North Luzon Monitor

North Luzon

Piliin ang Pilipinas

JP Villanueva
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A new trend that proliferated on TikTok and other social media is based on the song of Angeline Quinto. Various personalities created videos to join the trend including Vice Ganda, Marian Rivera, and many more. These videos highlighted the good and the bad of the Philippines.

For an Overseas Filipino Worker like myself, there are a lot of things that we miss in the Philippines. Inasmuch as we are already living in another country, we still love the Philippines, the good and the bad in it. 

Nowadays, it is just glaring how many Filipinos are very opinionated on a lot of issues on social media. The sad thing is that they are more focused on the non-issues like Vice Ganda-Axel-Christine issue, Ser Geybin issue, the wedding mishap in Negros Oriental, the volleyball player and SB19, etc. Their opinions have become bashing. When and how did we come to this?

On the other hand, issues like the West Philippine Sea vs. China, POGO, extra-judicial killings, corruption, declining value of the Peso, etc. are left unnoticed by many or some just ignore it. They keep mum on these pressing issues while so opinionated for the unimportant ones. I caught myself saying one time, “ang hirap mong mahalin Pilipinas.”

I was just exchanging messages with a friend who is also abroad, and we touched on this issue. Despite the many negative issues about the Philippines, we will still choose to go back to the Philippines. Our love for our country is stronger than all these bashing and opinions on the non-issues, and the uncaring attitude towards the important issues. It got me thinking, are there economic theories that could explain why we still love our country.

Economic theories can provide insightful perspectives on why individuals might love their country. While love for one’s country is often considered an emotional or psychological phenomenon, economics can shed light on some of the underlying incentives and structures that foster this sentiment. Here are a few economic theories that can help explain patriotism:

Public Goods Theory. Public goods are goods that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning that one person’s consumption of the good does not reduce its availability to others, and people cannot be excluded from using the good. National defense, clean air, and public infrastructure are examples of public goods. Love for one’s country can be seen as a form of appreciation for the public goods provided by the state. The better the provision and maintenance of these public goods, the more likely citizens are to feel a sense of loyalty and attachment to their country.

Social Capital Theory. Social capital refers to the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation within a society. High levels of social capital can lead to a stronger sense of community and national identity. Economic theories suggest that societies with high social capital tend to have more effective institutions and lower transaction costs, leading to higher economic performance. Love for one’s country can thus be viewed as an outcome of strong social capital, as individuals feel connected and committed to the collective well-being of their nation.

Rational Choice Theory. Rational choice theory posits that individuals make decisions based on the maximization of their personal utility. From this perspective, love for one’s country can be seen as a rational choice if it provides individuals with certain benefits, such as security, economic stability, and social welfare. When a country offers favorable conditions for personal and economic growth, individuals are more likely to develop a sense of attachment and loyalty to their nation.

Behavioral Economics. Behavioral economics integrates insights from psychology into economic theory to explain why individuals might make seemingly irrational decisions. Patriotism can be seen through the lens of behavioral economics as a result of cognitive biases and heuristics, such as in-group favoritism and social identity theory. People derive a sense of identity and self-esteem from their membership in a group, such as a nation. This emotional attachment can lead to a love for one’s country, even if it is not always economically rational.

In summary, while love for one’s country is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, economic theories provide valuable insights into the various incentives and structures that contribute to this sentiment. Public goods provision, social capital, rational choices, behavioral factors, and other factors all play roles in fostering patriotism. 

The truth is, even with all the negatives about our country, I would always choose to go back to the Philippines, my home. Despite of, in spite of. Pipiliin ko pa rin ang Pilipinas! 

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