Introduction

Consumerism is a theory that a nation will be better of economically if it consumes

products and services in big amounts. It is also the actions of people who loved to
spend cash or money on goods and services. It is sometimes referred to as a strategy
promoting greed.

While many different civilizations have always bought and eaten products throughout
many distinct cultures and periods of time, the contemporary nation of consumerism is
best known to have started in Europe in early 1600’s. It intensified from that stage in
1700’s and 1800’s and became a significant social phenomenon in which the
consumption of products became a vital job for most individuals in society.

With the shift brought to the world by innovation and financial advancement, individuals
around the globe have changed their habits in expenditure from functional to
materialistic and aesthetic.

According to Dr. Seshan Ramaswami, associate professor of Marketing Education at

Singapore Management University (SMU), the only true advantage of consumerism is to
enhance the economy. When a larger percentage of people purchase products and
services that exceed their requirement, they eat more, they spend more, and that can
generate a cycle of demand that leads to increased manufacturing and jobs.

Consumerism affects a country’s economy, society and environment. The more that is
produced and the more that is purchased, the more we have progress and prosperity
but that is not always the case.

According to Lew Rockwell, an American author, editor and political consultant,

spending is not the cause of economic growth. It doesn't matter that consumption
makes up a certain percentage of economic activity. That's only the surface you are
looking at. Spending and consumption without saving and investment is a prescription
for devouring the prospects for prosperity down the line. In this case, the best thing that
the rich can do for a future of economic growth is not to spend but to save toward
investment.
Problem

Consumerism is destroying our environment. As the demand for products rises, so does
the need to manufacture these products. This results to more pollutant emissions,
increased land-use, deforestation and accelerated climate change.

Increased consumerism has many disadvantages such as air pollution, water pollution,
land contamination and forest degradation. This is particularly evident in industrial and
agricultural manufacturing where more waste packaging needs to be disposed of.

As more and more water stores are being used up or diverted as part of intensive
farming processes, we are witnessing catastrophic impacts on the planets water
supplies. Waste disposal is becoming a global issue, and our oceans are becoming
gigantic waste disposal pits slowly but surely. Over half of the plastic generated each
year is estimated to be of single use. This implies that it is used once and then either
thrown into a landfill or found its way into the environment.

Filipinos have been surrounded by consumerism. It is the home of three of the ten
largest shopping malls on earth despite being one of the poorest countries in Asia.
In major Philippine cities, the number of shopping malls and condominiums continue to
rise and this construction fools Filipinos into believing the economy is growing, forcing
them to buy goods or homes they cannot afford. Luckily, so little marketing is needed for
retailers because Filipinos love spending their cash.

The Philippines is a developing country and Filipinos are constantly complaining about
poverty, malnutrition and costly education, both privately and publicly. Going to malls,
however is surprising because the shops are jam-packed almost everyday and that
excessive consumerism contradicts the apparent poverty that exists in barangays
surrounding these over-sized shopping malls.

Shopping malls shape urban cultures in main Philippine cities. Most Philippine train
stations are connected to a mall. In the Philippines, wherever someone go, there is
always something that can be purchased as if he/she is a walking wallet.
Most, if not all, families own a cellular phone regardless of their financial status. Fast
food restaurants, cafes and coffee shops have become favorite hangouts. To remain
relevant, watching the recent films is a must. It has become a clique trend to own the
latest tech gadget and driving one’s own vehicle is almost a requirement.

Why is this happening? Maybe because it’s what the social media and the internet
present to Filipinos everyday and the vanity politics make them believe that having the
recent tech gadget makes one popular or saves them from the disgrace of the clique.

Filipinos enjoy shopping and spending, as seen with the crowds shopping on malls
around the city especially during holidays. Stores go through these events where they
sell stuffs at a lower cost. These events are called sales. Sales can be amazing events
that let people get the most out of the little money they have. Companies always have a
purpose for holding sales. Sometimes, the reason is to make the business look good,
while other times, it’s to get you try stuff or to get rid of the extra products.

Sometimes, people don’t buy items simply because they see purchase as being too
risky. If the item is pricey and they end up not liking it, they either have to go through the
trouble of returning it or they’re out of money. When a store lowers its prices through a
sale, though, customers are more willing to buy because they know they’re not putting
as much money on the purchase. Even if they end up not liking the product, they won’t
make any attempt to return it because they purchased it at a much reduced cost.

People tend to buy goods and services when a store is on sale. They purchase
unnecessary things just because the price is much lower and they think they are saving
more money but the fact is, it’s not the people who benefit from it but the companies,
but despite the fact that a sale benefits the business, going to a sale can mean people
can get something they couldn’t afford or get more of they want, so as long as they
know how to properly balance their budget, sales can be a great way to save.

Some may have noticed that most of the gadgets purchased by Filipinos are overseas,
not local. Even the food they buy are mostly from other countries. Clothes, shoes, and
restaurants came from different countries. Filipino products are of high-quality but
because they are not internationally recognized, selling them is more difficult and
challenging.

Have you wondered why Filipinos prefer to purchase imported goods over their local
products? Why do they patronize foreign products more than their own local brands?

For 333 years, the Philippines had been a Spanish colony until 1898, when the
Americans took over. Western impact has since left its mark on Filipino lifestyle, political
climate and buying choices. The Filipino public sphere is dominated by western
lifestyles and socio-political perspectives.

They introduced advanced machinery, better equipments and accessories that

captivated Filipinos. They were so impressed with foreign products that they quickly
realized the inferiority of their local brands. For decades, this colonial mentality has
retained western popularity and impeded Filipino retail and independence in
manufacturing.

Even today, social, political and purchasing decisions are infiltrated by colonial
mentality. Imported products such as chocolates, canned goods, watches, shirts, bags
and shoes are always considered to be more delicious and of greater quality that is why
Filipinos purchase more imported goods than local ones.

This results to markets producing fake products. While there are affordable products
made of good quality materials, there are fake products sold in stores that look like the
exact replica of its original counterpart. These products are sold in much lower price
since the ingredients made to produce them are not the same with the original one
which means the quality is not that good.

This colonial mentality is considered to be a problem for the country. If the Philippines
started importing more than exporting, a trade deficit might happen. The country will
start borrowing money from other countries to pay for extra imports and if that happens,
the country will be dependent on other countries’ political and economic power and it
will be dangerous if it started relying on a foreign country to keep its population fed and
its factories humming.
Policies

Philippines did not really create specific laws regarding consumerism since it is
benefitting the economy of the country. The problem is that their consumption of foreign
products is much higher than their consumption of local ones. Also, Filipino
manufacturers, companies and small vendors are presently consuming natural
resources at an unsustainable pace, which is causing environmental destruction and
social issues. This does not only affect the Philippines but the whole world.

Although there are no particular consumerism policies in the Philippines, there is an act
that ensures the safety and good quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, devices and
equipment and regulates their manufacture, sale, distribution and advertising to protect
the health of consumers.