PAGBABAGO

After going through the pandemic and several other challenges this past decade, I began to wonder what the country would be like 50 years from now. This is not too far off as we have been going through monumental economic, political, and technological changes. Over the past eight decades of my life, I had gone through a world war, a global pandemic, two “people-power” upheavals that toppled governments, dozens of typhoons, earthquakes, and the impact of climate change in an island country like ours. And of course, witnessing how the new information technologies — internet and now artificial intelligence and “internet of things” — are transforming our lives. By then, my two grandchildren and dozens of grand nephews and nieces shall have contributed several dozens more of children. Demographers estimate that the 111 million Filipinos today would double in 40 years so by the end of 50 years in 2073, the country’s population shall have ballooned to over 250 million, a conservative estimate. And that is based on lowered fertility rate and a more rapid out-migration of Filipino professionals and OFWs. However, unless the critical obstacles to development are addressed, their impact would eventually be negated. These are issues of social and economic gaps or inequality, corruption, and the high rate of criminality. We need to address them, endeavor to address them with application of new knowledge and technology and multiply the likes of public and nongovernmental leaders who would relentlessly fight barriers, which had hampered development over the past century. We need leaders like Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Mayor Jesse Robredo, former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, Antonio Meloto, Jurgenne Primavera, and Patricia Non, to name a few, to lead us in the fight against the forces that had kept us from becoming what we should have been today – a First World country. Magalong was former police general and now the mayor of Baguio City, an environmental activist, who successfully prevented the cutting down of pine trees through effective implementation of local ordinances. Jesse Robredo, also a city mayor, was known for his effective efforts in promoting transparency and accountability through effective partnership with nongovernment institutions. Carpio is our main advocate in our claim over the West Philippine Sea. We won over China in the UN arbitral ruling but China still refuses to honor our territorial right. Meloto, known for his Gawad Kalinga program that attracted considerable international attention – created a model of entrepreneurship that had transformed the countryside. Primavera, a marine scientist, through her research in marine conservation, showed how we can address climate change through effective utilization of mangroves. Patricia Non’s “community pantry” came as an initiative at the right time during the pandemic to address the problem of food insecurity. Through the efforts of the modern heroes I cited, we had become more aware of the need to overcome barriers of weak governance, environmental threats, food insecurity, and livelihood concerns. We should be leading our Asian neighbors today as we have the advantage of a literate population, rich biodiversity, and natural resources. If we were fortunate to have leaders and responsive policy structures of the countries that are now ahead of us. We are not able to foresee our future in the next 50 years. As in the case of the pandemic that suddenly swept over the country and the rest of the world, we cannot predict future developments that can alter any well conceived development plans. Scientists can anticipate how climate change would affect us. That we need to alter consumption behavior and other practices for the survival of the planet and ourselves as well. But we can minimize repercussions with right leadership and governance structures. As well as preparing every citizen to face future shocks at the economic, political, and technological front. ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]))