# Philippines, We All Wait To Boom

Philippines is a country with another rich history and as evident as that, when it was colonized by the Spanish people for me 333 years. But having been free from them in 1898, the true independence of the Philippines for me was in July 4, 1946 when no other countries intervened with our government after the Americans. But speaking about my own country, until now, it still isn't as rich and advanced as other countries like Japan, Singapore and the U.S. nor at least improve its development pace. Well, speaking about Ferdinand Marcos' time as president, the Philippines was once labeled a "tiger of Asia" because its economy increased. But that time never continued to do well with the Philippines after Marcos declared an abusive martial law. I still hear very large deprivations between families and people. Super corrupted government has never been wiped out. But why is the Philippines a 3rd world country? Here are my assumptions:

1. Corrupted local and national government

Sometimes I think that most aspiring politicians acquire a powerful position in the government not to truly develop a place, but to gain more power. I have read a story that there were these grandchildren of a once mayor in a town, and his spouse. The town that was once a 3rd degree city became immediately a 1st degree city. And at the latter part of the story, the grandchildren did not expect the couple's house to be just a simple bungalow. Nothing special. It's obvious that the grandfather knew how to run a government. As a politician, most of your priority is actually the people enclosed in the town, not yourself. So imagine if all the local and national government of the Philippines wouldn't be so greedy. I have read a fact about other countries executing allegedly corrupt officials. But not all government personalities are corrupt, maybe we can talk it at a different case.

2. The People Itself

Yeah yeah yeah, we always think the government is responsible for us, but do we think about what we can do also? From stopping to receive money in elections and thus voting wisely , from observing laws even if the government isn't strict, all of the discipline that could be put to ourselves, I think would make a difference. This could slap the government that the people are working well so they will do their part also. I believe also that people can threaten the government that's why development is hampered.

3. Overpopulation

No wonder the Philippines is a small country compared to other countries that are wider geographically like Australia, if many people dwell in a large area, then they would come to a situation when they are competing for every day living that is only given for a number of people. But if the government actually knows budgeting then they should actually concentrate to provide for those deprived people, but it also affects other projects that could benefit a region also. Therefore, this is a big problem in the Philippines.

4. Safety is quite a question

I think that more tourism means better economy that can help the government build infrastructures easily and provide people what they need if the government is on track. But the problem is that there is still a fear in the likes of terrorism in a specific area in Mindanao which could have been very lucrative if it's safety is not an issue, and generally the Philippines is not a quite friendly place for people outside the country to come in the cases of theft or "budol-budol," etc.. So therefore, the Philippines should work on tourism development starting first to make it less a place of fear and insecurities.

That's it! I know that there would be more ideas to have but I limited it only to 4. Note that I am referring to the whole Philippines itself with its 3 major islands. So there might be modern cities for example in the Philippines' capital, Manila, but the Philippines has a 107 million population and there are many people to look for to. The standard of living of the citizens in a country is reflected by the texture of the country itself.