Binalatongan Community College

Brgy. Ilang San Carlos City, Pangasinan

Multi-dimensional and Systemic

Challenges

Prepared by:john lynnard a. Pidlaoan

 In the economy, to use and expand United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

language, we are experiencing jobless growth and ruthless growth. In recent years, before

its current contraction in 2009, our economy grew but unemployment and

underemployment continued to hover at high levels. In addition, this economic growth was

“ruthless” in that it only benefited the rich upper classes as 4 million Filipinos entered the

ranks of the poor between 2003 and 2006. The Philippines has one of the highest

Ginicoefficient (0.44) in the ASEAN region and in the world, indicating that economic

growth is unevenly and unfairly distributed. Furthermore government has re-established the

dreaded practice of crony capitalism, where, as a result of political indebtedness, the state

favors certain individuals and corporations in different industries to prosper at the expense

of other businesses. Finally, the economy is resting on weak and narrow fundamentals, with

a weak manufacturing sector and an over-reliance on OFW remittances.

In politics, we are experiencing voiceless growth. Citizens, the true subjects of democracy,

have no real voice in the affairs of the state. Political dynasties continue to reign supreme in

Philippine politics. Traditional politicians in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of

government violate laws and regulations left and right yet continue to justify these

violations as their defense of law and order. The upper levels of the military are highly

politicized and corrupted. Government officials at all levels steal hundreds of billions every

year from the national budget. When citizens protest government wrongdoing and abuses,

citizens are met with water cannons and police brutality. Worst, some citizens become

victims of unresolved extrajudicial killings. On top of it all, the justice system is increasingly

becoming corrupted, preventing citizens from obtaining relief from the harm done to them.

The growth of condominiums and malls hides the massive betrayal of democracy.
In culture, we are experiencing the growth of moral rootlessness. The pervasive and almost

unstoppable corruption around us destroys our sense of what is right and wrong and

uproots our capacity for moral outrage. We are becoming more apathetic and cynical as a

people. Worse, an increasing number among us flow with the tide of corruption instead of

resisting it. And because we are cut of from our moral center, we cannot unify as a nation

around moral issues that profoundly affect our future. Our low quality education does not

help the situation. The increasing corruption of civil society, including NGOs, peoples

organizations, social movements, schools, media, and religious groups, adds further to

moral cynicism and inaction. On top of it all, we have no clear vision of who are as a people

nor do we have an understanding of what our collective talents are as a nation.

For society as a whole (that is, our economy, politics, and culture), we are facing the

challenge of hopeless growth. We are surrounded with the same urgent issues that have

faced us for more than two decades: poverty, corruption, lawlessness, conflict, crime,

overpopulation, damaged institutions, and others. The promises of past and present

government administrations to address these societal issues now sound empty amidst the

massive growth of these problems. Our prospects for renewal seem to be bleak and

hopeless in the decades to come.

While our society is burdened with the challenge of hopelessness, we are also facing the

stark reality of futureless growth in our relationship with our ecology - our sources of life, in

our almost utter disregard for the integrity of creation. Solid waste, water and air pollution

is increasing to dangerous levels. We are inadequately prepared for the massive impacts of

global climate change that is upon us. Our chemical and poison-based agriculture continues
to destroy the fertility of our soil and undermine our health as consumers. We continue to

over-fish our oceans and destroy our forests and watersheds. Mining practices continue to

be environmentally unsound and socially disruptive.

Economic, political, and cultural structures and institutions are responsible for the massive

challenges we face today. Yet, in the end, human beings constitute systems and structures.

People run the great institutions of our society. If people have integrity and competence,

then the issues of society will be meaningfully addressed. If people are corrupt, then they

will corrupt the systems, structures and institutions that they manage.

Unfortunately, at the spiritual and the individual level, we are also facing the challenge of

meaningless growth. Filipinos are becoming more and more self-centered and egotistic.

They only think of their immediate personal advantage instead of the common good. They

cannot find their place in the wholeness of society and human history and therefore they do

not find meaning in their lives. They are also becoming more materialistic. They value

corrupt shortcuts and material possessions over honesty, hard work and a deep spiritual

life. As a result of egotism and materialism, Filipinos increasingly feel empty and

meaningless inside. They try to fill this meaninglessness with material possessions. They do

not realize that gold can never replace principles and values as the basis for true meaning,

purpose and satisfaction in life.