I particularly enjoyed your excerpt of The Fabricated Filipino State.  The whole time I was reading it I was reminded of the history of many Sub-Saharan African countries.  These were “insta countries” divided along colonial not cultural/historical lines.  Sadly, this decision is still causing mayhem and poverty to this day.  Make no mistake about it, Culture is THE driving force today–specially after the failure of class-based solidarity that socialism/marxism espoused.

Any REAL solution to the Moslem issue must include sovereignty.

Great blog.  I’ll be sure to visit often.  Bookmarked already.

The middle class remaining here isn’t too few in number, but I reckon a large fraction of us who haven’t already left the country are in a sort of limbo – cynical enough to expect too little to gain and too much to lose against a backdrop of conditioned distrust. The existing disunity was a product in no small part of divisive politics and lack of a singular non-zero-sum goal. The wealthy ruling class don’t care at all and would prefer the status quo, while the DE class doesn’t care about everyone else who is better off than they are, based on some sentiments I’ve heard from middle class folk. I wouldn’t be surprised to find everyone outside of AB class to feel somewhat misunderstood by everyone else in another socioeconomic class, and consequently be reluctant in banding together genuinely as one. The ruling class prefers it this way, methinks. It’s a sad, sad, state of affairs.

Hi BenK:

Good catch on the dwindling number of the middle classes who remain in the homeland.

By the looks of it, a lasting solution to the Mindanao issue will involve a rewrite of the Charter because all attempts thus far have fallen flat for one reason – the 1987 Constitution. MoA-AD was comprehensive but it was rendered toothless, by the same Constitution. imho, the issue of economic growth (or the lack of it) whether in moro or non-moro territory still goes back to a fundamental flaw – one of mindless protectionism embedded in the 1987 constitution.

The only problem with Walden Bello’s hypothesis is that the middle class has virtually disappeared from this country, and most likely will not return until things are straightened out – that is unless a very strong leader or group of leaders emerges to convince them to come back and be part of the solution. The country has created an deadly paradox for itself: the ability to exercise self-determination has become so atrophied through decades of searching for a heroic leader that now that is exactly what it will take to put the country on a productive path. And the kind of leadership that’s needed, the kind of people that personify that kind of leadership, are something that is without precedent in the country’s entire history.

I do agree with one thing, though, that any solution for this country will require a substantial kind of independence for the Bangsamoro, most likely complete sovereign separation from the rest of the Philippines. The sultanate was lukewarm about the provisions of the Bates Treaty even before it was abrogated, and there is no reason to assume they would see any real value to remaining connected to the rest of the Philippines in anything less than an equal status. And, as was clearly explained, there’s no cultural or historical reason why they should.

Excellent piece of work, bud. The antis will be trying to wrap their heads around this one for weeks.