The Philippines according to Bill

SOMETIMES it takes an outsider to appreciate the positive aspects of the country we call home.

US President Bill Clinton, who was in Manila briefly to deliver a speech,“Embracing Our Common Humanity,” certainly had some good things to say about the Philippines.

“I have the feeling that you’re at the dawn of a whole new age of your history,” the former American president said when asked why the country had taken so long to live up to its potential.

“The fact it took you longer than Singapore shouldn’t surprise you because [they are] a smaller country. The fact that it might take you a little longer to get in high gear than China shouldn’t surprise you because they’re a much more authoritarian country,” he said.

During his speech and the question-and-answer session that followed, Mr. Clinton also highlighted the following advantages: The country’s advances in tapping geothermal energy. “I’m predicting that in the next 10 years, the Philippines will be flooded by people studying geothermal resources. So you have to try to speed up power and keep it going,” he said.

The country’s literate population and rich natural resources would help the country move forward. “You’re smart enough to do it. You have a huge population which is a positive, and you have massive natural resources,” Mr. Clinton said.

He described President Benigno Aquino III as energetic and well-informed. He also praised former Presidents Gloria Arroyo and Fidel Ramos for continuing to contribute to development efforts even after leaving the Palace.

Mr. Clinton candidly acknowledged that being America’s first colony “wasn’t a big advantage” for the Philippines, saying it was too easy “to maintain the ties that bind” and to reach a level that made life bearable, without necessarily motivating people to press harder to improve their lot.

Two of his prescriptions struck us as being spot-on. First, he urged Filipinos to convince their successful and educated compatriots abroad to come home and help the country, in the same way that China, India and Vietnam did to good effect. “Create a climate where everybody [participates]. Get more people to come home,” Mr. Clinton said. He added that the country needed to reorient the people’s mindset through education and access to rewarding jobs to keep them from migrating to other countries.

Second, Mr. Clinton urged Filipinos to follow the example of Rwanda, which overcame the horrors of genocide to rebuild. “They quadrupled their income in less than 10 years and they were able to do it because of a relentless focus on the future,” Mr. Clinton said. “They developed a tremendous capacity to abandon grievance… they were able to let go of things other people don’t have the capacity to. They were able to move forward.”

The Aquino administration, which has thus far focused on correcting the sins of the past, should take this advice to heart. Focus on the future and abandon grievance. Mr. Aquino, who is smart and energetic enough, ought to be able to get this. –Manila Standard Today