100 Ways to Do a Mini-Reset Without Breaking the Bank

posted by Resty Odon  # 4:16 AM 0 Comments

 Message to Graduating Class of 2024: “Mabuti na lang Talaga!”

posted by Resty Odon  # 4:13 AM 0 Comments

I like what Toni said:

“Do not envy anyone, because everything that you see in someone’s life, there was a price that was paid. Again, a price was paid.”

And the older I get, the more I realize how true that is.

Because we envy the outcome, but never the process.

We admire the strength, but ignore the suffering that built it.

We want the glow, but not the darkness they had to survive first.

You see someone finally at peace, but you didn’t see the nights they cried themselves to sleep.

You see success, but not the years of rejection.

You see confidence, but not the battles that shattered them before they learned how to rebuild themselves.

Everyone you envy had to survive something you know nothing about.

So be careful when comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel.

Because behind every blessing is a story of sacrifice, loss, pain, discipline, heartbreak, or survival.

A price was paid.

Always.

posted by Resty Odon  # 4:43 PM 0 Comments

Little-Known Filipino Plus Points

In his column at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, economist Cielito Habito asks ChatGPT a deceptively simple question: What are Filipinos best at? The answer? We Filipinos are best at being:

1. nurses and caregivers
2. seafarers
3. BPO workers
4. beauty queens
5. shipbuilders
6. social media users

Most of us, Filipinos, already know this. I am surprised the other B's are missing: boxers and billiard players.

At first glance, the article appears to be another patriotic inventory of Filipino strengths. Yet beneath the celebratory tone lies a deeper discomfort. The essay ultimately becomes less a tribute to national achievement and more a meditation on the tragic paradox of Filipino excellence: we are admired worldwide precisely for the labor, creativity, and adaptability that flourish more outside the country than within it.

One of the most striking aspects of the piece is his refusal to settle for shallow nationalism. He acknowledges achievements in nursing, seafaring, BPO work, shipbuilding, and even beauty pageants, but he repeatedly interrupts the celebration with uncomfortable questions. Why are Filipinos globally valued mostly as caregivers, service workers, and labor providers rather than as leaders in science, technology, or industrial innovation? Why do we dominate lower and middle tiers of global labor markets but rarely command the upper echelons of power, ownership, or technological leadership?

This tension gives the essay its emotional weight. The writer seems torn between pride and disappointment. On one hand, Filipino workers are trusted worldwide because of their empathy, resilience, and professionalism. Filipino nurses have become symbols of compassion across hospitals in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Filipino seafarers keep global trade moving. BPO employees sustain an industry that has become one of the country’s economic pillars. Yet these successes also reveal structural weaknesses at home. Many of our 'best' industries depend on exporting Filipino labor rather than building Filipino industries capable of retaining talent domestically.

***

Speaking of industries, I've often read lately that RP missed riding the rapid industrialization train because of faulty national policy. But I am quite skeptical about our having very low to zero score in this field, knowing we have certain little-known industries at home that have thrived through the years.

So following Habito's amusing lead, I too asked ChatGPT to double-check someone else's post that we indeed have some significantly large industries we can claim to be little-known 'pogi' points. ...Industries that employ workers in the thousands or more. Here's the answer, which I tweaked slightly to improve the flow and avoid redundancy, inserted with my own additional thoughts and further research materials from other readings:

"Filipino excellence extends beyond labor export, suggesting that the Filipino talent pool is far broader than traditional narratives imply. The proof lies in the areas of semiconductors, food innovation, game development, fashion, filmmaking, animation, furniture, and other creative arts."

1. One of the least appreciated yet most important industries in the Philippines is the semiconductor and electronics sector. Many Filipinos may not realize that semiconductors account for a huge portion of the country’s exports. The Philippines manufactures components used in smartphones, computers, automobiles, medical devices, and industrial electronics. Major global companies have long operated in Philippine economic zones, especially in Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Central Luzon. Filipino engineers, technicians, and factory workers help assemble and test microchips and electronic components that end up in products used worldwide.

2. "The global rise of Jollibee demonstrates that Filipino entrepreneurship and branding can compete internationally while preserving cultural identity." Beyond fast food, Filipino food innovation is also gaining recognition through premium local products: artisanal chocolates from Auro Chocolate; specialty coffee from Benguet, Sagada, and Mindanao; and locally crafted sauces, snacks, and delicacies. Filipino entrepreneurs have learned to blend local flavors with global standards.

3. The Philippines has quietly become an important player in global game development. Studios like Secret 6 have contributed to internationally known AAA video games.

4. Filipino graphic artists and animators also work on projects connected to Marvel, Disney, Netflix, and other global entertainment giants. The country’s strong artistic tradition, combined with increasing technical expertise, has allowed Filipinos to thrive in digital creative industries.

5. "The global recognition of Filipino filmmakers and designers indicates that the country possesses not only technical competence but also a distinct artistic voice." Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, and Kidlat Tahimik are among the most celebrated Filipino filmmakers globally, frequently honored at prestigious festivals like Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. They are joined by internationally recognized names such as Erik Matti, Lino Brocka, and Mike de Leon, who have brought Filipino cinema to a global audience with gritty, artistic, and socially relevant films.

6. Ever heard of top-notch fashion designers Josie Cruz-Natori, Monique Lhuillier, Michael Cinco, Rajo Laurel, Oliver Tolentino, Lulu Tan-Gan, et al.? And fashion models Anna Bayle, Kelsey Merritt, et al.? Meanwhile, indigenous materials like piña, abaca, inabel, and t’nalak are experiencing renewed appreciation both locally and abroad.

7. The Philippines has long been respected for furniture-making and handicrafts, especially in Cebu. Filipino artisans are known for their skill in working with rattan, bamboo, wood, and natural fibers. Many locally made furniture pieces are exported worldwide because of their quality and craftsmanship. This industry combines artistry with sustainability, especially as eco-friendly materials gain popularity globally. Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue, while primarily known for furniture design, has unique industrial designs that have won international awards and attracted celebrity clients.

8. Let's not forget the entertainment scene, where--against all odds-- Lea Salonga's success in Broadway, West End, and Hollywood opened the door to a long list of equally talented stage actors, film actors, and singers/performers of Filipino descent in America and UK. Lately, who would have thought someone like Arnel Pineda would replace the lead of the band Journey--unbelievable feat, if you ask me.

"These examplars matter because they challenge the long-standing stereotype that the Philippines excels only in labor-intensive or service-oriented fields. Filipino artistry in furniture, indigenous textiles, film, and design shows that our strengths are not merely economic but deeply cultural. In this sense, the Philippines’ greatest resource has always been human creativity."

***

Over at his FB wall, LA artist/muralist Eliseo Art Arambulo Silva has listed down everyday items Filipinos have given the world:

==========================
Copy-pasted text:

- Manila Paper/Folders: Made from Abaca (Manila hemp). It’s the plant-based reason your tax returns don't fall apart.
- Nata De Coco: Fermented coconut water. The translucent king of bubble tea textures.
- Ube: The purple yam that conquered the world’s dessert menus one "aesthetic" post at a time.
- Patis (Fish Sauce): The liquid salt of the earth. Pure, fermented umami.
- Mang Tomas: A liver-based sauce so good you’ll happily ignore the ingredient list.
- Mango Jerky: Cebu’s dried mangoes—basically fruit candy for people who want to feel healthy.
- Calamansi: A tiny citrus powerhouse that makes lemons look boring and limes look weak.
- Capiz Shells: The original "translucent window." If it’s boho and glows, it’s probably a Philippine mollusk.
- Macapuno: A "mutant" coconut with jelly-like meat. A delicious biological glitch.
- Yo-yo: Perfected by Pedro Flores, who added the looped string so the toy could actually "sleep."
- Jeepneys: WWII scrap metal reimagined as the world’s most flamboyant public transit.
- Adobo: Vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. It’s not a recipe; it’s a lifestyle.
- Peacock Chair: This wicker throne was originally crafted in Manila's Bilibid Prison. It went from a Filipino handicraft to a 1970s photography staple and the ultimate "boho-chic" home flex.

==========================

Sisig, halo-halo, FMA (Filipino martial arts), Guimaras mango, 'Manila mango,' bottled coconut water, abaca rope, manton de manila (Manila shawl), barong (which inspired guayabera), Maria Clara gown, ylang-ylang, bolo, virgin coconut oil, the use of squid ink, lambanog (which inspired tequila), manila envelope, etc. should be on the list too.

I also remember several lists thrown around in social media enumerating significant inventions by Filipino scientists.

- Eduardo San Juan's lunar rover or moon buggy
- Dado Banatao's 16-bit microchip
- Daniel Dingel's water-powered car prototype
- Gregorio Zara's video phone
- Dr. Fe del Mundo's bamboo incubator
- Maria Orosa's banana ketchup
- Roberto del Rosario's sing-along system (which inspired the karaoke)
- Dr. Abelardo Aguilar's erythromycin
- Marc Loinaz's one-chip video camera
- Francisco Quisumbing's quick ink

The Filipino psychological concept called pakikipagkapwa is also a bright spot, as pointed out by psychologist Katrin Mueller-de Guia.

Despite the quagmire we are in right now, let's remind ourselves that we are not exactly a bunch of completely stupid and utterly self-centered because insecure people yet. We are--and can be--world-class if we want to--even in areas perceived today as our Waterloos or weaknesses, such as manufacturing, industrialization, energy, defense, public infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and yes, good governance and politics. We have proven it and are continuously proving it, and we can get there if we have the will.

(Illustration: ChatGPT)

posted by Resty Odon  # 3:40 AM 0 Comments

Now how do you explain the strange psychology behind those weird CFNM fetish in p*rn sites involving clothed women and nude young men?

***

posted by Resty Odon  # 9:45 PM 0 Comments

Pedophilia and ephebophilia are two strange psychological phenomena. However, these are two different phenomena, and psychology treats them differently.

• Pedophilia refers to a persistent sexual attraction to prepubescent children (generally children who have not entered puberty). It is considered a psychiatric disorder when it causes distress or leads to harmful behavior. Acting on it is abusive and illegal because children cannot give informed consent.

• Ephebophilia refers to attraction to mid-to-late adolescents—typically teenagers who are physically mature or near maturity. It is not classified the same way clinically, though relationships involving large age gaps can still involve exploitation, manipulation, or abuse of power depending on age, legality, and circumstances.

Why some older men become attracted to much younger males is complex and varies from person to person. Psychology does not point to one single cause. Several factors are often discussed:

1. Biological and evolutionary factors

Humans can respond to cues of youth because youth is associated with physical vitality, fertility, smooth skin, symmetry, and lower signs of aging. In some people, these preferences become exaggerated or fixated.

For attraction to adolescent males specifically, physical features like lean bodies, minimal body hair, and youthful facial structure may trigger sexual interest in certain individuals.

2. Developmental experiences

Some people report that their sexual interests became fixed early in life. Research suggests that sexual preferences may partly form during adolescence and can become “imprinted” around certain ages or body types.

In some cases, unresolved emotional development, trauma, loneliness, or social immaturity may contribute to seeking younger partners who feel less intimidating or easier to relate to.

3. Power and control

Not all attraction is purely about physical appearance. Sometimes the attraction includes:

• desire for admiration,

• emotional control,

• reduced fear of rejection,

• unequal power dynamics,

• or the fantasy of being idealized by someone younger.

This becomes especially concerning when manipulation or coercion is involved.

4. Desire for youth or fear of aging

Some older individuals are psychologically drawn to youth because it symbolizes:

• vitality,

• beauty,

• freedom,

• or a connection to their own lost youth.

In some cases, younger partners make an older person feel powerful, desirable, or less aware of aging.

5. Sexual orientation is separate from age preference

A man attracted to boys or young men is not necessarily “gay” in the ordinary sense of adult same-age attraction. Age preference and gender preference are different dimensions psychologically.

For example:

• A gay adult man attracted to adult men is different from

• A person specifically fixated on minors or adolescents.

Important distinction: attraction vs behavior

Psychologists distinguish between:

• experiencing unwanted attractions,

• fantasizing,

• and actually harming someone.

Many mental health professionals focus on prevention and helping individuals avoid harmful actions through therapy, impulse control, and accountability.

Why society reacts strongly

Humans are highly protective of children and adolescents because younger people are more vulnerable to coercion, grooming, and long-term psychological harm. Even when a teenager appears mature physically, emotional and social development may still be incomplete, especially in relationships with major age or power differences.

This topic is studied across psychology, psychiatry, criminology, neuroscience, and sociology, and there is still much researchers do not fully understand.

***

Aren't pedophilia and ephebophilia a kind of sexual fetish?

Well, they do overlap with the broader concept of atypical sexual interests, but psychology and psychiatry usually do not treat them as ordinary “fetishes.”

A sexual fetish typically means strong arousal focused on:

• nonliving objects (shoes, latex, etc.),

• or highly specific body parts or situations.

Pedophilia is categorized differently because the focus is on the age and developmental status of the person, especially prepubescent children. In clinical psychiatry, it is considered a type of paraphilia—an atypical pattern of sexual interest. Ephebophilia is more controversial and is not classified the same way in diagnostic manuals because attraction to physically mature adolescents overlaps partly with normal human attraction to youth, though behavior may still be unethical or illegal depending on age and context.

So the hierarchy is roughly:

• Fetish → a subtype of paraphilia involving objects/body-focused arousal.

• Pedophilia → a paraphilic age-based attraction to children.

• Ephebophilia → age-focused attraction to older adolescents; not usually classified as a mental disorder by itself.

Another difference is that many fetishes are harmless when practiced consensually between adults, while pedophilic behavior inherently harms minors because children cannot meaningfully consent.

Researchers also think these attractions are often deeper and more stable than a simple preference or kink. In some individuals, the attraction pattern appears persistent over time, somewhat analogous to how sexual orientation itself tends to be stable rather than casually chosen. That does not excuse harmful behavior, but it helps explain why treatment usually focuses on self-control, prevention, therapy, and avoiding abuse rather than trying to “erase” attraction instantly.

Psychology also distinguishes:

• having an attraction,

• having intrusive fantasies,

• and acting on them.

Only behavior involving exploitation or abuse creates a victim directly, though clinicians may still encourage people with dangerous attractions to seek help before harm occurs.

posted by Resty Odon  # 9:37 PM 0 Comments

"What happened with Bato dela Rosa yesterday?" I asked via AI. The answer:

On May 11, 2026, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa returned to the Senate after a months-long absence, which led to a high-profile standoff and a change in Senate leadership.

ICC Arrest Warrant Unsealed

The International Criminal Court (ICC) publicly confirmed and unsealed an arrest warrant for Senator Dela Rosa for alleged crimes against humanity (murder). The warrant, originally issued under seal in November 2025, covers incidents between 2016 and 2018 during the Duterte administration's "war on drugs".

The Senate Standoff

Attempted Arrest: Agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) attempted to serve the warrant at the Senate. CCTV footage showed Dela Rosa dashing through the Senate building and taking fire exit stairs to evade agents as he headed toward the session hall.

Physical Altercation: Dela Rosa reported a "scuffle" with NBI personnel and sustained minor injuries to his hand/fingers while wrestling his way past agents.

Senate Lockdown: The Senate complex was placed on lockdown, and barbed wire was installed at entrances. The lockdown was reportedly intended to identify NBI agents involved in the pursuit who were later held in contempt by the chamber.

Political Fallout and Protection

Leadership Change: Amid the chaos, the Senate voted to oust Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, replacing him with Alan Peter Cayetano. Dela Rosa was one of the 13 senators who backed Cayetano's leadership.

Protective Custody: The Senate officially placed Dela Rosa under its protective custody. Senate President Cayetano stated that the chamber would only recognize warrants issued by Philippine judges, effectively shielding Dela Rosa from the ICC warrant while he is on Senate grounds.

Subpoena Served: Separately, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) served a subpoena at Dela Rosa's residence in Davao regarding local investigations into extrajudicial killings.

The Caveat:

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses.

posted by Resty Odon  # 5:00 PM 0 Comments

In his column at Inquirer, economist Cielito Habito asks ChatGPT a deceptively simple question: What are Filipinos best at? The answer? We Filipinos are best at being nurses and caregivers, seafarers, BPO workers, beauty queens, shipbuilders, and social media users. Following his lead, I too asked ChatGPT to react to how Habito interpreted the results. Here's the reply:

"At first glance, the article appears to be another patriotic inventory of Filipino strengths. Yet beneath the celebratory tone lies a deeper discomfort. The essay ultimately becomes less a tribute to national achievement and more a meditation on the tragic paradox of Filipino excellence: we are admired worldwide precisely for the labor, creativity, and adaptability that flourish more outside the country than within it."

"One of the most striking aspects of the piece is his refusal to settle for shallow nationalism. He acknowledges achievements in nursing, seafaring, BPO work, shipbuilding, and even beauty pageants, but he repeatedly interrupts the celebration with uncomfortable questions. Why are Filipinos globally valued mostly as caregivers, service workers, and labor providers rather than as leaders in science, technology, or industrial innovation? Why do we dominate lower and middle tiers of global labor markets but rarely command the upper echelons of power, ownership, or technological leadership?

"This tension gives the essay its emotional weight. The writer seems torn between pride and disappointment. On one hand, Filipino workers are trusted worldwide because of their empathy, resilience, and professionalism. Filipino nurses have become symbols of compassion across hospitals in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Filipino seafarers keep global trade moving. BPO employees sustain an industry that has become one of the country’s economic pillars. Yet these successes also reveal structural weaknesses at home. Many of our 'best' industries depend on exporting Filipino labor rather than building Filipino industries capable of retaining talent domestically."

***

Speaking of industries, I've often read lately that RP missed riding the rapid industrialization train because of faulty national policy. So I asked ChatGPT if we indeed have no large industries we can claim to employ workers in the thousands or more. Here's the answer, which I tweaked slightly to improve the flow and avoid redundancy:  

"Filipino excellence extends beyond labor export, suggesting that the Filipino talent pool is far broader than traditional narratives imply. The proof lies in the areas of food innovation, game development, fashion, furniture, and creative arts." 

"The global rise of Jollibee demonstrates that Filipino entrepreneurship and branding can compete internationally while preserving cultural identity." 

"Likewise, Filipino animators and designers contributing to projects for Marvel and Disney reveal a creative workforce capable of operating at world-class standards."

"The global recognition of Filipino filmmakers and designers indicates that the country possesses not only technical competence but also a distinct artistic voice." 

"These examples matter because they challenge the long-standing stereotype that the Philippines excels only in labor-intensive or service-oriented fields. Filipino artistry in furniture, indigenous textiles, film, and design shows that our strengths are not merely economic but deeply cultural. In this sense, the Philippines’ greatest resource has always been human creativity."

Still, Habito’s skepticism remains valid. Many of these industries remain underfunded, fragile, or dependent on foreign markets. Filipino creatives often gain recognition only after succeeding abroad. Startups and technology ecosystems continue to lag behind regional neighbors like South Korea, Japan, or even Vietnam in industrial scale and state support. The country’s strongest exports remain its people rather than its products, patents, or technologies. This reality explains the essay’s lingering sadness. The author wants to celebrate Filipino excellence, but he cannot ignore the systems that prevent that excellence from fully transforming the nation itself.

What makes the essay compelling is precisely this honesty. Habito avoids the trap of empty patriotism. He neither romanticizes Filipino resilience nor dismisses genuine achievements. Instead, he invites readers to confront a difficult truth: being globally admired is not the same as being nationally empowered. A country can produce excellent workers while still failing to provide them with opportunities at home. It can dominate social media, beauty pageants, or customer service while still struggling with weak institutions, inequality, and underdevelopment.

The article also subtly critiques the Filipino tendency to derive pride from international validation. We celebrate when Filipinos succeed abroad because such achievements compensate for frustrations at home. But Habito implies that true national success should not merely be measured by how employable Filipinos are overseas. Rather, it should be measured by whether the country itself can become a place where talent thrives without needing to leave.

In the end, the essay leaves readers with an unsettling but necessary realization. The Philippines is undeniably rich in talent, creativity, and adaptability. From world-class nurses to animators, designers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers, Filipinos continue to prove their worth globally. Yet the larger challenge is transforming these scattered successes into sustained national progress. Pride alone is not enough. The deeper question is whether the country can someday become not merely a supplier of exceptional people, but also a producer of exceptional institutions, industries, and opportunities.

***

Beyond Hospitality: Industries Where Filipinos Excel at Home and Abroad

For decades, the Philippines has often been described only through its problems—poverty, corruption, traffic, brain drain, or dependence on remittances. Yet beneath those headlines lies another reality: Filipinos have quietly built a reputation for excellence across multiple industries around the world. From semiconductor factories and global shipping fleets to animation studios and fast-food empires, Filipino talent has become deeply woven into the modern global economy.

What makes this remarkable is that many of these achievements emerged despite limited government support, uneven infrastructure, and fierce international competition. Filipino success has often been powered not by massive capital or industrial might, but by adaptability, craftsmanship, creativity, and resilience.

Here are some of the industries where Filipinos continue to prove their worth both locally and internationally.

💻 Semiconductor & Electronics Manufacturing

One of the least appreciated yet most important industries in the Philippines is the semiconductor and electronics sector. Many Filipinos may not realize that semiconductors account for a huge portion of the country’s exports.

The Philippines manufactures components used in:

• smartphones

• computers

• automobiles

• medical devices

• industrial electronics

Major global companies have long operated in Philippine economic zones, especially in Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Central Luzon. Filipino engineers, technicians, and factory workers help assemble and test microchips and electronic components that end up in products used worldwide.

This industry demands precision, discipline, and technical expertise. The fact that multinational firms continue investing in Philippine electronics manufacturing shows trust in Filipino capability.

👉 Why it matters:
The semiconductor industry proves that Filipinos are not limited to service-oriented work. We are also part of highly technical and advanced manufacturing supply chains that power the digital world.

🇵🇭 Food & Beverage Innovations

Few Filipino brands symbolize national pride as strongly as Jollibee. What began as a local fast-food chain grew into an international success story with branches across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Competing against global giants while maintaining a distinctly Filipino identity is no small achievement.

Beyond fast food, Filipino food innovation is also gaining recognition through premium local products:

• artisanal chocolates from Auro Chocolate

• specialty coffee from Benguet, Sagada, and Mindanao

• locally crafted sauces, snacks, and delicacies

Filipino entrepreneurs have learned to blend local flavors with global standards.

👉 Why it matters:
Food is culture. The success of Filipino food businesses demonstrates our creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to compete internationally while staying proudly Filipino.

🎮 Game Development & Animation

The Philippines has quietly become an important player in global game development and animation outsourcing.

Studios like Secret 6 have contributed to internationally known AAA video games. Filipino artists and animators also work on projects connected to Marvel, Disney, Netflix, and other global entertainment giants.

The country’s strong artistic tradition, combined with increasing technical expertise, has allowed Filipinos to thrive in digital creative industries.

👉 Why it matters:
This sector showcases Filipino imagination and world-class artistry. It also demonstrates that Filipinos can compete in high-value digital industries beyond traditional outsourcing.

👗 Fashion & Design

Filipino designers continue to gain recognition on the global stage.

Designers such as Rajo Laurel and Michael Cinco have dressed international celebrities, royalty, and beauty queens. Their work combines Filipino elegance with global sophistication.

Meanwhile, indigenous materials like:

• piña

• abaca

• inabel

• t’nalak

are experiencing renewed appreciation both locally and abroad.

👉 Why it matters:
Filipino fashion reflects the country’s ability to preserve heritage while embracing modern global trends.

🛠️ Furniture & Handicrafts

The Philippines has long been respected for furniture-making and handicrafts, especially in Cebu.

Filipino artisans are known for their skill in working with:

• rattan

• bamboo

• wood

• natural fibers

Many locally made furniture pieces are exported worldwide because of their quality and craftsmanship.

This industry combines artistry with sustainability, especially as eco-friendly materials gain popularity globally.

👉 Why it matters:
Filipino craftsmanship reflects patience, detail, and creativity—qualities deeply rooted in local culture.

🚢 Shipbuilding & Maritime Workforce

Filipinos have become indispensable in the global maritime industry.

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers. Filipino sailors, engineers, cooks, and officers work aboard ships that transport goods across oceans every day.

The country has also hosted major shipbuilding operations in areas like Subic and Cebu.

👉 Why it matters:
The global maritime industry trusts Filipino workers because of their competence, professionalism, and adaptability in difficult conditions.

💻 BPO & IT Services

The Business Process Outsourcing industry transformed the Philippine economy.

Companies such as Concentrix employ hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in customer service, technical support, healthcare information management, finance, and IT.

What began primarily as call-center work has evolved into more specialized services involving analytics, software support, and knowledge processing.

👉 Why it matters:
The BPO sector highlights Filipino strengths in communication, English proficiency, empathy, and flexibility.

🎬 Film, Media & Creative Arts

Filipino storytelling continues gaining global recognition.

Award-winning filmmakers like Brillante Mendoza have received honors at international festivals including Cannes. Filipino musicians, actors, writers, and digital creators are also finding audiences beyond the Philippines.

The rise of independent cinema, YouTube content creation, and streaming platforms has opened new opportunities for Filipino creatives.

👉 Why it matters:
Filipino stories resonate because they are emotional, human, and deeply connected to real-life struggles and aspirations.

⚡ Emerging Tech & Startups

The Philippines is also developing a growing startup ecosystem.

Digital platforms like GCash revolutionized online payments and financial access for millions of Filipinos. Other startups focus on:

• logistics

• e-commerce

• health technology

• agriculture technology

• education platforms

While still smaller than neighboring tech ecosystems, the Philippine startup scene continues to grow rapidly.

👉 Why it matters:
It signals a shift toward innovation-driven growth and digital transformation.

The Filipino Advantage

The Philippines may not yet rival industrial giants like Japan, South Korea, or China in terms of manufacturing scale and infrastructure. Many industries remain underfunded or overly dependent on foreign markets.

Yet Filipino strengths consistently emerge in industries that require:

• adaptability

• creativity

• emotional intelligence

• craftsmanship

• resilience

• communication skills

• cultural flexibility

Perhaps that is the country’s greatest competitive advantage: the Filipino ability to thrive almost anywhere.

From engineers in semiconductor plants to nurses abroad, from animators in global studios to seafarers crossing oceans, Filipinos continue proving that the nation’s greatest resource has always been its people.

Conclusion

The Philippines is far from perfect. But it is also far from talentless.

Too often, Filipinos focus only on national shortcomings while overlooking industries where the country genuinely excels. The reality is that Filipino workers, artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators contribute meaningfully to the global economy every day.

Whether through semiconductor manufacturing, food innovation, digital creativity, maritime work, or entrepreneurship, Filipinos continue showing that excellence can emerge even under difficult circumstances.

And perhaps that is something worth celebrating—not as blind nationalism, but as recognition of what Filipinos are capable of achieving when given opportunity, trust, and support.

posted by Resty Odon  # 1:25 AM 0 Comments

 History is a social form of knowledge

Opinion by Van Ybiernas 

I HAVE been invited to deliver a paper for “Public History in the Philippines: A National Conference,” to be held at De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila on May 11 to 12, 2026. The conference is jointly organized by the DLSU Department of History and the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Department of History. The conference is free and open to the public.

I surmise that the invitation was extended because “I appear to be” using this column and my social media platforms for public history, which certain scholars myopically understand to be — as criticized by Hilda Kean and Paul Ashton — “historians merely reaching out to the public.”

That is not what I am doing, thank you very much.

Before I explain what public history properly is, let me tell you first the history of my public history journey.

During the administration of Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016), the presidential communications portfolio steadily incorporated history-related content, particularly in its social media accounts (i.e., the Facebook/Meta account of the Official Gazette). When Rodrigo Duterte became the president in 2016, Martin Andanar was appointed secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). Acquainted with historian and fellow Manila Times columnist Dr. Xiao Chua, Andanar asked the latter to be the historical consultant for the Official Gazette’s social media page. Chua begged off, recommending me instead because I had been upfront about voting for Duterte in the 2016 elections.

Eventually, I was put in touch with then-PCOO assistant secretary Ramon Cualoping III to consult on the Gazette’s social media cards until a furor broke out regarding the 99th birth anniversary of strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. on Sept. 11, 2016. The Inquirer’s Marlon Ramos and Yuji Vincent Gonzales on Sept. 13, 2016 (“Gazette draws flak for Marcos boo-boo”) wrote:

“Ramon Cualoping III, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), admitted to approving the content of the controversial social media card, which was supposedly written by one of the PCO staff writers, Marco Angelo Cabrera.

“Cualoping said Cabrera used to work for Marcos’ son and namesake, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Mr. Duterte’s staunch supporter who lost to Leni Robredo in the tightly contested vice presidential race.

“The social media card, Cualoping added, was approved by the Official Gazette’s consultant, Van Ybiernas, an assistant professor of history at De La Salle University.”

To clarify, I consulted only on the first iteration of that social media card, not the subsequent ones that came out as the PCOO tried to douse water on the fire created by the controversy which happened while I was sound asleep at home. I later wrote on my personal social media account that the contents of that social media card were historically accurate although subject to contentious interpretation, particularly from partisans with a stake in certain narratives.

Nevertheless, Chua — who I lightheartedly blame for everything that happened to me — coaxed me that since my name was already mentioned, I should just go down the public history rabbit hole, which I did. Afterward, Chua and I produced “Dulowtard History Live” (on Facebook), which grounded the analysis and interpretation of contemporary events using the lens of history. “Dulowtard History Live” came to an end during the pandemic after formatting changes were introduced by Facebook, making it difficult for us to do the show live simultaneously as I had already left for Korea in September 2019 to become a visiting professor with Changwon National University’s Department of International Relations.

While in Korea during the pandemic, Chua recommended me to Mr. Dante Ang II of The Manila Times to become a weekly columnist for the paper. As mentioned, the first one came out on Oct. 16, 2020. I continued our “Dulowtard History Live” approach of grounding the analysis and interpretation of contemporary events using the lens of history in writing my column pieces for the paper. I still do.

Going back, public history is not about historians reaching out to the public. That is a very elitist view of public history.

What I intend to do in my presentation for the upcoming “Public History in the Philippines: A National Conference” is to revisit the nuanced difference between “history” and “kasaysayan,” which necessitated the eventual birth of public history in the West and why such is unnecessary in the Philippine context.

I am not able to fully elucidate the difference between “history” and “kasaysayan” here for lack of space, but it must be pointed out that the Greek word “historia” originally meant, according to Katy Steinmetz, “inquiry, the act of seeking knowledge, as well as the knowledge that results from inquiry.” This Greek word, in turn, according to Zeus Salazar, comes from the Indo-European “wid,” which is the origin of the Gothic “witan” (and the German “wissen” and the English “wit”) which means “knowledge,” and in Sanskrit Veda means “knowledge par excellence, mystical knowledge.”

To fully understand the implications of the etymology of history vis-a-vis public history, one needs to appreciate the fact that “knowledge” in the premodern/early modern Western context was thoroughly elitist — it was reserved for members of the monarchy, the nobility and the upper echelons of society. Thus, history as an inquiry in pursuit of knowledge was an elite/elitist endeavor that systematically excluded the broader public.

Greek historian Herodotus, for example, called the “Father of History” by Cicero, according to William Smith, belonged to an illustrious family in Halicarnassus. Thucydides, called the “Father of Scientific History,” according to Britannica dot com “had property in Thrace, including mining rights and gold mines opposite the island of Thasos, and was... a man of influence there.” (I will write a longer list of ancient historians and their socioeconomic backgrounds in the continuation of this piece).

It took a while for history and historiography to be the endeavor of ordinary people and for it to reflect the wisdom of Raphael Samuel (in giving birth to public history) thus:

“History is not the prerogative of the historian... It is, rather, a social form of knowledge; the work in a given instance, of a thousand different hands...”

***

History is a social form of knowledge

Second of a series

I SHALL be delivering a presentation (in Filipino) for “Public History in the Philippines: A National Conference” sponsored by the Departments of History of De La Salle University Manila and the University of the Philippines Diliman on May 12, 2026, entitled, “History tungo Public History; Kasaysayan tungo Kasaysayan pa rin.” The fundamental premise of that presentation is that history is evolving into public history but kasaysayan remains the same.

But not in a bad way.

History evolved from the proto-Indo-European weid/wid which means “to know” to the (ancient) Greek histor/historein/historia meaning “to inquire” to the Latin historia meaning “narrative of past events” to the Old French estoire/estorie or “story, chronicle, history” and 14th century French historie or “relation of events.”

According to Jakarta-based historian Ferdinand Victoria, history in ancient European/Western times had a specific purpose as “exemplar history” for the education of the elite, including the nobility and monarchy, where history serves as a manual on “how to rule” and “how not to make mistakes.” Monarchs and nobles — and the papacy, for that matter — studied the history of their blue-blooded ancestors, in their politics and diplomacy, as part of their leadership education and training. History for the Europeans/Westerners from the start was political history. Thus, by the 19th century, Thomas Carlyle shall claim that history is “the biography of great men.”

There is also a practical reason for this, in the European/Western context. The historians Charles Langlois and Charles Seignobos became controversial in 1898 for their bold claim of pas de documents, pas d’histoire or “no documents, no history.” This is consistent with the declaration of another influential historian of the 19th century, Leopold von Ranke, of wie es eigentlich gewesen or the task of history is to show “how it really was” or “as it essentially was.” The record of the past as the basis of history is invariably written by scribes or chroniclers. Indeed, historical records often pertain to the lives and works of great men, the main subject of these chronicles.

French wartime heroes and great historians Marc Bloch and Lucien Febvre founded in 1929 the Annales d’historie economique et sociale (Annals of Economic and Social History), an academic journal that became the foundation of the “Annales school of history” to pry history away from the overbearing dominance of politico-military history toward a more social, economic and structural historical analysis. This was an opening in historiography that would eventually lead to the emergence of public history, not just in terms of targeting the broader public/s as audience or as participants with a stronger voice in the crafting of history, but more importantly, as the subject of historiography itself.

History in Europe and the West underwent a Greek odyssey before public history was eventually born in the 1970s.

By contrast, kasaysayan has had no such historiographic baggage. Kasaysayan was born with a natural focus on “saysay” (“meaning,” “value,” “importance,” etc.) in its salaysay or narrative. Kasaysayan, therefore, focuses on the narration of historical events that have meaning and value for both the narrator and the intended audience, denoted, according to Zeus Salazar, by the pananaw/perspective either as:

– “Pantayo”: producer of the narrative and audience as one discussing their own collective history and culture using their own language;

– “Pangkami”: narrator and audience belonging to different cultures with the narrator explaining their history and culture to the audience to the audience, using the language of the audience;

– “Pangkayo”: narrator and audience belonging to different cultures — and usually having different languages — with the narrator discussing the history and culture of the audience to the audience using the language of the audience;

– “Pansila”: producer of the narrative and audience as one but discussing the history and culture of a foreign nation/culture.

Kasaysayan intrinsically focuses on a narrative of historical events that have meaning, substance, value, importance, relevance, etc. to its intended audience — often an entire nation and/or culture denoted by the language used in the narration. More importantly, as it became patently evident as a consequence of Western colonialism/imperialism in the Philippines, the historians of Pantayong Pananaw were pushed to edify — for lack of a better term — an alternative historiography away from the records-dependent historiography advocated by the West as elucidated by the Charleses, Langlois and Seignobos. Colonial records — focused mainly on colonial activities and endeavors — were often irrelevant and immaterial to the historiographic concerns of kasaysayan infused with Pantayong Pananaw.

For clarity, the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) for instance is only remotely relevant to Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Dwelling on events like the Treaty of Tordesillas skews the focus lopsidedly to Spanish imperial concerns — i.e., Spanish politics and diplomacy with Portugal. Colonialism/imperialism brought the Spanish to the Philippines but there is no pressing need, in the context of Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, to discuss the Treaty of Tordesillas in detail.

A discussion of the Dutch attacks on the Philippines during the late 16th century-17th century is quite relevant, but not an elaboration of the politics between Spain and Netherlands in the 16th century that shaped it. The Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas narrative should center around the consequences of the attacks to the Philippines, not its European context/background.

Colonial historiography is equally interested in the politics of Europe and its consequences to the Philippines, Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas is not.

The impetus provided by the inadequacies of colonial historiography pushed historians to explore an “alternative” historiography for kasaysayan, leading to such devices as linguistics, literature, folk lore, interpretation of the arts, ethnology/ethnography, interpretation of colonial historiography, Reynaldo Ileto’s “history from below,” oral and local history, toponymy, among others for the corpus of kasaysayan + Pantayong Pananaw historiography.

The clash between colonial history/historiography and kasaysayan + Pantayong Pananaw obliged historians to pursue historiographical areas that public history is only almost beginning to explore.

What are these historiographical frontiers? The wisdom of Raphael Samuel sums up the answer to that:

“History is not the prerogative of the historian... It is, rather, a social form of knowledge; the work in a given instance, of a thousand different hands...”

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