Why does widespread poverty persist in a nation blessed with immense natural wealth? A compelling analysis points to a deep-seated cultural mindset of submission, a direct legacy of colonial rule, that continues to shape Philippine society and politics today.
The Colonial Roots of a Feudal Society
To efficiently exploit the archipelago's resources, Spanish colonizers instituted a feudal system in the Philippines. They positioned themselves as the all-powerful lords, reducing the native population to voiceless serfs. This power structure was sanctified by the Spanish Catholic Church's promotion of the Divine Right of Kings, teaching that authority came directly from God and must not be questioned.
This historical conditioning, the argument states, has had a lasting subconscious impact. Modern political leaders often perpetuate this dynamic, treating ordinary citizens with a similar disregard. The result is a stark mirror of the past: many remain poor and powerless like serfs, while a few are rich and influential like feudal lords.
Manifestations of a Broken System
The consequences of this unequal structure are evident in daily life. There is a glaring absence of equal justice under the law and proportional representation, both cornerstones of a functioning democracy. The system treats citizens differently based on power and status.
A suspected petty thief can languish in jail awaiting trial, while a government official accused of stealing billions can exploit legal loopholes to avoid arrest and imprisonment altogether. This injustice persists because a feudal mindset instills fear of questioning those in authority, whether they are elders, priests, or political figures.
Why Education and Religion Are Failing to Liberate
Alarmingly, the two institutions that should foster critical thinking and moral courage—education and religion—are not effectively challenging this regressive culture. The basic education system remains overly focused on grades. Students often memorize and regurgitate answers to pass exams rather than engage in genuine learning.
Furthermore, subjects like history are frequently taught from the biased perspective of the colonizers and their successors, preventing a full understanding of the nation's subjugated past. Meanwhile, despite superficial modernization efforts like Vatican II and the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP-II), the Filipino Catholic Church is criticized for remaining, at its core, an elitist colonial institution preoccupied with rituals.
This critique is directed not at lay Catholics, many of whom showed moral courage at a recent rally led by Archbishop Abet Uy, but at the bishops as a body. The argument calls for bishops to take a more dramatic, unequivocal stand against corruption, perhaps through a symbolic protest march of their own, to shed a reputation as religious oligarchs and clearly side with the oppressed.
The Path Forward: Critical Reason Over Blind Submission
Ultimately, mass poverty is rooted in social structures of inequality that are accepted as normal due to a submissive colonial culture. Breaking free from this "cultural prison" requires a transformative approach to both education and religion, which are currently in short supply.
The solution lies in Filipinos learning to think for themselves. They must analyze their reality through the clear lens of critical reason, not through the distorted perspective maintained by modern-day feudal lords. Only then can the nation begin to harness its rich resources for the benefit of all its people.
