Learn the Facts, Not Gossip, from Reading Lee Kuan Yew's "From Third World to First"

The Straits Times

I could remember ordering the book From Third World to First (sometime after electricity and Internet connection got restored) in January. I wanted a copy of the book but it's that hard to secure. So, I used Shoppee to order the book shipped from Indonesia. There's so much misinformation that I read on Facebook about Singapore. No, I'm not just talking about using the late Flor Contemplacion as an excuse. Instead, it's all about Singapore's development. I felt that my best "Christmas Gift" (it was bought with my savings, not given) was having a copy of this book. It was written by none other than the great statesman, the late Lee Kuan Yew, the father of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Singapore's progress. Some people have written on Facebook gossip about Singapore's progress. These are the following gossips I could read on Facebook such as:

Singapore only opened to foreign direct investment (FDI) because it was a country with no natural resources.
Singapore used protectionism to strengthen itself. It was only after it became a first-world country that it opened to FDI.
FDI didn't play a big part in Singapore's development from going from third-world to first-world.
The Philippines can't learn from Singapore because of the latter's small size.

Those are but a few of the many gossip spreaders who can be called a MARITES. MARITES (though there's a real name for a woman called Marites) has become an acronym for Masters in Arts in Relaying Information Through Exaggerated Storytelling. It's also been a shortcut for the Tagalog phrase, "Mare, ito ang latest" (Translation: Mam, this is the latest). The stories about how Singapore flourished can be as tainted as the so-called innocence of the late Flor Contemplacion.

The book itself is rather thick. There are two parts. The first part has Lee Kuan Yew discussing "Getting the Basics Right". The second part is "In Search of Space--Regional and International". Lee was a man who once tried protectionism, only to discover that if they needed jobs, they needed to open up the economy. That would put the very claim that Singapore used protectionism to power itself up is proven false. Lee Kuan Yew even stated that would have they waited for their businesses to boom then Singapore would've starved.

I had a lot of fun reading about the views of economists on that day. Just reading the common school of thought that multinational corporations (MNCs) are supposedly exploiters. Lee Kuan Yew and Go Kweng See weren't impressed by the idea. After trying and testing, they both realized protectionism wasn't going to work. Instead, they decided to open the Singaporean economy to FDI. Lee Kuan Yew defied all odds also by hiring the help of Dutch economist, Albert Winsemius. The whole stage was set when Lee Kuan Yew adopted the FDI model to help Singapore.

It was also fun reading about greening up Singapore. I went to Singapore very impressed at how the place is so clean. At first, I felt that the Philippines should be disciplined to develop another Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew did say that Filipinos need more discipline than democracy in the same book. However, it's important to take the whole book into its context. Just reading from the second part of the book in Chapter 18 was enlightening. It talked about the Philippines. The Philippines really does need more discipline than democracy. However, can the Philippines have democracy without economic development? I wanted to achieve a green Philippines but it seems a modified model for the Philippines will do.

The idea that the Philippines can't imitate Singapore in any way is just dumb. The book featured other countries. The book also features bigger countries that emulated Singapore. Vietnam is a country rich in natural resources. Vietnam was still poorer than Singapore until the late Nguyen Duy Cong aka Do Muoi (who died a centenarian) followed the Singaporean model. We also have much-bigger China under Deng Xiaoping. Lee Kuan Yew later praised Deng Xiaoping as a great man. The two communist nations finally saw the foolishness of the old model. Instead, free markets have allowed Vietnam and China to rise above the likes of North Korea. Interestingly, Lee Kuan Yew called himself a socialist but he was for free markets and was against the welfare state idea. Vietnam still considers itself a socialist state while being for free markets.

It would also talk about the Lee Political Dynasty. It's often said that political dynasties are always bad. It's not the case if the family members are good. If one thinks about Lee's family, Lee Hsien Loong has become the prime minister for more than 10 years. Lee Hsien Loong had to prove himself, unlike political dynasties in a presidential system. That's why I'm going to be vocal about the Philippines going for a parliamentary system. Without a parliamentary system, there will be no Lee Kuan Yew and no Mahathir Mohamad.

I believe that this book needs to be made more accessible. The Philippines really needs to learn from this book pretty badly. I believe that the Philippines can become an economic power. It has the potential to rise above the ASEAN. However, it has been hindered by issues like the Filipino First Policy. This book can help become a better guide. It helped Vietnam, it helped China, it helped India, and I don't see any reason why it couldn't help the Philippines.

Should Vico Sotto Be a Reason to Oppose Constitutional Reform?

It's something when people keep saying, "It's not the constitution that's the problem! It's the people!" The rise of Victor "Vico" Ma. Regis Nubla Sotto can be something. It's a breath of fresh air. People might use Vico (aside from every other candidate they blindly adore like some god or goddess) to resist the need for constitutional reform. Previously, I wrote about whether or not the late Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III should be a reason not to pursue economic charter change . Now, I'd like to write a post on whether or not Vico should be a reason to reject constitutional reform. I read through The Philippine Star and found an interesting article on Vico. As I read through it, here's something Vico said, and hopefully, he's for constitutional reform: “ Good governance isn’t flashy, but it is the bedrock of progres s. If you build the right systems and lead with integrity, everything else – whether scholarships, ...

Let's Be Real: Term Limits Cause Political Dynasties to Spiral Out of Control

Inquirer There's always the obsession with political dynasties. There's also the obsession with term limits . Back in the 1990s, I remembered fearing charter change . I was afraid that the late Fidel V. Ramos might become a dictator. The talks that if a president would rule for more than six years--would be considered "frightening" or "nakakatakot" in Tagalog. I wrote an article where I wrote one staggering truth-- a long reign isn't necessarily tyrannical and that a short reign isn't necessarily benevolent . In my discussion, I highlighted both Pol Pot and Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.--both deceased dictators. Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge dictatorship murdered millions in contrast to Marcos' regime. Of course, some people will say Pol Pot would've caused Cambodia to go extinct if he rhad eigned longer. I remember the logic that I was told back in elementary school. I was told that the reason why term limits are imposed is to prevent another Marcos-...

Real Talk: Dancing Campaigns for People to "Vote Wisely", Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, is a Waste of Time

Midterm elections are already around the corner. Driving or travelling during election seasons can be annoying. Honestly, why didn't the Philippines go parliamentary? I would ask people on Facebook (but again, I will not mention their names and if I do post their comments, I will block their names and pictures out) what their plan is. Obviously, it can go from "voters' education" to "campaigning for people to vote wisely". Above is a parody of the presidential election last 2010. Yes, it was that time when the late Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III also ran for president. Noynoy's mother Maria Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino died of cancer. It would be necropolitics all over again. This video made me chuckle because it shows the problem of presidentialism. It's all about how dancing during campaigns. I could imagine if people who insist that "vote wisely is the solution for long term progress"--finally decide to dance to the jingle ...

30 Years of Flor Contemplacion Crybabies Spreading Fake News

Liza Maza Facebook Page It's 30 years since Flor Contemplacion was executed in Singapore. My memories was how some people felt hatred for Singapore, how we were told that "Filipinos are always oppressed." in both values education and civics classes, and how Flor should be regarded as a heroine. The Buwan Ng Wika program came and Flor's execution was also highlighted in the song "Kuko Ng Agila" (Claws of the Eagle). Flor was always romanticized as innocent, a martyr, and even some decent Filipinos bought it once. However, I soon accepted Flor's execution to be what it is-- Singaporean justice . Some people are still continuing to commemorate Flor--as if she was some kind of Catholic saint or martyr. I could remember rallies year after year, commemorating Flor's "martyrdom". What was also ironic was, at that time, the Vizconde Massacre (read here ) happened and the wrong people were arrested. The public demanded the blood of Hubert Jeffry P....

Still One of My Favorite Politicians, the Late Miriam Palma Defensor-Santiago

It's been some time since Miriam Palma Defensor-Santiago died. True, she can be temperamental but she really has a lot of good reasons to be angry. The impeachment of the late Renato Corona was one example. I could remember seething in anger seeing Atty. Vitaliano N. Aguirre II when he covered his ears. Some say she went overboard. Maybe, she did and I think Aguire II didn't deserve to be detained in contrast to instant admonition. I believe that no caucus was needed and making Aguire II get out of the courtroom was more than enough punishment for minor disrespect . She may have clashed with the late Fidel V. Ramos but I can't get enough of her feisty behavior--something I feel the Philippines needs to become a truly disciplined country. Some may say that MDS is very maldita or a very mean woman. I did pass through a teacher who was like her. Sure, I didn't get good grades, she could go overboard, but I'm still thankful to that economics teacher. I'd say I...

The Ozone Disco Fiasco Last March 18, 1996

Another 1990s tragedy that I remember hearing about was the Ozone Disco Tragedy . If I were teaching business ethics right now, I would use the Ozone Disco case as a case study. It deserves attention because of how tragic it was. I heard some bodies were never recovered. I watched this episode of the Ozone Disco Tragedy on Case Unclosed . Once again, I'll apologize if the videos I post don't have English subtitles. I may consider finding an application to provide a transcript soon, but that's no guarantee! Pretty much, if you're not a Filipino then just read through the blog entry without watching the video first! I looked into an article from The Flip Science called " Playing with fire: Understanding the Ozone Disco tragedy " which was written by Mikael Angelo Francisco, during the pandemic. The pandemic ceased several social gatherings, that included discos. Back then, I used the Ozone Disco tragedy as a reason to oppose dancing classes. However, dancing...

Childhood Memory Shattered Further: The White Gold Ruins Collapsed Last Saturday

Head Topics This is pretty much another part of history, not gossip. It turns out that the White Gold Ruins have collapsed . Before that, there was already some demolition going on. It really has become a painful site. For the 1980s to 1990s children, the whole place may have had a lot of nostalgia associated with it. I could remember how often I was excited to go there. I could remember the children's department (which I think was the third or fourth floor). It was the simpler days back then. There were also arcade games that were meant to make people spend more money. There was my memory of mascots of various fictional characters like Darth Vader from Star Wars (which scared me), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Santa Claus (and I used to think he was real). I also remembered some of the rides there like the mini-train ride. That was what I associate with the White Gold Ruins the most. There was also another urban legend or gossip. Robinson's had the snake-man legend. So...

I Enjoyed Watching Yukan Hayung's Struggle as an Atayal Native in Taiwan

This would be another good video to watch. I was watching the struggles of indigenous tribes in Taiwan. There's a stereotype of indigenous people not just in the Philippines but also in rest of Asia. Featured in this video is Yukan Hayung--an indigenous student in Taiwan from the Atayal tribe. Here we see Hayung speak in both Atayal and Taiwanese. I really have a fondness for researching more of Southeast Asia. The indigenous people in Taiwan and the Philippines do share a lot of things in common. The same kind of outfits, dances, and food would really tell you that the Philippines isn't so unique. This makes me think about what future would indigenous Filipinos have in the protectionist Philippines? Taiwan's democratic, FDI-friendly country has given more chances to get awareness of their aboriginal tribes. Try watching this video and learn more about how Taiwan's FDI-friendly country may have given Taiwanese aborigines a better chance than Filipino aborigines.

Taiwanese Aboriginal Dances Compared to Filipino Aboriginal Dances

I remembered writing about the links between Taiwanese natives and Filipino natives as well as Ifugao OFWs in Taiwan . I'm not a bit surprised about the studies showing the common ancestry of Taiwanese natives and Filipino natives. The brown skin ethnicity is not unique to the Filipino majority. A visit to Taiwan's fabulous Mount Alishan would show a surrounding similar to Banaue Rice Terraces or the Cordillera region. Above is a video depicting the dance of a song called "高山青 (read in pinyin as Gāo Shān Qīng)". It literally means "High Green Mountain". I guess this is the most-known song. A trivia would be that the song was written for a 1940s Taiwanese film called Happenings in Alishan . If you noticed the dance steps, any Filipino familiar with the native dances of Filipinos might comment, "Wow, the steps are rather similar." These are dances that Taiwanese natives would entertain tourists with. This is an Ifugao dance called Dinuya. It'...

A Look at the Tiananmen Square Massacre's Brutal History

I went to China in 2007. It pains me that going to China now might not be the best thing to do. When I think of Tiananmen--I think of the brutal massacre that happened on June 4, 1989. I guess not all peaceful protests work. It's effortless to talk about the EDSA Revolution of 1986 and how it encouraged others to do something similar. We have the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. Before that, Mohandas Karamchand "Mahatma" Gandhi did peaceful protests to get the British colonization out of India, without firing a bullet. Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" A. Aquino Jr. admired Gandhi's peaceful efforts. Did the Chinese students think the same thing can work against a Communist totalitarian regime ? BBC News The protests happened after the death of the beloved Chinese President Hu Yaobang. Hu was considered a great reformer of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Students mourned for Hu as a national hero. Details from BBC show these details why the protests happened in ...

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