THE PHILIPPINES TOWARDS THE 21st CENTURY

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The Philippines is a country beset with age-old problems. A new government is ushered in, inheriting the mistakes of the previous administrations, which have failed to seize the opportunity to direct and revitalize the country.

This paper deals with these problems and the basic concepts behind them. The paper is divided into three parts: The First isolates Perception as the basic problem of the country. Other problems are symptomatic, it is the gap in perception that has to be confronted head-on if we hope to achieve our national goals.

The Second part offers the Practice of Gratitude as a concerted solution. It is simple, an integral part of the Filipino psyche that has in the past proven to be a catalyst in the achievement of national goals.

The Third is a Proposed Program for the implementation of the Solution. The Program is flexible though apparently simple but will be complex in implementation. This paper explains why it is workable, practical and imperative, and how the Practice of Gratitude to God, Country and People can be the basis for a dramatic change in our value system. It will awaken in us the ideals of our heroes and revive our weary spirits to aspire for a new and better Philippines.

Radical changes in society are usually accomplished thru a violent upheaval as the ruling classes violently resist any change in the social structure. We are now given the opportunity to cause a radical change in our society without the accompanying violence and the dislocation of the population. This is an opportunity that we can ill-afford to pass. Our social, political and economic institutions are now reeling under the impact of the challenges of the 21st century and their ability to survive these challenges is very much in doubt. Unless we act now, we will be facing the future with no choices or alternatives left. The expected cost of implementing this program is too cheap a price to pay in comparison to the alternatives. THE COST OF THE RITES OF PASSAGE TO THE 21st CENTURY NEED NOT BE SO EXPENSIVE.

DAVID R. BRUCELAS
December 1992
Philippines
Telephone: +639174866564
gratitude_century@yahoo.com