAD TO ADOPT PROTECITONIST POLICIES AT THE START, WHICH IS MOST CLEAR THAT WHAT I SAID IS THAT THEY STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST and only later when their industries were already strong, did they slowly opened up to being free market. You are in your shadow boxing exercises again, attacking ghost opponents.
“My statement is most clear. Their history shows that THEY HAD TO ADOPT PROTECITONIST POLICIES AT THE START, WHICH IS MOST CLEAR THAT WHAT I SAID IS THAT THEY STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST and only later when their industries were already strong, did they slowly opened up to being free market.”
— Wow! You’re simply doubling down on your ignorant, non-factual, anti-history argument. By the way, it’s you who first resorted to ad hominem attack. Read your first comment.
” THEY HAD TO ADOPT PROTECITONIST POLICIES AT THE START”
That’s not what made them rich! In fact that’s what made them poor. For instance, China was a full-blown PROTECTIONIST states under Mao Tse Tung. And under Mao’s absolute protectionist rule, China was extremely poor. Ever head of millions of Chinese who died of famine and starvation under Mao’s Great Leap Forward Experiment?
I was arguing their protectionism DID NOT WORK that’s why they had to scrap it and then adopted FREE MARKET REFORMS, making their economies more open and friendlier to global investors.
Japan was also a protectionist state. Read your history.
I need to repost this as well:
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/filipinos-fallacy-of-politico-economic-equivalence/
AND THIS IS EXACTLY YOUR QUOTE, WHICH CONFIRMS WHAT I SAID THAT COUNTRIES WHO WERE ABLE TO INDUSTRIALIZE FIRST STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST. AM I TALKING TO A HUMAN BEING OR TO A MACHINE? “When the President’s mother took over the presidency in 1986, many Asian countries (e.g., China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan) turned away from protectionism and gradually opened their economies to the outside world. China started to break away from Maoist communism in 1979 by adopting what Deng Shaoping called “second revolution” that betrayed or compromised Mao Tse Tung’s communist revolution. (Here’s a study on China’s economic growth since 1979, or since Beijing’s rejection of protectionism).”
“AND THIS IS EXACTLY YOUR QUOTE, WHICH CONFIRMS WHAT I SAID THAT COUNTRIES WHO WERE ABLE TO INDUSTRIALIZE FIRST STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST. AM I TALKING TO A HUMAN BEING OR TO A MACHINE?”
HILARIOUS INDEED. There’s something really, really wrong with your utterly flawed though process, Mr. Severo L. Brillantes.
I have very simple questions for you:
1. You said “WHICH CONFIRMS WHAT I SAID THAT COUNTRIES WHO WERE ABLE TO INDUSTRIALIZE FIRST STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST”. Are you saying their PROTECTIONISM made them rich or industrialized?
2. If your answer is yes, then why did they have to break away from their protectionist past and then embraced free market reforms? In short, if protectionism is what made them great, why did they open their economies to foreign investors?
3. Do you understand the concept of “protectionism”?
4. Based on your hilarious logic, the Philippines ought to be MORE PROSPEROUS AND INDUSTRIALIZED than Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and South Korea for keeping its protectionist policies since 1930s. But that’s not the case. Care to explain this, mister?
You indeed need to educate yourself.
The two of you are partially correct. Protectionism is actually good for “baby industries”. The early stages of protectionism will actually result to a higher domestic output. HOWEVER, the country should slowly adapt the free market system because of one reason: Competitive Advantage. As stated by Vincenton earlier, most countries that don’t embrace the open market system are lagging behind. This is because we are now in a highly globalized international market- more competition will yield higher economic efficiency. Higher efficiency will result to higher welfare. If you want to protect industries for so long, you better make sure that they are efficient enough to compete in the international market. Otherwise, stop protecting it because it will simply encourage inefficiency.- One advantage of embracing the free market structure is it will actually drive prices down as the inefficient firms’ production cost is higher than the efficient firms’ cost which will eventually lead to the earlier’s destruction.
“Protectionism is actually good for “baby industries”. The early stages of protectionism will actually result to a higher domestic output.”
I already said this (to Mr. Brillantes):
What more restrictions and regulations do you want? Both current political and economic realities show us our PROTECTIONISM FAILED TO WORK.
What you said is actually what I call a “Hamiltonian” protectionism. I tackles Hamilton’s protectionism here— http://fvdb.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/philippines-prophet-of-disaster-salvador-araneta/
The thing is, we ARE ALREADY A PROTECTIONIST economy. All you need to do is read and understand our Constitution. Also, our protectionism does NOT merely seek to protect what you call “baby industries”; it was designed to protect the entire industries against foreign competition… But in reality, what it protects are the politically connected cronies and oligarchs. That’s why we have IPPs (independent power producers) created during the term of Cory Aquino. That’s why the oligarchs established a water cartel, which is constitutionally protected against outside/foreign competition.
So, let’s get the facts correct: Our Constitution does not seek to protect only the “baby industries”; it establishes an institutionalized PROTECTIONIST system.
i INDEED SAID “What distinguishes rich countries from poor countries is that rich countries are industrialized countries while poor countries are agricultural economies.”
YOU SAID “you’re indeed both politically and economically clueless/ignorant. I tackled that baseless argument here. I have read your alleged fallacy of politico-economic equivalence and it does not in any rebut my point that indeed what distinguishes rich countries is that they are industrialized. Again, shadow boxing and knocking down ghost adversaries.
What a lame rebuttal! LOL!
I did not make a rebuttal of what you said about the fallacy of politico-economic equivalence. I just pointed out your predilection in engaging in shadow boxing, knocking down ghost opponents. My point is that your so called fallacy did not in any way prove that I am both politically and economically clueless/ignorant when I said that “What distinguishes rich countries from poor countries is that rich countries are industrialized countries while poor countries are agricultural economies.” That point about rich countries being industrialized countries awaits a response from you and all you can say is LOL. Your response deserves indeed a boisterous laughter.
I indeed said: “Ok, parity rights are gone. But the US have imposed on us decontrol policies which allowed their products to flood our markets and thus continue to deny to our industries the chance to grow strong.”
AND YOU SAID “That’s because we entered into a quid pro quo agreement. If you read the Supreme Court decision after WW2, you would know that it’s us who needed America’s help. America was a free market economy and we had to relax our economic restrictions and protectionism because of our almost total protectionist system. I tackled that issue here.”
You yourself said that we have been devastated by war. We were down on our knees and you speak of quid pro quo? You speak of reciprocity? There can be no reciprocity between unequal parties. These decontrol policies were imposed on us. What relaxing of economic restrictions are you talking of, when you yourself agreed that there were parity rights before. You certainly have a knack of demolishing your own arguments.
You said: “You yourself said that we have been devastated by war. We were down on our knees and you speak of quid pro quo?”
Are you really a lawyer? So, because we were devastated by war, we had the right to obligate America to help us and put us on its taxpayers’ dole? Is that what you’re trying to say? Did you even read the blog?
America was the freest economy! Anybody was allowed to invest in America over 50 years ago. Filipinos were allowed to trade, invest, work and buy lands in the USA. These same rights and privileges were all denied of Americans. That’s the reason we had to adopt the parity rights agreement. Do you even know anything about history, Mister?
I said:
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/ingrate-mediocre-filipinos/
You said: “You speak of reciprocity? There can be no reciprocity between unequal parties.”
LOL! I don’t think you have enough brain cells to understand the concept of RECIPROCITY.
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/why-america-should-give-filipinos-parity-rights/
AND YOU SAID THESE THINGS? MY GOD, I MUST BE TALKING TO AN ALIEN WHO ADVOCATES ALIEN INTERESTS.
Here are some of the MUST things the United States government should do:
ONE: The US government should ban all Filipino citizens from practicing any kinds of professions in the United States. That is, Filipinos intending to work in Uncle Sam’s land should acquire American citizenship and study in any American university first before they can practice any profession.
But first, here’s what many pinoys don’t know:
US or foreign doctors cannot practice medicine in RP, while pinoys are allowed to practice the same profession in USA.
American or foreign lawyers are not allowed to practice law here. Filipino lawyers can practice legal profession in USA.
Foreigners are banned from engaging in any profession listed under Negative List A of theForeign Investment Act.
TWO: The US government should ban all Filipinos (I mean still Filipino citizens) from owning land. It is public knowledge that the Arroyo family and many pinoy oligarchs and politicians own lands in the USA. These people are all hypocrites!
THREE: The US government should impose the same 60-40 ownership policy on all Filipino investors and businessmen. That is, Filipino businessmen and investors in the United States should not be allowed to own more than 40% stake in business.
FOUR: The US government should totally ban Filipinos from investing in media companies.
FIVE: USA and other freer economies like Singapore and Hong Kong should ban Filipinos from engaging in retail trade and cooperative venture.
SIX: USA and other freer economies like Australia should ban Filipinos from engaging in small-scale mining.
SEVEN: USA and other freer economies should ban Filipinos from “utilizing” marine resources in archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone.
EIGHT: The US government should ban Filipinos from owning more than 25% equity in private recruitment and contracts for the construction and repair of locally-funded works.
NINE: The US government should ban Filipinos from owning more than 30% equity in advertising and more than 40% in exploration, development and utilization of natural resources in all its territories.
TEN: The US government should ban Filipinos in the operation and management of public utilities and ownership/establishment and administration of educational institutions.
It’s now high time for the Americans to give us “parity rights” that we’ve been asking for for decades. Since we limit foreign investment and professional participation in our country, FREE ECONOMIES (meaning: countries that have a higher degree of economic freedom) should also afford the same treatment to Filipinos.
This proposal means the following:
No Filipino doctors and lawyers shall be allowed to practice their respective professions in USA and other freer economies.
No Filipino nurses shall be allowed to work in USA and other freer economies like Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Filipinos would only be allowed menial and limited vocational jobs.
All Jollibee outlets and all Filipino-owned businesses in the United States shall be required to meet the 60-40 ownership policy.
Land-owning Filipino politicians and oligarchs shall be forced to surrender their land properties to the American government.
Millions of Filipinos would go back home.
Why can’t USA do the same thing? THEY SHOULD!
LOL! Did you even understand what you just posted?
Only a foreign paid hack which advocates alien interest whose cover has been blown wide open (unfortunately for you), would advise the US to do the things you suggested.
Finally, you have revealed who you really are: a foreign-paid hack.
AL,
I am working for a NY-based market research company. This is just one of the many reasons why I am for economic freedom and scrapping of RP’s protectionism.
LOL! So you’re saying we become the next North Korea in Asia?
“a foreign-paid hack”?
That’s just hilarious! That’s because you’re a pulpol and you know nothing about history, economics and politics.
Based on your latest name-call (“a foreign-paid hack”), the leaders of Singapore (Lee Kuan Yew), China (Deng Xiaoping), Hong Kong, Japan and SK were all “foreign paid hacks” for implementing free market reforms and scrapping their protectionist policies.
You’re such an uneducated creature.
And I should not waste my time arguing with a foreign-paid hack, who has exposed himself as to the reasons of his advocacy. Selfish indeed as you have yourself admitted is the motive behinds all your blogs
You said nothing but pure BS, mister. Learn to argue properly, logically and factually next time. 😉
Here are some pointed questions for Mr. Severo L. Brillantes:
1. You said “WHICH CONFIRMS WHAT I SAID THAT COUNTRIES WHO WERE ABLE TO INDUSTRIALIZE FIRST STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST”. Are you saying their PROTECTIONISM made them rich or industrialized?
2. If your answer is yes, then why did they have to break away from their protectionist past and then embraced free market reforms? In short, if protectionism is what made them great, why did they open their economies to foreign investors?
3. Do you understand the concept of “protectionism”?
4. Based on your hilarious illogic, the Philippines ought to be MORE PROSPEROUS AND INDUSTRIALIZED than Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and South Korea for keeping its protectionist policies since 1930s. But that’s not the case. Care to explain this, mister?
He’s done for, man. Blind “nationalism” can only carry your argument so far. Too bad–he sounds reasonable, actually. By the way, I’m a New Yorker. Via QC…a long time ago.
Branding me a blind nationalist cannot carry any argument at all. It is an ad hominem argument, one that evades the issue by attacking my person instead rather than what I said. Utterly destitute of valid arguments, all you could resort to is name-calling. Utterly unable to engage in prolonged debate, you would repeatedly call me ignorant, perhaps believing in Goebbels strategy (Hitler’s Propaganda Minister) that a lie told several times would eventually be believed. Let me ask you Al (and I respect you because you seem to honestly believe that I am a blind nationalist) and let me ask Vincepleton,(which I believe is more appropriate, having exposed himself as a foreign-paid hack, and which vincepleton will certainly go berserk again by calling me names) , is it not true that rich countries are such because they were able to industrialized and poor countries like ours remain economically backward because we have failed to industrialize? Is it not true that rich, have an abundance of jobs because they are industrialized (that they would even beg us to work for them and would not even think of banning our workers even if we ban them to work in the Philippines, as vincepleton has suggested). Why did the Philippines fail to industrialize? Go tell me. vincepleton being the foreign-paid hack that he is, most certainly is not aware of the inequitable relationship which America has imposed on us, of the Philippines remaining the dumping ground of their finished products and the Philippines being the source of their cheap raw materials (which inevitably results in the Philippines becoming a bankrupted economy because of a perrenial deficit in its balance of trade). Why has this inequitable economic relationship remained? It is because contrary to what vincepleton claims, the Philippine economy is not protectionist but free market, so free that our infant industries would die because of unfair competition. Our economy is free market not by our own choice but because parity rights have been imposed on us by America and when parity rights ended, America has imposed on us policies which will allow the free entry of the foreign made goods into the Philippines. And tell me, what will happen to our infant industries in the face of such strong competition? They will certainly die. To grow and become strong, we have at the start to protect our industries and only later slowly open our economy if our industries can already be competitive. That is precisely my point.Go tell me vincepleton, is it not true that the US and even Great Britain initially implemented protectionist policies and would only preach free market later, as they want economically backward countries to remain to be their captive markets. OK vincepleton, you can now go berserk and call me names as you have perfected the art of the ad hominem.
But it’s utterly an obvious blind nationalism, Mr. Brillantes.
Did you even realize you were writing this load of nonsense? Promoting the perpetuation of the same status quo that’s been eating this country: https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/devina-dedivas-bigoted-online-rants-should-shame-rps-politicians-and-protectionists/comment-page-1/#comment-958
Your delusion and rejection of proof (Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, PR China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea) is hair-raising. Even Botswana, an economically liberal country, has a LARGER economy than us.
erratum: Botswana has a GDP per capita
Why Hong Kong, U.S., and Other Freer Economies Can Justifiably Ban/Restrict Free-Riding RP in the Name of Reciprocity
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/why-hong-kong-u-s-and-other-freer-economies-can-justifiably-banrestrict-free-riding-rp-in-the-name-of-reciprocity/
Severo L. Brillantes,
Just answer the questions. You don’t even know we’re already a PROTECTIONIST, semi-leftist economy.
1. We already restrict foreign investors thru our 60-40 law.
2. We already BAN all foreign professionals.
3. We also totally BAN foreign investors in our media industry.
4. We totally BAN foreigners from owning lands.
What more restrictions and regulations do you want? Both current political and economic realities show us our PROTECTIONISM FAILED TO WORK.
That is why I stated in the blog:
Now, it’s either you’re totally IGNORANT or you want a NoKorish system for the Philippines.
If Philippines follows Singapore’s government and economic model, what would Philippines be like, say 50 years from now? It will be a one big crowded, rat-race metropolis. Trees and plants will be totally replaced with tall buildings. Real estate prices will soar? Who will greatly benefit from all these? The very same people who are already rich now, the very same clever, savvy, aggressive businessmen who know how to manipulate and control the worldwide economy. Money is their God! What would the Filipino natives’ lives be like by that time? Yes, we will probably have jobs available to us, but remember we will also spend a ton on housing, utilities, education for kids, etc. We will still be maids and laborers to the rich because by nature, most Filipinos are grounded in our faith in God, not the false idol which is Money. We put more value on simplicity, friends and family more than anything else. It may be our weakness but it is also our strength. Should Philippines sell our country’s soul to the devil? For what? For few decades of so-called false prosperity? At what expense? Our land that is so bio-diverse and home to millions of animals, plants and other organisms will become a “WASTELAND”. Most of these animals and plants are only found in the Philippines. Once They are Gone, They are Forever Gone! And since everything in the universe are interdependent, it will put more imbalance to the Earth’s proper function. Our planet (and Universe, in general) is a living planet in a way. We destroy it, it will destroy us back! Mankind is the STEWARDS of the EARTH, let’s do our job, before it is too late! If we have to live in poverty to preserve our environment, so be it! We have to SACRIFICE in order to be BLESSED. God’s will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. In his Wisdom, He established physical and spiritual laws in the Universe. Like any laws, we violate it, we suffer the consequences!
“If Philippines follows Singapore’s government and economic model, what would Philippines be like, say 50 years from now?”
— It’s their free market system and openness to trade we need to follow. I’ve stated that in the blogs I cited here.
“It will be a one big crowded, rat-race metropolis. Trees and plants will be totally replaced with tall buildings. Real estate prices will soar? Who will greatly benefit from all these?”
That’s just funny. Do you realize that everything you said has something to do with the size of Singapore?
You dislike Singapore? Lemme mention other free market models, which I already mentioned. They are New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, etc.
I provided a clear image, which I am going to repost here for your consumption. 😉
“Money is their God!”
That’s just painfully hilarious! What do you call our politicians and Napoles’ co-conspirators? You’re saying that because they’re more successful than us? What about us? We’re saints?
You know what? Everything you said is just impossible to comment on. It’s just funny.
Like I said, you want to partially CLOSE our economy to foreign investment and talents? WE ALREADY HAVE IT!
Dind’t you see this?
What more restrictions and regulations do you want? Both current political and economic realities show us our PROTECTIONISM FAILED TO WORK.
It’s either you want us to KEEP our PROTECTIONIST SYSTEM or you want the Failippines to become the next NORTH KOREA!
JAL LEAVE, I already spoke earlier of Vincepleton’s Laissez faire as follows and it has not yet received any response from him but a DEAFENING SILENCE. Instead, he has engaged time and again in his pasttime of doing shadow boxing and knocking out ghost opponents.
“You honestly believe that the economy left to itself will take care of itself and like an invisible hand promote the common good? That presupposes that there is genuine competition. but what we have are cartels and monopolies, so where is your invisible hand which will promote the common good. Government thus must be there to intervene in the economy to break monopolies and cartels to promote the common good. where is your invisible hand during calamities, when businessmen will exploit consumers by means of hoarding. So where is your law of supply and demand which will promote the common good. Someone said, there are high prices because of the law of supply and demand. A Congressman then retorted, then let us amend the law of supply and demand. On reflection, he has a point, because the law of supply and demand can be manipulated, It will never work when there are cartels and monopolies. It will never work because of hoarding. So where is your laissez faire now. You are definitely wrong, Japan or Korea are not superior to us because they are economically freer. they are superior because they suceeded in industrializing which we have failed to do. And tell me, how were they able to industrialize, if they did not initially adopt protectionist policies. Perhaps you have not gone to department stores and markets. Do you not know that foreign made goods are even cheaper than our domestic products. So what protectionism do you speak of when foreign made goods continue to flood our markets. Speak of the invisible hand to the thousands of workers who are exploited, because of their oversupply and thus who are paid starvation wages. Tell me, should not the government intervene to protect them? So who is arrogantly ignorant now?”
Vincepleton, misrepresenting my views accuse me of all out protectionism when all I spouse is selective protectionism, in otherwords, a mixed economy.
And how else would you brand a person who believes in laissez faire, that is, that the market, meaning, self-interest left to itself (meaning, the pursuit of profit or the profit motive), without any government intervention will promote the common good? Such person precisely has made money as their God. Go pray to all mighty profit motive and the good of everyone will be answered. Well, Vincepleton will have allies in his advocacy: 1) owners of cartels and monopolies who impose their will (meaning the price of their goods to the captive market; meaning the exploited consumers) and exclaim to government “leave us alone and do not intervene in the economy; 2) Hoarders during calamities and who exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not impose price controls; 3) owners of businesses who pay unjust wages to their employees (who because of the oversupply of workers do not have the bargaining power to demand decent wages), who exclaim to government,leave us alone and do not impose minimum wages; 4) landlords who with their vast lands would exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not implement agrarian reform; 4) aliens who will dump their finished goods which will be cheaper than locally made goods and thus exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not impose high tariff duties, so that our goods will remain cheaper than locally made goods.
The vast majority of Filipinos are already landless and Vincepleton wants foreigners to be allowed to own lands here, which will aggravate the landlessness of our people. Filipinos thus, will remain landless but this time their landlords will be aliens. Worse, Filipinos who are tenant farmers will be driven out of the lands that they till as these lands will be transformed for industrial purposes and thus aggravate the massive hunger already widespread all over the country.
Vincepleton wants foreign investors in our media industry and thus allow aliens to shape the minds and hearts of our people. Decades of colonial rule have already made the minds and hearts of Filipinos value anything American and foreign, and Vincepleton wants to make our cultural captivity complete by surrendering our media industry and even our schools to aliens.
Jobs are already scarce in the Philippines and he wants aliens to compete with our own professionals, which means he wants our people to be perrenial OFWs, thus destroying the Filipino family, because of an absent father and mother. And what is most funny, he has advised the US and other countries to also ban our professionals in their shores, if we maintain such a policy. Vincepleton’s advice however is most foolish, because foreign countries are not interested to send their professionals to the Philippines but are most interested to attract our professionals and skilled workers, lest their countries will be in a stand still.
… which all make me believe that Vincepleton is part of a lobby group to advance alien interests in the Philippines. By saying so, I am not here attacking his person as I have extensively attacked his arguments. But I believe I have blown his cover and warn people to be wary of his motives.
Just answer these questions, Mr. Brillantes…
1. You said “WHICH CONFIRMS WHAT I SAID THAT COUNTRIES WHO WERE ABLE TO INDUSTRIALIZE FIRST STARTED BEING PROTECTIONIST”. Are you saying their PROTECTIONISM made them rich or industrialized?
2. If your answer is yes, then why did they have to break away from their protectionist past and then embraced free market reforms? In short, if protectionism is what made them great, why did they open their economies to foreign investors?
3. Do you understand the concept of “protectionism”?
4. Based on your hilarious illogic, the Philippines ought to be MORE PROSPEROUS AND INDUSTRIALIZED than Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and South Korea for keeping its protectionist policies since 1930s. But that’s not the case. Care to explain this, mister?
This is hilarious!
” which all make me believe that Vincepleton is part of a lobby group to advance alien interests in the Philippines.”
I wish! You’re not just ignorant of things; you’re deluded and paranoid as well.
“Jobs are already scarce in the Philippines and he wants aliens to compete with our own professionals, which means he wants our people to be perrenial OFWs, thus destroying the Filipino family, because of an absent father and mother. And what is most funny, he has advised the US and other countries to also ban our professionals in their shores, if we maintain such a policy.”
I think it is impossible to respond to all your ignorant rebuttals.
Jobs are already scarce because of your protectionism. Do you know the difference between RP and all Asian tigers in Asia? They have economic freedom, hence they get a higher level of FDI. The Philippines actually next to North Korea when it comes to protectionism. Our nearly a century of protectionism did not help the poor and make our country progressive and economically stable. Instead, it forced poor and middle class Filipinos to work abroad. It is your PROTECTIONIST policies that have been DESTROYING the Filipino family. How many millions of OFWs work abroad because they cannot find jobs here in the country? Also, your protectionism and trade restrictions have been causing BRAIN DRAIN. Thousands of Filipino doctors, nurses, engineers and other professionals left the country for high paying jobs and better opportunities abroad. Where did they go? They migrated to ECONOMICALLY FREER countries (e.g., United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, etc.) that allow them to practice their professions. That’s ironic because our laws totally ban foreign professionals to work here.
That’s the reason why I am advising these economically freer countries to impose RECIPROCITY RULE against the Philippines. If we totally ban foreign talents here, why can’t they? The reciprocity principle is part of the World Trade rules.
Are you even a lawyer? You must be a “pulpol” lawyer lol!
“The vast majority of Filipinos are already landless and Vincepleton wants foreigners to be allowed to own lands here, which will aggravate the landlessness of our people.”
And did our nearly a century of protectionism solve that problem? It’s either you want a North Korea system for the Philippines or you’re indeed clueless or ignorant about things! Dozens of nations have already opened their shores and economies to foreigners and foreign investment. Did their openness aggravate the “landlessness” of their people? By your logic, we should have been more economically progressive than these nations. You’re indeed out of touch reality.
Everything you said is a fallacy. Which shows you’re utterly politically and economically ignorant.
Be honest, Mr. Brillantes. Do you want to totally close this country to the outside world? If that’s your death wish, then, I urge you to be more consistent. We should also STOP importing things made, produced, invented and conceptualized outside this country. Let’s see if we can survive with your NoKorish plan.
by the way Al, when I spoke of name calling, I was not referring to you but to vincepleton, the foreign-paid hack.
Vincepleton, there you go again with your shadow-boxing skills, knocking out ghost opponents. I do not know if I am talking to a person or a machine. The landlessness of my people is not due to protectionism on the contrary it is due to your laissez faire of government lack of meaningful intervention in the economy. It is precisely due to a government which has perpetrated the feudal nature of Philippine society, of land being concentrated in the hands of a few landlords, while the majority of our people are landless. This injustice could only be addressed by genuine agrarian reform and not laissez faire. Instead of lack of government intervention which you preach by your God, the profit motive which you believe will bring about the common good left to itself, government must intervene to equitably distribute land to the landless and provide them financing and marketing support, which sadly had not been effectively and honestly done yet. Japan and Taiwan at least implemented agrarian reform, which you have not spoken of at all, because you want local landlords to be replaced by aliens and worse for lands tilled by tenant farmers to be transformed into industrial zones to aggravate the landlessness and widespread hunger of our people, which fully convinces me that you are indeed a foreign-paid hack advocating alien interests and not those of my people.
Vincepleton, you believe it is foreign direct investments which will save us. I have said from the very start that it is industrialization as is exemplified by the rich countries. and what industrialization will they bring but merely an assembly line
I don’t think you’re capable of thinking logically and rationally and that you understand basic, simple economics.
I asked you basic questions. Just answer them.
It’s either you want us to be the next North Korea in Asia or you’re simply deluded.
You two both have a good point and in my opinion our country should protect those industries that we have abundant resources and manpower and allow free market on those that we don’t have or will offer more jobs to Filipinos. One of the industry that we need to protect is the shoe industry which we make good quality shoes.Some are even exported to other countries and labeled with their brand name to make it look like it’s made in those countries before they sell in a very expensive price. I don’t understand why our country doesn’t allow foreigners to own a land here or have a business without a Filipino partner. It’s not like our country will become smaller when they own a land here and majority of Filipinos cannot afford to buy a piece of land because the minimum wage is not even enough for the daily expenses. Allowing foreigners to establish their business here without Filipino partner will provide more jobs to Filipinos. Other countries allow us to bring business to their country as long as we hire someone who are already in the country and the only time they allow us to hire someone outside their country is if there is no one else that can do the job. With the manpower pool that we have there is no job that we can’t do. The main problem we have in our country is corruption and monopoly especially those in the Government. If those corrupt politicians will not be allowed to hold any position in the government we can be and industrialized and agricultural country at the same time. We export rice to other countries so it only show that we have a lot of supply which makes me wonder why do we need to import rice to other countries and then pay the high price for the good quality rice. I believe that we can be an Industrialized and Agricultural country because our country is rich in natural resources and our people are highly skilled. The only sad thing is corruption and monopoly are rampant here. You two don’t need to resort to name calling because it’s pretty obvious that you are both highly educated people who both have valid points. I learned a lot from your point of views and you two should work together in finding ways on how to uplift the quality of life of the Filipino people. God gave you intelligence that can be used for the good of mankind instead of arguing to show who is right or wrong. I wish I have your brains combined but as we all know one cannot have everything. What I may be lacking I make up for it by having the heart and compassion to the needy. Let’s us make this world a better place by learning to agree to disagree if you both don’t want to give in. Have a great day guys. 🙂
Thanks for your comment. You said: “You two both have a good point and in my opinion our country should protect those industries that we have abundant resources and manpower and allow free market on those that we don’t have or will offer more jobs to Filipinos. One of the industry that we need to protect is the shoe industry which we make good quality shoes.”
Someone made almost the same argument/comment above. The commenter said:
Here’s my reply:
I already said this (to Mr. Brillantes):
What more restrictions and regulations do you want? Both current political and economic realities show us our PROTECTIONISM FAILED TO WORK.
What you said is actually what I call a “Hamiltonian” protectionism. I tackles Hamilton’s protectionism here— http://fvdb.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/philippines-prophet-of-disaster-salvador-araneta/
The thing is, we ARE ALREADY A PROTECTIONIST economy. All you need to do is read and understand our Constitution. Also, our protectionism does NOT merely seek to protect what you call “baby industries”; it was designed to protect the entire industries against foreign competition… But in reality, what it protects are the politically connected cronies and oligarchs. That’s why we have IPPs (independent power producers) created during the term of Cory Aquino. That’s why the oligarchs established a water cartel, which is constitutionally protected against outside/foreign competition.
So, let’s get the facts correct: Our Constitution does not seek to protect only the “baby industries”; it establishes an institutionalized PROTECTIONIST system.
The image shows the freest and most open economies in the world (according to Heritage Foundation and Doing Business Index).
They are the least protectionist countries in the world. In Hong Kong, any foreigner can establish or put up a business in at least 1 or two days. Which means they can directly compete with the Hong Kongers. Did the system wipe away the locals? NOPE! In fact it benefited the locals. The in flux of foreign investors did not just benefit the locals through jobs and shared skills/knowledge/ideas; it also improved the value of their lands and/or immovable property. In a truly free market society, the locals have the freedom and option NOT TO SELL or TO SELL their lands.
Now you might think of cases of land grabbing by the rich and powerful. But it only exists through government intervention. I think the worst kind of land grabbing is the state’s power of Eminent Domain, which I call an institutionalized land-grabbing.
The beauty of the free market system is that it attracts the best, the brightest and the most talented people from different parts of the world. These people contribute not only capital (their money and technology), but also their talents, knowledge and skills (human and intellectual capital), which is the most important and valuable thing.
This is the reason oil-rich Saudi Arabia UPGRADED to TRIPS-plus (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) through multilateral and bilateral agreements with developed nations. Now a normal person might thing, why would Saudi Arabia need more foreign investors when it is already an oil-rich economy? The reason is very simple. Its leaders are humble enough to admit it needed foreign talents to boost its pharmaceutical and life sciences industry.
I tackled this issue here– https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/that-protectionist-winnie-monsod/
The lesson here is, it is not just the financial capital of foreigners, but most especially their knowledge, talents, skills and IDEAS that will benefit locals. This is actually what happened in South Korea and Singapore.
Severo—
You would be more believable if you didn’t have such a boner on America. Why do you keep insisting the US uses the Philippines as a dumping ground for American goods? What goods are you talking about?
Back to reality here (please, remove your blinders for a second and read this carefully):
First, do you know how costly labor in the US is? American companies are already at a competitive disadvantaged there because of it. Second, do you know how expensive shipping products is across the Pacific Ocean? The more logical market for most American goods would be somewhere, say, in the Americas. Oh, look—Canada is the biggest trading partner of the US, and Mexico is not far behind. Third, why would American companies expensively ship their already-expensive products halfway across the world to a country (talking about the Philippines here) whose consumer base is not that mature? Would it be more logical to send said pricey products to, say, richer countries in the Pacific since they’re shipping them anyway? Oh, look again—Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan are the top trading partners of the US in the neighborhood.
Now, again, what dumping are you talking about? If you say the Chinese are dumping cheap plastic products, knock-off luxury goods, and unreliable electronics in the Philippines and all over Asia, you and I will be in agreement.
The Philippines is viewed economically in the US NOT in the way you imagine it: we’re talking about a country (US) with over $12 trillion in annual budget whose trade with Canada alone is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The Philippines is such a tiny consumer market with extremely limited disposable income for traditional American products. Yes, there is an enduring upward progress, thanks to Pres. Aquino’s and the BSP governor’s cache in global investors’s circles. But it is still a country with the minimum “buy” credit rating for its securities. Why “dump” anything there?
Severo, you need to open your eyes and follow the facts wherever they may lead you. If you do this, some of your conclusions will be quite bitter to swallow. And that will be progress. It’s perfectly all right to love and defend the rights, dignity and honor of one’s country; However, blindly swinging at every critic of that country’s predilections is doing disservice to that country.
Predilections like protectionism (ever wonder why there are no direct flights from North America and Europe to/from Manila, thus aggravating travelers to the Philippines like me, and discouraging return visits from tourists? Go find out.) . Vincenton is correct in his assessment: it’s a huge drag on the Philippine economy, especially when investors have other alternatives in Asia, and now Africa.
One more thing, simply because Vincenton gets paid by a foreign company for a living does not invalidate his opinions. In this case, your PURE, UNADULTERATED opinions are trumped by his; which are, at least to me, based on facts and not on emotional attachment to nationalism.
Totally agree with your comment. Unfortunately, a lot of schooled pinoys seem to think the Philippines is a very attractive, must-have market to the United States. It’s either you’re a schooled leftist/protectionist or an ignoramus to have this type of pre-cold war, anti-history mentality.
Pinoys like Mr. Brillantes only need to look at history and recent economic trends/figures.
You’re absolutely right! RP is not the main trading partner of America in Asia; not even in SE Asia. America’s biggest trading partners in Asia include China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India. (related blog— https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/us-government-shutdown-wont-impact-ph-economy/ ).
Perhaps whenever they hear the terms “economic freedom” or “free trade”, they always think of America. That they always blame America first. Well, today’s economic trends show us America no longer represents these terms or ideals. In fact, Singapore, HK and NZ are now economically freer than America. Opening RP’s economy does not necessarily mean we need to get America as our main trading partner; it simply means we need to partner or trade with any willing/open economies.
Reports from Heritage Foundation, Doing Business and other global think tanks show RP is not that attractive investment place to global investors. Aside from our protectionist and regulative system and business climate, the country is saddled with too much corruption and red tape. Plus, RP’s economy is not that attractive from supply chain and manufacturing POV. This is why global tech and manufacturing companies go to China.
So, please, Mr. Brillantes, stop deluding yourself. The Failippines is a failing state and America and other progressive nations DO NOT NEED US. That’s a FACT! It is US who need them! And if we can’t offer anything other than our human exports (who keep our economy afloat thru their dollar remittances), we only need to face reality and be humble enough to welcome and embrace foreign participation and other cultures. This is what USA, NZ, Canada and Singapore did. They embraced other cultures, including Filipinos, and that’s what made them great!
Wow! Severo L. Brillantes, congratulations for exposing your ignorance.
You said: “1) rich countries are such because they were able to industrialized and poor countries like ours (the Philippines) remain economically backward because we have failed to industrialize.”
If you understand simple economics, you’d have known that it’s their openness to trade and economic liberalization that made those countries progressive and industrialized. Try to educate yourself with the image below…
In terms of economic free index, the Philippines was ranked 97th this year. In terms of Doing Business index, it was ranked 13th. That’s the difference! It’s as if you’re thinking those countries became industrialized because ‘they’re simply industrialized’. Look at the economic history of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. They achieved industrialization only after opening their economies to global trade and investment. You ought to re-educate yourself.
You said: 2) rich countries have an abundance of jobs because they are industrialized (that they would even beg us to work for them and would not even think of banning our workers even if we ban them to work in the Philippines, as vincepleton has suggested);
Again, refer to my answer above. It’s economic freedom and openness to trade that made them industrialized.
You said: “3). There is an inequitable relationship which America has imposed on us, of the Philippines remaining the dumping ground of their finished products and the Philippines being the source of their cheap raw materials (which inevitably results in the Philippines becoming a bankrupted economy because of a perrenial deficit in its balance of trade);”
You must be a clueless leftist to have that kind of stupid, moronic argument. So it’s America’s fault again? Are you even a lawyer? Or, you’re a PULPOL lawyer. I challenge you: Tell me what law or which part of our law imposes what you call “inequitable relationship”. Tell me! You don’t even know RP is not the main trading partner of USA in Asia. It’s Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan. Know your facts!
You said: “4) This inequitable economic relationship remains because contrary to what vincepleton claims, the Philippine economy is not protectionist but free market, so free that our infant industries would die because of unfair competition.”
Check my answer above: I challenge you: Tell me what law or which part of our law imposes what you call “inequitable relationship”. Clearly, you’re inventing things out of your mediocre understanding of RP history and economics. LOL!
You said: “5) Our economy is free market not by our own choice but because parity rights have been imposed on us by America and when parity rights ended, America has imposed on us policies which will allow the free entry of the foreign made goods into the Philippines;”
WOW!!! Where did you get that lie? The parity rights agreement expired a long, long time ago. You’re living in a different era and planet. It’s planet Karl Marx, comrade. We’re a “free market” economy? Now that’s funny. What is your understanding of the term free market, comrade?
You said: “6) Our infant industries in the face of strong competition will certainly die.”
Infant since when? Or, you think our industries are and remain “infant” forever… Do you even know we’ve been imposing PROTECTIONISM for nearly 100 years? Do you even know that? Know the law and RP’s history, comrade. You’re a BIG EMBARRASSMENT to the legal profession.
Plus, you can’t even answer simple questions. I am interested in your answers to my questions below. Stop posting pure BS that merely exposes your ignorance.
So AL, which of the following conclusions of mine are quite bitter to swallow (most unfortunately, you made that conclusion without pointing out which indeed of my conclusions have not factual basis). My mention specifically of America is just to prove the point that our economically backward economy is the handiwork of America, particularly the neo-colonial policies it has historically imposed on the Philippines.
1) rich countries are such because they were able to industrialized and poor countries like ours (the Philippines) remain economically backward because we have failed to industrialize;
2) rich countries have an abundance of jobs because they are industrialized (that they would even beg us to work for them and would not even think of banning our workers even if we ban them to work in the Philippines, as vincepleton has suggested);
3). There is an inequitable relationship which America has imposed on us, of the Philippines remaining the dumping ground of their finished products and the Philippines being the source of their cheap raw materials (which inevitably results in the Philippines becoming a bankrupted economy because of a perrenial deficit in its balance of trade);
4) This inequitable economic relationship remains because contrary to what vincepleton claims, the Philippine economy is not protectionist but free market, so free that our infant industries would die because of unfair competition.
5) Our economy is free market not by our own choice but because parity rights have been imposed on us by America and when parity rights ended, America has imposed on us policies which will allow the free entry of the foreign made goods into the Philippines;
6) Our infant industries in the face of strong competition will certainly die. To grow and become strong, we have AT THE START to protect our industries and only later slowly open our economy if our industries can already be competitive. The US and even Great Britain initially implemented protectionist policies and would only preach free market later, as they want economically backward countries to remain to be their captive markets.
Philippines is less economically freer and its economy heavily relies on OFW remittances. Get your facts straight!
Again, what Vincenton already said, WHAT ELSE WILL YOU PROTECT? Sagad na sagad na!! What more do you want, Mr. Brillantes? Stop fooling yourself
***Correction: $12 trillion annual economic activity, not budget.
Severo—
Ok, protectionism WAS necessary to protect native industries, I agree. But not anymore. To call San Miguel Corp, SM Corp, Ayala Real Estate, PLDT (these are just a few I could name off the top of my head) ‘infant’ industries simply smacks of delusion. These are some of the biggest names in their fields in Asia—and older, a lot older than most other global companies. So, you want to keep propping them up? Protect them from open competetion for what, another couple of decades? Think, Severo. Use your power of observation and deduction. These multi-billion peso corporations are what you are trying to ‘protect’ with your argument. You have bought into their own narrative while you and people who think like you defend their interests, believing they are doing it for the good of the country. These are not infants—they are the greying grandfathers who own the ranch. And none of them are American.
Forcing these entrenched politically-connected behemoths to face Tesco, Walmart, Budweiser, Vodafone in a real open market will only be good for the consumers, the Filipinos. More jobs created, less corruption, better products, more reliable services. Or you want to defend the ‘right’ of these ‘infant’ companies over the right of the Filipinos to have better choices? The right of these infant companies to avoid paying appropriate corporate taxes ( just like their foreign-owned counterparts) over the right of the Philippines to use those taxes to improve people’s lives?
Again with the American dumping. Let that issue go, man. That is not happening for all the reasons I enumerated earlier. It is really becoming apparent that you’re incapable of processing information that are not supportive of your deeply held beliefs. You wanna harp on it? All right, give me an American product that’s being dumped on the Philippines.
And I think you’re confused: one moment you’re railing against the US for the ‘parity rights imposed’ on the Philippines, next you’re defending the ‘free market ‘ system in the Philippines which resulted from those parity rights.
So, in summation, you want the Sys, the Cojuangcos, the Ayalas, the Zobels to continue their economic stranglehold on the Philippines. You also see a lot of imaginary American products in your neighborhood after they were dumped there. And you despise the US-imposed parity rights from decades ago, while at the same time you’re all right with the free market which you believe resulted from them.
Like I said, bitter pill to swallow. But like most effective medicine, the truth is good for you. Try it sometimes.
“You wanna harp on it? All right, give me an American product that’s being dumped on the Philippines.”
He can’t answer it, man! I challenged him to tell me what law or which part of our law implements what he calls American-imposed “inequitable relationship”. Because if his non-factual claim is true, then all Asian Tigers, including China, must be so happy America imposes the same “inequitable relationship” on their economies. This comrade Brillantes doesn’t have the facts, history and proper economics.
Vince—
He reminds me of my teenaged self when I was heavily indoctrinated by nationalistic propaganda (I did not go to Ateneo, went to the other one equally as good). I was incapable of honest introspection. Blaming outsiders for the country’s ills was the easiest thing to do. And the big, bad Americans were the main culprit.
Looking back now, two decades of traveling the world later, exposing my biases to realities on the ground, I just shake my head in amusement. How could I have been so blind and a willing participant in a long-running charade? I thought I was being helpful, a fired up street fighter against imperialism. I was actually a peon for these oligarchs who wanted to keep the status quo—and I thought I was smart.
Fortunately, the internet and twitter and facebook and google will keep the lies in check quicker than it did for me. Like this exchange with Mr. Brillantes. Hopefully, he’ll do his own research and see that the US, for example, is not out to carpet-bomb Manila with expensive Fords, Boeing aircraft, and Citibank CEOs. His fascination with this dumping thing is very strange- it sounds very 70’s campus indoctrination. I don’t think even I heard about this accusation when I was going to college there in my time. I mean, it’s such an easy thing to fact-check’ he doesn’t even need research. Just walking around his neighborhood—any neighborhood!—will disprove his belief. Unless of course he gets run over by a Ford Mustang, and an American driver in Oakleys wearing Levi’s and cowboy boots steps out of the car, and asks him, “How ya’ doin’ there, pardner?”
Over five years ago I considered myself a semi-Marxist, or a student of Marxism. Thanks for sharing your story.
Also, what countries are ‘begging’ to get Filipino workers to come over? Canada? Japan? The US? Any EU member? Any country at all that requires skilled professionals who would be guaranteed high wages and respect in their workplace? No? You must mean Arab countries which pay Filipino workers extremely low wages, subject them to harsh working conditions, treat them like 3rd class human beings, and deny them basic human rights such as access to health care. I don’t think you should repeat this particular claim ad hominem to support your argument, Severo. It’s embarrassing, worse than your fallacious insistence on American dumping.
I can see you are actually capable of reasoning. So forget we’re having this discussion, forget Vincenton has questioned your sanity, forget what you have learned from history in school— look at the evidence in front of you then come up with you own conclusion. Look around and see products around you to prove/disprove your theory about American dumping; see what domestic industries are vulnerable to foreign competition, if there are any; come up with a list of countries currently reliant on Filipino labor and analyze if it’s good or bad for the OFWs, the Philippines and its image; and finally, don’t be dismissive of someone else’ opinions because they’re not ‘indigenous’ like yours. It makes you look like a snotty ultra-nationalistic bigot. Remember, we’re all debating these issues because we care about the Philippines. No one here is out to sabotage its welfare.
I have enumerated above my conclusions. You have still not answered which of my above conclusions are a bitter pill to swallow.
You’re so done. Give it up. I take back what I said earlier; I think you’re incapable of reasoning. I don’t even think you’re smart at all. Watching Vincenton debating you is like witnessing a grown man beating a blind man in a wheelchair. You’re very good at name-calling once you run out of ideas, though. I’d give you that. Oh, and you’re excellent at spouting propaganda from outdated textbooks. Go read up on current events, dude. Maybe that might save you from further embarrassment in the future.
Al, Vincepleton’s rahrah boy or perhaps clone, you still have not answered my above query.
Is that it? Without having the courage to confront my questions?
What pitiful creature. You don’t even know you’re simply making your own death wish with your stupid, fallacious arguments. 😉
So Al, Vincepleton’s rahrahboy and perhaps clone, I am incapable of reasoning? This person who according to you is a college student prior to taking Logic 101, who actually has taught Logic for several years, who is a Lawyer, who has day in and day out has been arguing in court is incapable of reasoning? Then why are you running away from an argument. We lawyers say flight is an admission of guilt. Your flight precisely is evidence that it is you who is incapable of argument. You speak of name-calling? Just read what you have just said to me. You are nothing but a squid which spit his black ink as he has taken flight.
Vince—
I am hoping Severo is still an impressionable college kid or a recent grad. Imagine if he’s in a position to influence government policy. Yikes. After re-reading his comments, it’s become more apparent his ideas are straight out of left-leaning textbooks…from the 60’s and 70’s. “American dumping,” “parity rights,” “raw materials going to America,” “our infant industries,” etc. He needs new material to read. I wonder what raw materials from the Philippines are worth shipping over the Pacific, when the Americas and the Caribbean are way more accessible. Let’s ask Severo…Oh, wait. He can’t answer right now—he’s in the 70’s ironing his bell bottoms.
Vincenton—
This guy Brillantes is a lawyer?! Really? Holy crap- how did he pass the bar? Or made it thru law school? Or graduated from ANY college at all? He sounds like a college freshman prior to taking Logic 101. What an indictment on the current state of the legal profession in the Philippines.
Well, at least we can rest easier now knowing his is the kind of brain trust behind the opposition to whatever free market reforms the Philippine government decides to do in the future.
Vincepleton as in Simpleton. there you go again, doing what you are good at, doing one ad hominem after another. I am not only a lawyer but taught Logic for several years. That is precisely why I have exposed your fallacies one after the other. You must be so embarassed that i have blown your cover: you are no other than a foreign paid hack. You know my full name, you can google me. but you hide behind a false name. Reveal who you truly are if you are that courageous enough. but that you will not do as you have been so compromised already as to your true objectives.
My God, you call on other countries to ban Filipino workers, which but reveals that your interests is not the interest of my people, the Filipino people. I have fought the corrupt and hated Marcos dictatorship: joined several rallies, have been water cannoned, teargassed. I have risked my life during the time of the dictatorship to investigate military abuses in Mindanao. You what have you done for the Philippines. That of course, you will not say because you are no other than a foreign paid hack.
Readers are invited to examine my exchanges with this Simpleton, and see what he is good at: shadow boxing. Yes, misrepresenting my views and thereafter knocking out ghost opponents and thereafter shout to the heavens that he has won an argument when all he did is shadow box.
But you can not rest Vincepleton as in Simpleton from now on, as you have already been exposed. Like Devina, you should be so embarrassed that people now know who you are.
I have demolished this Simpleton’s myth of laissez faire which until now awaits a rebuttal from him.
This Vincepleton as in Simpleton must be so enraged that I have blown his cover that from now on people reading his posts will find his motives suspect, his being no other but a part of a lobby group to advance alien interests. Readers here should be forewarned and be wary of the motives of this Vincepleton as in Simpleton.
Throughout my life I have advanced causes for the welfare of my people. In doing so, I have even lost my job once or twice. But what has this Vincepleton done for my people but advance the interests of his foreign masters.
So continue in your rage. As I have expected, you will go berserk and commit one ad hominem after the other. And I have been proven right.
So enraged are you that you would commit illicit generalization about the current state of legal education in the Philippines. By making said illicit generalization, you are no better than that Devina Dediva.
so Vincepleton as in Simpleton, the arguments I advanced to demolish your Laissez faire remain unrebutted, as follows:
JAL LEAVE, I already spoke earlier of Vincepleton’s Laissez faire as follows and it has not yet received any response from him but a DEAFENING SILENCE. Instead, he has engaged time and again in his pasttime of doing shadow boxing and knocking out ghost opponents.
“You honestly believe that the economy left to itself will take care of itself and like an invisible hand promote the common good? That presupposes that there is genuine competition. but what we have are cartels and monopolies, so where is your invisible hand which will promote the common good. Government thus must be there to intervene in the economy to break monopolies and cartels to promote the common good. where is your invisible hand during calamities, when businessmen will exploit consumers by means of hoarding. So where is your law of supply and demand which will promote the common good. Someone said, there are high prices because of the law of supply and demand. A Congressman then retorted, then let us amend the law of supply and demand. On reflection, he has a point, because the law of supply and demand can be manipulated, It will never work when there are cartels and monopolies. It will never work because of hoarding. So where is your laissez faire now. You are definitely wrong, Japan or Korea are not superior to us because they are economically freer. they are superior because they suceeded in industrializing which we have failed to do. And tell me, how were they able to industrialize, if they did not initially adopt protectionist policies. Perhaps you have not gone to department stores and markets. Do you not know that foreign made goods are even cheaper than our domestic products. So what protectionism do you speak of when foreign made goods continue to flood our markets. Speak of the invisible hand to the thousands of workers who are exploited, because of their oversupply and thus who are paid starvation wages. Tell me, should not the government intervene to protect them? So who is arrogantly ignorant now?”
Vincepleton, misrepresenting my views accuse me of all out protectionism when all I spouse is selective protectionism, in otherwords, a mixed economy.
this is another one which remains unrebutted:
And how else would you brand a person who believes in laissez faire, that is, that the market, meaning, self-interest left to itself (meaning, the pursuit of profit or the profit motive), without any government intervention will promote the common good? Such person precisely has made money as their God. Go pray to all mighty profit motive and the good of everyone will be answered. Well, Vincepleton will have allies in his advocacy: 1) owners of cartels and monopolies who impose their will (meaning the price of their goods to the captive market; meaning the exploited consumers) and exclaim to government “leave us alone and do not intervene in the economy; 2) Hoarders during calamities and who exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not impose price controls; 3) owners of businesses who pay unjust wages to their employees (who because of the oversupply of workers do not have the bargaining power to demand decent wages), who exclaim to government,leave us alone and do not impose minimum wages; 4) landlords who with their vast lands would exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not implement agrarian reform; 4) aliens who will dump their finished goods which will be cheaper than locally made goods and thus exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not impose high tariff duties, so that our goods will remain cheaper than locally made goods.
The vast majority of Filipinos are already landless and Vincepleton wants foreigners to be allowed to own lands here, which will aggravate the landlessness of our people. Filipinos thus, will remain landless but this time their landlords will be aliens. Worse, Filipinos who are tenant farmers will be driven out of the lands that they till as these lands will be transformed for industrial purposes and thus aggravate the massive hunger already widespread all over the country.
Vincepleton wants foreign investors in our media industry and thus allow aliens to shape the minds and hearts of our people. Decades of colonial rule have already made the minds and hearts of Filipinos value anything American and foreign, and Vincepleton wants to make our cultural captivity complete by surrendering our media industry and even our schools to aliens.
Jobs are already scarce in the Philippines and he wants aliens to compete with our own professionals, which means he wants our people to be perrenial OFWs, thus destroying the Filipino family, because of an absent father and mother. And what is most funny, he has advised the US and other countries to also ban our professionals in their shores, if we maintain such a policy. Vincepleton’s advice however is most foolish, because foreign countries are not interested to send their professionals to the Philippines but are most interested to attract our professionals and skilled workers, lest their countries will be in a stand still.
… which all make me believe that Vincepleton is part of a lobby group to advance alien interests in the Philippines. By saying so, I am not here attacking his person as I have extensively attacked his arguments. But I believe I have blown his cover and warn people to be wary of his motives.
Well, I expect you, pulpol, stupid lawlawer, to be more honest.
Do you want RP to become another North Korea in Asia?
Also, please answer my pending questions, which you’ve been evading.
Hahaha Vincenton, just drop this thing already with this guy. I’ve encountered bricks more worthy of debate than this “lawyer.” You’ll just be wasting time. Keep up the good work blogging about free market in the Philippines; the country needs your ideas. As for Severo’s rants, we all need them, too…for amusement.
Many thanks! I appreciate it!
I challenged Vincepleton to reveal his true identity and he refuses to. He wishes to hide in anonymity, like the Makapilis of old who would hide their face with a bayong. Equal to his rage due to my blowing his cover as exposing him as a foreign paid hack and a puppet of his alien masters is is great fear of being identified. Devina at least has the courage to identifying herself, but not this Simpleton, I mean Vincepleton. By acting like a Makapili, we know now were his loyalties lie, we know now of his true motives.
LOL! You do a little search.A number of people know me, especially some leftards in this FB group… http://www.facebook.com/groups/283188308422142/
Ask another pulpol, leftard lawyer named Pistong Melliza 😉
“a foreign paid hack”???
ROLFMAO-tse-tung! That shows you’re not just a leftard ignoramus; you’re paranoid and sick in the mind as well. You really some psychiatric help, creature. 😉
Aristotle defines rhetorics as the art of persuasion. It has three elements: ethos (which refers t the credibility of the person), logos (appeal to reason) and pathos (appeal to the emotion). A number of alleged people know you? Yet, you continue to hide in anonymity. why don’t you introduce yourself and let’s see how credible your person is, so that I know that I am indeed talking to a person and not to a machine or to someone who is perhaps the victim of alien abduction, who has been so brainwashed that he has to advance the selfish interests of his alien masters.
Ok, I bombarded you with so many arguments, involving so many issues, which your Vincepleton’s mind (I mean Simpleton’s mind) have a hard time grasping. So I will go with you one by one, issue per issue and I promise to be patient with you. Go answer this one:
Vincepleton wants foreign investors in our media industry and thus allow aliens to shape the minds and hearts of our people. Decades of colonial rule have already made the minds and hearts of Filipinos value anything American and foreign, and Vincepleton wants to make our cultural captivity complete by surrendering our media industry and even our schools to aliens.
We all know that free-trade, free-market or Laissez faire capitalism does not work, it is an economic suicide to any country. It is only good while it lasts. In the end, it only enriches the manipulative, aggressive, greedy, unethical and mean people. It opens up for monopoly and warlords. It widens the gap between the few very rich people and the poverty-stricken populace. It also means chaos.
Overregulations or statism/socialism/communism on the other hand cripples the society, it removes individual liberty and freedom. Under normal circumstances, no sound society would choose this path. Sadly, societies fall into this trap because of the desperate conditions of the masses as an end result of laissez faire capitalism. In my humble opinion, regulated economy (protectionism) to a certain degree is necessary to avoid this trap. Wise leaders should impose balance and moderation to a society and be steadfast about it.
Everything you said is an economic fallacy. History has it that every economic crisis was caused by the government thru excessive regulations, protectionism and intrusive intervention. Learn economics.
If your leftard argument is true, then North Korea, the most regulated, protected economy on this planet, should have been the richest, the most industrialized.
Everything you said is not backed by history and proper economics.
The Great depression was caused by excessive government intervention.
The first quarter of the 20th century in the United States saw the rise of the progressives mostly composed of the educated elites who favored government regulation and big government over free market capitalism. As result, a number of progressive or statist laws were established from 1890 to 1920, such as the Interstate Commerce Act enacted in 1887 that regulated railroads, the Sherman Antitrust Act enacted in 1890, a law that prevents large firms from controlling a single industry, and the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 implemented during the term of President Woodrow Wilson. Also in 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified, which led to the institution of income tax in the United States. ——>>> https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/the-roots-of-americas-great-depression-big-government-and-the-federal-reserve-system/
NOW, most progressive countries in Asia, like Singapore, Japan and South Korea, were inspired by the American free market model. Lee Kuan Yew himself said he was inspired by America’s free market and immigration system. This is why two decades ago Singapore began freeing its fledgling economy and allowing foreign investors and professionals to be part of its team.
I am not saying Singapore is an example of a free market society. But Singapore has a higher degree of economic freedom. And when we talk about free market system, we talk about a society’s level of economic openness.
Just imagine the degree of freedom versus government control, zero (0) being “Anarchy Level” and 100 being the “Absolute Government Control Level”. Using this freedom-statism scale, the Philippines must be somewhere between 60 and 50 percent. We have more controls and degree of government intervention. Singapore must be somewhere between 40 to 30 percent. A true free market model should be between 15 and 10%.
There’s this one particular fallacy many Filipinos commit whenever they try to compare the Philippines with other Asian countries. And this fallacy is what I call the “fallacy of politico-economic equivalence”. Some pinoys– especially the economic illiterates– tend to think that while the Philippines is way poorer than Singapore and Japan, the three are equal in terms of politico-economic foundation and fundamentals. They’re not. That’s why we’re economically inferior to Japan, Singapore and South Korea, which all have superior economic models. But what makes their econ models superior or successful?
The truth is, Japan, SK, Singapore and HK are economically freer than us. In terms of ease of doing business, it is easier to start a business in these Asian tiger economies. Which means that they have a higher degree of economic freedom. They embrace foreign investors. They don’t have the 60-40 rule that we currently apply. We totally ban foreign professionals; they don’t. They’re certainly not representatives of capitalism or free market system, but they’re freer than other economies or societies. They’re many times FREER than us. In fact in terms of economic policies, China is freer than us.
But really, where do you think we should get the political and economic model for our country? Please answer.
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/filipinos-fallacy-of-politico-economic-equivalence/
We should not copy any country’s political and economic model. If we do, we will lose ground and identity as a nation. Every country is unique. Our history; climate; culture; religion; people’s physical, mental and spiritual mold; size, topography and geographical location of the country; natural resources available; priorities and national conscience; etc. – all of these factors play a role of what and how we are as a country. We make our own economic model that fits to our country, whatever works without compromising our conscience, values, national identity, faith and environment. Like I said before, there is no perfect government and economy. There is always a price to pay for everything.
I fully agree with you Jal Leave. this Vincepleton however brands your view as an economic fallacy, yet does not explain what that fallacy is. His rah-rah boy, Al (walang malay kuno) says that I sound like a college freshman prior to taking Logic 101. So let this college freshman share something about fallacies, which he has taught for several years. A fallacy is a deceptive argument: one that appears to be valid but is actually invalid or whose premises appears to be true but are actually false. So Vincepleton, please enlighten us, which premise of Jal Leave is actually false and which reasoning of his is invalid?
What Vincepleton however is good at only is name-calling, evading the issue and calling your argument a leftard argument. Utterly destitute of valid arguments, he resorts to attacking persons instead. This vincepleton is so full of himself, so confident of his intelligence that he would call everyone else as an ignoramus, except himself of course.
You argued for a mixed economy, one which is the middle ground between all out laissez faire and over government regulation. Yet this Vincepleton, would misrepresent your view as advocating all out protectionism. This Vincepleton really is good at that, misrepresenting your views and thereafter, engage in shadow-boxing by knocking out ghost opponents. I too argued for a mixed economy and this Vincepleton’s knee jerk reaction is to ask whether I want the Philippines to be like North Korea. Truly laughable indeed.
I argued something similar to yours, and my following arguments remain unrebutted by Simpleton, I mean Vincepleton:
“You honestly believe that the economy left to itself will take care of itself and like an invisible hand promote the common good? That presupposes that there is genuine competition. but what we have are cartels and monopolies, so where is your invisible hand which will promote the common good. Government thus must be there to intervene in the economy to break monopolies and cartels to promote the common good. where is your invisible hand during calamities, when businessmen will exploit consumers by means of hoarding. So where is your law of supply and demand which will promote the common good. Someone said, there are high prices because of the law of supply and demand. A Congressman then retorted, then let us amend the law of supply and demand. On reflection, he has a point, because the law of supply and demand can be manipulated, It will never work when there are cartels and monopolies. It will never work because of hoarding. So where is your laissez faire now. You are definitely wrong, Japan or Korea are not superior to us because they are economically freer. they are superior because they suceeded in industrializing which we have failed to do. And tell me, how were they able to industrialize, if they did not initially adopt protectionist policies. Perhaps you have not gone to department stores and markets. Do you not know that foreign made goods are even cheaper than our domestic products. So what protectionism do you speak of when foreign made goods continue to flood our markets. Speak of the invisible hand to the thousands of workers who are exploited, because of their oversupply and thus who are paid starvation wages. Tell me, should not the government intervene to protect them? So who is arrogantly ignorant now?”
And this one too remains unrebutted,
And how else would you brand a person who believes in laissez faire, that is, that the market, meaning, self-interest left to itself (meaning, the pursuit of profit or the profit motive), without any government intervention will promote the common good? Such person precisely has made money as their God. Go pray to all mighty profit motive and the good of everyone will be answered. Well, Vincepleton will have allies in his advocacy: 1) owners of cartels and monopolies who impose their will (meaning the price of their goods to the captive market; meaning the exploited consumers) and exclaim to government “leave us alone and do not intervene in the economy; 2) Hoarders during calamities and who exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not impose price controls; 3) owners of businesses who pay unjust wages to their employees (who because of the oversupply of workers do not have the bargaining power to demand decent wages), who exclaim to government,leave us alone and do not impose minimum wages; 4) landlords who with their vast lands would exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not implement agrarian reform; 4) aliens who will dump their finished goods which will be cheaper than locally made goods and thus exclaim to government, leave us alone and do not impose high tariff duties, so that our goods will remain cheaper than locally made goods.
The vast majority of Filipinos are already landless and Vincepleton wants foreigners to be allowed to own lands here, which will aggravate the landlessness of our people. Filipinos thus, will remain landless but this time their landlords will be aliens. Worse, Filipinos who are tenant farmers will be driven out of the lands that they till as these lands will be transformed for industrial purposes and thus aggravate the massive hunger already widespread all over the country.
Vincepleton wants foreign investors in our media industry and thus allow aliens to shape the minds and hearts of our people. Decades of colonial rule have already made the minds and hearts of Filipinos value anything American and foreign, and Vincepleton wants to make our cultural captivity complete by surrendering our media industry and even our schools to aliens.
Jobs are already scarce in the Philippines and he wants aliens to compete with our own professionals, which means he wants our people to be perrenial OFWs, thus destroying the Filipino family, because of an absent father and mother. And what is most funny, he has advised the US and other countries to also ban our professionals in their shores, if we maintain such a policy. Vincepleton’s advice however is most foolish, because foreign countries are not interested to send their professionals to the Philippines but are most interested to attract our professionals and skilled workers, lest their countries will be in a stand still.
… which all make me believe that Vincepleton is part of a lobby group to advance alien interests in the Philippines. By saying so, I am not here attacking his person as I have extensively attacked his arguments. But I believe I have blown his cover and warn people to be wary of his motives.
I doubt if he read my comment at all. I think he copied and pasted his previous posts from somewhere else.
I have been reviewing my exchanges with Vincepleton and what you said above best expresses my economic philosophy. Most unfortunately, if you will read Vincepleton’s comments of my views, all he has done is to misrepresent them, shadow box and shout to the heavens that he has won an argument (of course, with his Rah rah boy, seconding his statements, which may even be Vincepleton himself masquerading as someone else). Thank you, Ja Leave.
Jal Leave: well, said, that each country’s identity should be unique .. but harping on a broken system claiming it is UNIQUE is, well … boring ..
I had this funny question from a Comedian
Philippines was one of the most happiest country in the world, and this Australian Comedian asked “if they are so freaking happy, why the hell almost all I meet want to marry me and leave their country ?? ”
Something isn’t correct, right ?
Now, when a country has teenagers lining up to marry westerners as possibly the only way to escape poverty, well, yes, the westerners are to blame to some extent for taking advantage, but the crux of the matter often blindly ignored by those human rights and anti trafficking campaigners is, what makes teenagers lining up to marry old and about to die-westerners, with no qualms ?
Answer that, if you may !!
After all, until the poverty issue is fixed, without giving handouts, but by restructuring the country, removing oligarchs having a finger in each and every business in this country, and ensuring banks are efficient to give out better loans than be jittery and give out not more than 20% of asset value for mortgage, and the so-called Community champion businessmens who in the name of doing good – are busy sucking more money out of gullible and hero worshipping populace are eradicated, and making the civil service run efficient enough it doesn’t have to have bloated head counts doing needless tasks and hampering the life of a poor man (see how many documents you have to do to get a job overseas ? that equates to so many heads being paid .. )
Did you ever wonder why so many ex-Miss Philippines said maid jobs are decent ? well, ask them if they ever washed a dish in their life ? yes, saying maid jobs are good only feed the emotions of gullible population.
What is the Plan of the OWWA for returning OFWS ? setup Sari-sari shops .. no, don’t let them do other business lest they eat into the mega-oligarchs’ businesses
No hope .. is all there is to hope for ..
Government is from the people and by the people. It is what it is because of who we are. It is our collective reflections. Responsibility starts and should start at the very basic unit of the society — the individual people. We cannot change a broken system unless each one of us change first – our attitudes, priorities and outlooks in life. Change what we can and pray for what we can’t. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and everything is added unto you”.
If you are a Christian, read the Bible and seek the truth. Apply it to your life and live by example. Our good example is like a light that shines to everyone.
Mankind’s primary purpose is to be STEWARDS of the EARTH. We were also commanded to “Love God above all”, and to “Love your neighbors as you love yourself”. This should be our basic guide in life because we reap what we sow.
Below is part of Jesus Christ’s gospel that I have to keep reminding myself of everyday and would like to share with you:
Matthew 6:
King James Version (KJV)
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
To Severo L. Brillantes, Jal Leave and others:
Why Hong Kong, U.S., and Other Freer Economies Can Justifiably Ban/Restrict Free-Riding RP in the Name of Reciprocity
What about all the Koreans in the Philippines? With all the protectionism that is being talked about, it seems that thousands of Koreans own businesses in PH. They walk around proud. They have stores, internet cafe and a huge presence in the country. So, what gives?
OTOH, there are very few Americans that own anything at all.
https://vincenton.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/why-hong-kong-u-s-and-other-freer-economies-can-justifiably-banrestrict-free-riding-rp-in-the-name-of-reciprocity/
Walt Gomez
instead of jumping into the bandwagon like the general populace who blame everything on the chinese .. do some work ..
All korean are there by working the system, by engaging a local dummy .. and in the process, enough Koreans have been taken for rides .. and are powerless to get their money back ..
Nobody has free run in PH .. except the locals and politicos ..