In a speech before the UN General Assembly, US Pres. Donald Trump dismissed globalization and instead espoused “America First” as the United States cut ties from UN agencies such as the UNCHR, ICC and the council on migration.
“We reject globalism and embrace the doctrine of patriotism,” Trump boldly declared.
As a young elementary grade schooler, I am reminded of the late Pres. Carlos Garcia’s “Filipino First” policy enunciated in 1957.
Sometimes as I hark back to those thoughts, I cannot help but point an accusing finger at the past and present educators and academicians who, I believe, mishandled and mismanaged the country’s educational system.
Ow, we have wandered aimlessly off, having allowed the unabated onslaught of Western thought and technology to swarm our native Philippine life with impunity and held captive our ethics and culture like kidnapping hostages.
Now, I don’t have an idea whether Trump read Garcia’s proclamation in an ancient book or magazine where he picked up his message of “America First.”
Regardless, the Filipino in me tells me ahead that, since we Pinoys are excellent copycats, one of these days some piggyback-riding congressman or senator might go up the rostrum and say: “Let’s go Filipino First.”
Garcia’s call in his time was for Filipino consumers to buy Filipino-made items or products instead of patronizing “Stateside” stuff as they were called then.
Those were the days when American products were easy to come by as these were easily sourced from the commissary of the Clark Air Force Base in Angeles or from the Subic Naval Base in Olongapo (both not yet cities but towns bustling with commerce then).
These were the major factors why Pampanga and Zambales residents and from nearby Central Luzon provinces cried a river when the two bases were driven out in a Senate vote in 1990.
Today, the situation seems inverted as DT proclaimed to all and sundry that America is veering towards patronizing its own by the euphemistic use of the term “patriotism.”
If Garcia’s “Filipino First” policy is to be activated, I would not know how the citizenry will receive the message.
We all know that everything in the market comes from China – shoes, belts, gadgets, equipment, computer and laptops, clothes, gears, household items, etc. Virtually just about all.
Even food stuff like poultry, pork, canned goods and fruits are imported from China.
The little that we produce are indigenously sourced which have little or no impact at all.
Our manufacturing sector is moribund as most of them have moved to nearby countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia because of labor problems (strikes and minimum wage standards) plus the very high costs of electricity and fuel.
The TRAIN Law has not been adequately explained to the people but in the ensuing months and couple of years when several of the “Build, Build, Build” projects are underway and nearing completion, the Filipinos will eventually heave a sigh of relief, satisfaction and comfort.
We ought to re-energize our home-based family enterprises if we want to pursue the nationalistic path of “Filipino First” policy.
Filipino consumers should be taught to buy less of imported goods and buy more of those locally-made stuff.
The Koreans have done this since the end of the Korean war in 1951. They patronized their own products and produce, refused importing foreign products and saved their dollar reserves instead. Where are they now compared to us?
Patriotism among Americans is now being summoned by no less than their Chief Executive. You can’t blame DT for espousing America First. They really need it.
Us? I wonder if we need it to save our country from political polarization or we need “Filipino First” policy to save us from self-destructing. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
