IN several meetings I have attended, there is a prevailing atmosphere of self-doubt infecting our countrymen about our ability to rise from the rut we now find ourselves in. National self-doubt is a collective feeling that we are not capable, fortunate or morally courageous compared to other nations. It becomes more contagious when we focus too much on our failures and flaws rather than our successes and achievements.
Recent national events have intensified this mood. Allegations of anomalies in flood control projects under the DPWH have fueled public anger over corruption and waste of taxpayers’ money, estimated at P1.3 trillion. The dominance of political dynasties in both the national and local governments reinforces the perception that power remains concentrated in the hands of the few. With decades under their rule, abject poverty and wealth inequities persist in many regions.
The repeated confrontation between Philippine vessels and the China Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea while pro-China lawmakers debunk our maritime claims deflates our people’s confidence to fight for national sovereignty. Meanwhile, public discourse seems prematurely focused on the next presidential elections even as the country’s economic performance is the worst since the post-pandemic and many families continue to struggle with high prices.
National self-doubt often surfaces during political turmoil, economic anxiety and bureaucratic gridlock. Highly publicized heinous crimes involving rogue police officers portray a nation on the brink of social collapse. Persistent government shortfalls to deliver effective transportation, power and water supply, health, education and communications add to the public’s frustration. A failed state emerges when institutions can no longer function and infrastructures break down under obsolescence and congestion. This growing perception, if left unchecked, can have a corrosive effect.
A colleague lamented that many of our problems are vicious cycles repeated from one administration to another because of weak execution and lack of urgency. Our greatest enemy, he said, is the absence of cohesion — there is no teamwork. Bureaucrats blame political interference for missed targets; elected officials fault civil servants for their laziness and inefficiency. In the middle are citizens who shoulder heavy taxes while seeing little improvement in services. The wealthy have dual passports and hedge their risks while ordinary Filipinos have nowhere else to go. Such imbalance breeds cynicism.
The national self-doubt is also borne from our impatience. Nation-building is slow and demanding. We fail to remind younger generations that advanced nations were built through decades of discipline, sacrifice and shared responsibility. Instead, we look to political demagogues and foreign powers to fight battles that we ourselves must confront.
Yet, often facts do not support our self-doubt.
Filipinos continue to excel globally. The talent and creativity of Filipinos hold no bounds. Our engineers and architects were the ones who designed and built the palaces and museums for the Sultan of Brunei. Entrepreneur Carlos Chan founded Liwayway Manufacturing, the company behind the globally recognized Oishi snack brand. His company now operates 15 factories from Shanghai to Xinjiang in China, employing thousands of Filipino managers. Young tennis star Alex Eala has carried the Philippine flag to astonishing victories in international tournaments. Across the globe, millions of Filipinos thrive in health care, maritime shipping, aviation, IT, logistics and hospitality. They succeed not by accident, but because Filipinos are darn good workers — diligent, professional, empathic and well-skilled.
Our nation is full of hope and promise. Aside from being endowed with natural resources, demographically, the Philippines remains one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia — equipped with untapped skills and vast advantage to become an upper-middle-income nation. Although we have reservations about the motivations of our country’s elites, the rest of us can be mobilized to recover from today’s setback and rally behind the cause for national renewal.
If there is self-doubt, it should not cripple us. In environments governed by meritocracy and fair play, many Filipinos perform exceptionally well. Many become successful and wealthy abroad by simply following the predictable rules of their host countries. This alone should erase our doubts that there’s something inherently wrong in the DNA of our people. If we create a conducive environment, Filipinos can soar and reach unimaginable heights.
Our only flaw lies not in talent and natural assets, but in transformative leadership. We lack genuine servant-leaders who consistently place the common good above personal interests. Beyond that, there should be no self-doubt on our capacity for progress. The Philippines is not a basket case. It is merely frustrating because of our leaders. And such frustration can fuel dramatic reforms.
There should be no self-doubt about who we are, what we can do, and where we can go. It only takes a spark to ignite the fire in the belly of every Filipino, and we are set for reaching greatness.
