Article Link: https://business.inquirer.

net/344745/ph-ranked-fourth-globally-in-crony-
capitalism

‘Repressive Capitalism and What Better Ways to Unravel It”

"Everyone's got the desire to take advantage of others' misfortune." This pressing issue

regarding crony capitalism just goes to show that the rich don't really care about the people they

are stepping on, this also includes the government itself. Ranking forth in the crony capitalism—

when a few well-connected businesspeople have more economic advantages than others—is

indeed a major problem as it erodes people’s trust in the state, misallocates resources, and

prevents countries and actual entrepreneurs from becoming wealthy (de Vera, 2016).

When the president promotes capitalism, you know that he doesn't care for the less

fortunate, homeless, for the people struggling to make ends meet. This problematic scenario has

been going on for decades and yet we are still being manipulated by the rich, and although they

only comprise 1% in the society, we are left to believe that their way is "the best way" to live.

Even going far as capitalizing the basic healthcare of the people. When we are privileged

enough, we completely ignore the misfortune that the wealthy impose on the poor.

We have come accustomed to the life of being controlled by the prosperous – letting

them get away with the money that they "stole," even though we are bigger in numbers, and we

are the ones paying their bills. And when a crisis happens, it will always be the less fortunate that

gets screwed over when the government makes skewed decisions. It is clear why the system of

capitalism is becoming more repressive.

At the bottom line of everything, the worst thing that capitalism brings is capitalist. It was

born of a system of freedom, but the people within it turned out to be destructive. Individual that
has been influenced to be overly greedy, deceitful and view workers as a low value commodity

(Dejaresco, 2021). Things got even more destructive when the capitalist and politician sided

together.

The freedom that supposedly to be free-market sees the laborers and citizens as their free-

target. You can't be in between dealing with capitalism, are you fighting for Goldman? Or a dead

peasant who keeps on fighting?

Summing up these vital points stated, it can be concluded that capitalism can only

function if there are clear regulations and property rights are stable. Forest investors, for

example, will not engage in tree plantations when the product takes 10 years or more to create if

rules change with each government. Instead of the government over-regulating the harvesting of

planted trees, they should be permitted to collect what they planted (Chikiamco, 2021). Another

opinion of Vina (2021) states that small steps can still be taken to gradually transition away from

harsh economic practices and toward more sustainable ones, such as ensuring humane labor

conditions, divesting from extractive and non-renewable energy sources, reducing carbon

emissions in operations, and renewing methods of redistributing value and wealth to

stakeholders. If we wish to alleviate suffering and increase prosperity, we must rely on

capitalism's transformative power rather than the state's.

In relation to Rizal’s approaches in the context of the Philippine History, what better

ways to do it is to reform through a persuasive protest towards inclusive and sustainable growth

while maintaining a patriotic and nationalistic approach. People could slowly turn this into a

win-win situation, if people could start to alter the way they think, they have to turn the table

around, change the game. The best way is to amplify our vulnerable sectors that could potentially

grow and be as competitive as the capitalists so that we can counteract the forces of inequity that
the system also creates. Likewise, the energy and power will expand throughout the horizons of

our country, ensuring that it would be beneficial to all of our citizens.

References:
De Vera, B. (2016, May). PH Rises to Third Pace in Crony-Capitalism Index. Philippine Daily
Inquirer. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/210177/ph-rises-to-third-place-in-
crony-capitalism-index
Dejaresco, Z. (2021, April 6). Is Capitalism Really Working? Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from
https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/06/is-capitalism-really-working/
Vina, T. (2021, Jul 6). To build better, we need inclusive capitalism. Retrieved from
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-build-better-we-need-
inclusive-capitalism/
Chikiamco, C. (2021, Nov 21). Capitalism and Philippine Development. Business World.
Retrieved from https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2021/11/21/412112/capitalism-
and-philippine-development/
De Vera, B. (2022, March 31). PH Ranked Fourth Globally in ‘Crony Capitalism’. Philippine
Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/344745/ph-ranked-fourth-
globally-in-crony-capitalism
Canto, J. & Romano, K. (2022, April 26). Philippines Economic Outlook 2022. Retrieved from
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/asia-pacific/philippines-economic-
outlook-2022
Article: https://focusweb.org/philippine-agriculture-is-dying-what-will-it-take-to-save-it/

“Minority Groups as the Backbone of Philippine Agriculture—How do we Elevate it?”

We have these certain moments when we were kids where adults would often ask us,

“When you grow up, what do you want to be?” and most of the kids would answer, “doctor,”

“policemen”, “teacher,” and other jobs that we usually see on television. Up until now, as we

persist on asking these out of nowhere questions, we have never encountered a response that they

wanted to be a “farmer”.

It came to a conclusion that their answers were derived from what they have observed

within their surroundings. For example, cartoons (media) that turned out to be one of the shaping

forces of globalization. Globalization draws the world together, giving 7 billion people an

opportunity, though not everyone gets a chance. This is where the problem lies, because people

tend to step on others. Along with globalization, people should also change the way they behave

and think. Instead of asking kids, "What do you want to be?" we should rephrase the question to,

"Whom do you want to be?" Using 100 people as a manageable measurement, it shows the

simplified ratio of the minority, diversity, and privilege that exists. It explains how unequal the

world is. Although the fight is not about equality itself but about opportunity. It's not about what

your choice is but about having one -- an access to a better life.

For some, so many things are taken for granted but to others it is hardly even necessities.

It’s quite interesting as to how many people in a hundred would be so deprived of basic

resources and rights based on our population today. Although we have already come a long way

in developing the life that we have today, it seems that we need a bigger push to further improve
the lives of everyone. Pondering on these situations, agriculture's plight is partly related to the

fact that the most active parts of the economic elite appear to have lost interest in agriculture as a

source of income. According to sociologist K. Cardenas (2017), Filipino capitalists value land as

a source of revenue, but rather than using it as a platform for agricultural ventures, they utilize it

for real estate development not only in major urban districts, but also in the suburbs.

These issues give us a clearer perspective of who the minority is and how we should deal

with these problems. Although tons of non-governmental organizations have tried to help these

minority groups, the inequality will carry on if there are still oppressors or big people depriving

the powerless of rights. Today, it is noticeable that globalization will always have its haves and

have-nots, to show that incentives such as capital, assets, money, property, etc. are essential in

keeping people productive and making them achieve that personal success. Another important

cause of the Philippine agriculture issue has been the uncertainty surrounding the agrarian reform

program. The agricultural reform initiative has come to a halt after nearly 35 years. As of 2015,

around 700,000 hectares remained unallocated, with approximately 450,000 of these being

private properties that were among the most productive in the country (Manahan, et. al., 2014).

To address this deplorable situation, we need to critically identify strategies to prevent or

limit the dumping of foreign agricultural goods on domestic agricultural markets, utilizing both

WTO-approved and non-WTO-approved mechanisms. The WTO is a far weaker entity now than

it was 26 years ago, owing to US unilateralism, which has frozen the dispute settlement

mechanism. Secondly, agrarian reform must be accomplished decisively and backed by proper

support services, as well as robust legal action made accessible to prevent landlords from

retaking land. Next, the government must no longer be a passive force, but rather an active

development agency, offering assistance to small and medium-sized landholders that market
incentives alone cannot provide. This assistance should take three forms: one, direct assistance

and credit support to help farmers improve their performance; two, legal assistance to secure

tenure security; and three, leadership in providing a vision of a dynamic agricultural future and

assistance in organizing farmers as an effective pressure group.

We must reject the anti-agricultural bias of neoliberal technocrats, be true to our

indigenous roots, and push for economists who see agriculture as a loss-making activity with a

high opportunity cost compared to more profitable ventures, and instead make it the engine of a

development process that results in prosperous, equitable, and sustainable development with the

right policies.

Lasty, our agriculture must adapt to the requirements of a rapidly changing climate and

environmental challenges. Small-scale agriculture, with its low carbon intensity, that blends

environmentally resilient traditional methods with contemporary technology, is increasingly

recognized as the ideal way to undertake agriculture in the era of climate change. Small farmers'

economic interests and the well-being of the environment are rapidly merging, and government

may play a beneficial role in hastening this convergence.

References:
Manahan, M., et. al. (2014). Agrarian Atrophy and the Challenging Countryside. State of
Fragmentation. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/285381510/Bello-Et-
Al-State-of-Fragmentation
Cardenas, K. (2017, Jan 10). Urban Property Development and the Creative Destruction of
Filipino Capitalism. https://kennethcardenas.com/2017/01/10/urban-property-
development-and-the-creative-destruction-of-filipino-capitalism/
Pal, A. V. (2018, Oct 26). Aging Farmers Worry Agri Execs. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1047024/aging-farmers-worry-agri-execs
Purungganan, J. (2021, August 6). Philippine Agriculture is Dying—What Will It Take to Save
it? Retrieved from https://focusweb.org/philippine-agriculture-is-dying-what-will-it-
take-to-save-it/
Article Link: https://policyblog.uni-graz.at/2017/11/the-rise-of-fake-news-the-philippine-
case/

“In the Midst of Fake News Proliferation, the Truth Shall Prevail”

In this digital age, the prevalence of the internet and social media plays a critical role in

how information becomes available and accessible. Citizens of our period have new platforms at

their disposal that may be used in both positive and harmful ways. However, the proliferation of

fake news in the Philippines has been on the rise, as seen by the concern expressed by public

leaders. There have recently been Senate hearings dedicated to combating the spread of fake

news (Lorenzo, 2018).

According to Senator Grace Poe, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public

Information and Mass Media, "if fake news is not challenged, it will create lynch mobs out of

certain people, turning them into an army of character assassins, who can be unleashed, with just

one meme, to destroy an idea, a person, or an institution." She even stated that bots and trolls

using bogus social media profiles are propagating fake news. To cite an example, Vice President

Leni Robredo has been on the receiving ends of fake news, information distortion, and false

accusations while Bong Bong Marcos is the beneficiary of this scheme (Gonzales, 2022).

As pervasive as false news appears to be, it may be impossible to comprehend that

individual may trust it regardless of how ludicrous or impractical the claims are. Recent study,

on the other hand, reveals that false news has particular characteristics that make people more

inclined to believe it, and knowing these characteristics might perhaps provide light on possible

approaches to curb the spread of hazardous disinformation (Flores, 2018).

 For instance, the Marcos-Robredo showdown that is timely and relevant today due to the

coming elections revolves with this kind of machinery and mechanism. According to Robles, A.

(2022), analysts and experts’ studies say that Bongbong Marcos' campaign is based on a long-

established disinformation network that attacks his opponents and spreads false information

about them while Leni Robredo's ratings are rising and those of frontrunner Marcos have

dwindled, his well-funded campaign and internet reach continue to make him the guy to beat.

"Repeat a falsehood frequently enough, and it becomes the truth," stated Adolf Hitler's senior

propagandist Joseph Goebbels stressing the late strongman's family's assertion that their rule was

the Philippines' golden period while ignoring billions of dollars lost to corruption, millions of

dollars in debt, and thousands of people killed or missing (Regalado, 2021).

False information occurred even in antiquity. It predates mankind. What distinguishes

fake news nowadays is the ease with which it can be created, shared, and replicated, thanks to

current communication platforms, notably social media. With social media, it is simple to

transmit information to a large audience, and it is also simple to get information (Siar, 2021). It is

difficult to measure the repercussions of incorrect information, but one thing is certain: the

ramifications are significant, and the effects are far-reaching since news may spread faster on

social media. Furthermore, fantastic stories, which most misinformation producers construct to

sell fake news, have a wide appeal, which explains why fake news may move quicker than actual

news.

We need to create a reformation through a timely revolution that will debunk myths,

proves them with evidence, and expose nothing but the truth. As current era of digital

technology does not promise a reversal of the trend but simply delivers more improved
technology, the wiser option is to equip people with the tools to deal with the massive amount of

information accessible at their fingertips without separating them from technology.

At the institutional level, the government must be the one announcing the truth and

spearheading the anti-fake news effort. At the very least, the government, as well as the

structures and policies it supplies, must support an objective and scientific approach for creating

news stories, rather than being the ones who spread fake news. Which is why, it makes us to be

in power in selecting honest and truthful leaders and lawmakers so that our history will remain

true to its roots, and that of our heroes who chose to extol the Filipino people just as how Jose

Rizal did.

Collectively, citizens must also play an important role in combatting bogus news. People

must take a proactive attitude in safeguarding the information that is delivered to them and being

passed about if they are to be leaders in this fast-changing world, by reacting to abuses, reporting

fake news, creating campaigns, or just not falling prey to fake news. We must remain aware to

stick with the truth, be the good patrons to our country, and with that, we could truly achieve our

nationalistic values and uphold the right of every Filipino.

References:
Flores, L. (2018). Fake News: Why Does it Persist and Who’s Sharing it? Retrieved from
https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/society/fake-news-why-does-it-persist-and-whos-
sharing-it
Gonzales, C. (2022, Feb 2). Robredo is biggest disinformation victim; Marcos gains from
‘misleading’ posts — fact-checker. Retrieved from
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1548694/robredo-is-biggest-disinformation-victim-marcos-
benefits-from-misleading-posts-fact-checker
Lorenzo, M. P. (2017, Nov 8). The Rise of Fake News: the Philippine Case. Retrieved from
https://policyblog.uni-graz.at/2017/11/the-rise-of-fake-news-the-philippine-case/
Regalado, P. (2021, Sep 21). Those Marcos Vidoes on Tiktok is Rooted in Decades of
Misinformation. The ‘Golden Age’ Narrative Jumped from Books to Digital. Retrievd
 from https://www.reportr.world/news/from-books-to-tiktok-why-fake-news-about-the-
marcoses-persists-60-years-later-explainer-a4832-20210921-lfrm
Robles, A. (2022, Apr 23). Trolls and polls: fake news surrounds Philippines’ Robredo-Marcos
showdown. Retrieved from
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3175150/trolls-and-polls-fake-news-
surrounds-philippines-robredo-marcos?
module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article&campaign=3175150
Siar, S. V. (2021, August). Fake News, its Dangers, and Howe We Can Fight it. Retrieved from
https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn2106.pdf