EDITORIAL

Why is the Philippines poor?

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country: This can be shown by countries like India and Egypt , that are more than 2000 years old, but are poor. On the other hand, Canada , Australia and New Zealand , 150 years ago were not that well off, but today are developed countries, and are rich.

The difference between poor and rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources, according to studies. Japan has limited territory, 80 percent mountainous, inadequate for agriculture and cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil four months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality. It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order and labor, which made it the world's strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference. Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people, molded along the years by the education, culture and flawed tradition. Studies have shown that the behavior of the great majority of people in rich and developed countries follow the following principles in their lives: ethics, as a basic principle, integrity, responsibility, respect to laws,. rules and rights of citizens, work loving, know savings and investment, will of super action, punctuality and discipline.

In poor countries, studies have again shown, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life. The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources. We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of the rich and developed countries and societies.

Lack of discipline, laziness, love for intrigue and politics, indifference to saving for the future and stubborn attitude are destroying this country. Loving country one’s country means changing and acting for the better. Simple.