The Philippines may not be a very competitive place, but boy is it friendly. In the Heritage Foundation’s 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, the Philippines improved its standing slightly, ranking 107 out of 179 countries. That rank puts the Philippines solidly in the category of “mostly unfree,” five places behind Cambodia and eight rungs ahead of Indonesia. Vietnam, the current darling of investment analysts, sits at 136.
The Philippines became the only Southeast Asian country last week to primarily crowdsource a nation branding campaign. The long-awaited campaign is intended to increase visibility internationally for the Philippines as an attractive tourist destination, and boost tourist arrivals. The “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tagline is meant to communicate “what the Philippines (truly) is” according to Tourism secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr.
Ten years ago, I wrote the following essay and got it published in the Youngblood column of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. I am now back in Europe pursuing a master's degree, and my affection for all things that make Filipinos unique has not been diminished.
The Brain Gain Network in review. Small successes leading to big impact. Hoping for more of these in 2011.
GreenEarth Heritage Foundation: Taking bolder steps for nation building
The Philippines has just survived another election season. Almost everything is new in government. There is a new president, a new set of cabinet members and new officials in national and local posts.
The Philippines has just survived another election season. Almost everything is new in government. There is a new president, a new set of cabinet members and new officials in national and local posts. But the challenges faced by the new administration are old —poverty, corruption, debt, insurgency and a host of other enduring problems that mark government inefficiency and inadequacy.
Acknowledgement
I have to acknowledge and thank Mr. Archie Lacson (my friend and former colleague in Philippine Airlines) for kindly sharing the following historical insiight into the Filipino National Attire.
Delving into some relevant college experiences, would this help me zero in on my choice not only for 2010 but for the time after? And the time after means my future and all our futures.
Out of curiosity (and in the context of Filipino technopreneurship and what it takes to communicate effectively to the global market), is being in the Philippines (and being associated with the "Philippine brand" if there is such a thing) bane or boon to founding a tech startup? Or does it matter at all?
