A Damaged Culture By James Fallows Digest By John Parco

The author was saying that at first, the entrance of the Aquino government seemed to make the Philippines a success. Americans would want to believe that the Philippines is progressing but it is not. Author cites that countries around the Philippines which have lesser natural resources are actually richer now than the Philippines. He then says that culture plays a large thing in the success of a country. Although the country is now better compared as to when Marcos was still ruling, much has not changed. Before, the Philippines was at par with the Koreans. Now, the Koreans have already gone ahead of the Philippines. Many economists have been predicting that the Philippines will have the East-Asian style boom but until now, much is not yet done. The Author also discussed about the elevation of Aquino. He states that the rising up of Cory is actually a restoration of the old order. While Imelda pretended to be an aristocrat, Cory really was one. Her Cabinet officials restored the old well-known politicians. He also said that Cory did not do much and it was as if her goal was to remove Marcos only. He recalls two known economists in the country who had something to say about the Philippines. Overall, the economists said that the situation is worrisome. The author discussed the Smoky Mountain. In that mountain he said he met a priest who had been working there long enough. He also observed that the people there were cheerful despite their pitiful condition living day in day out in that mountain made of trash. However, he then tagged along with his friend to see the opposite side of Manila where the rich are living. He noted that Filipinos when working overseas under Foreign managers work so well but when they work for Filipino managers, they work poorly. He then concludes that there is a cultural problem, a failure of nationalism. People treat those in their sphere with total devotion but total war as to those outside of the sphere. The author finally traced the problem to the dependence on the United States so much so that confidence of Filipinos is gone. It is as if they were not responsible for their future anymore.