[In This Economy] How touring overseas made me see the true state of the nation

This 12 months, for the primary time in eight years, I missed becoming a member of Rappler’s stay protection of the State of the Nation Deal with (SONA). I used to be touring with my boyfriend to Bangkok greater than every week earlier than lessons resumed at UP Diliman.

But I nonetheless watched the fourth SONA of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and I made a video response that’s gone viral on TikTok, I’m comfortable to say. You may watch that right here.

This 12 months’s SONA is exceptionally populist. On the identical time, Marcos appears outraged by the corruption in flood management tasks. However he could also be forgetting that he himself signed off on all these doubtful tasks — so he ought to be indignant at himself as a substitute! On the identical time, that portion of the SONA acquired essentially the most applause and cheers, making you surprise: Are the lawmakers decrying or celebrating the truth that lots of them profited from these flood management tasks?

Anyway, on this column, let me revisit the SONA via a special lens: my trip to Bangkok. Typically, the easiest way to know the true state of the nation is by going out of it.

Thailand showcases simply how a lot the Philippines has fallen behind. You see, instantly after World Warfare II, Thailand was a lot poorer than the Philippines. However their revenue rose quickly within the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies, in order that by 1985 — simply because the Philippines was within the throes of its worst recession below the Marcos dictatorship — Thailand overtook us when it comes to revenue per capita. The hole between us has solely widened since then.

Indicators of Thai prosperity hit you virtually instantly as you arrive. Suvarnabhumi Airport is Thailand’s greatest and busiest airport, however going round it’s intuitive and handy and even nice. Parts of Thai tradition abound, together with an enormous statue depicting a tug-of-war between Hindu gods and demons.

In contrast, our NAIA terminals are outdated and funky and sterile. NAIA Terminal 3, for example, has the air of a uncared for hospital. I’m nonetheless haunted by the viral information of a rat scampering about in NAIA 3, as if from a scene in Ratatouille, however by no means charming. Within the carousels, many luggages are wrapped in plastic — exhibiting you that we’re a a lot much less trusting society (and for good purpose, given the previous “laglag-bala” or bullet-planting shenanigans).

Areas below development close to the meals corridor are additionally laid naked for all passengers to see. Some travelators work, some don’t. And meals decisions are severely restricted. NAIA 3 is meant to be our greatest airport, but it’s positively provincial in comparison with the large Southeast Asian airports like Suvarnabhumi and Changi.

Then while you step out of Suvanabhumi, it’s really easy to hail a Seize, and drivers are skilled and courteous. Once we acquired again from trip through NAIA 3, reserving a TNVS experience took us perpetually, and the Seize pickup space is tucked away in a nook of NAIA 3, a good distance from the arrival bays.

Once we acquired again, we additionally skilled our worst experience with a TNVS ever (not Seize). The driving force didn’t supply to load our baggage within the trunk, and that was a purple flag of issues to return. He knew how you can use the Skyway, his automotive’s RFID had no load, he missed the exit (including at the very least an hour to the already painful drive via rush hour), he drove slowly as a result of he saved getting distracted by pings of potential new bookings, and on prime of every thing he didn’t appear to have his license with him. Within the backseat, respiratory grew to become tough at one level, for I felt trapped by the driving force’s incompetence. All in all, we spent greater than two hours on the highway, and we ended up extra drained within the automotive than flying from Thailand!

Going round Bangkok is a breeze in comparison with Manila. Positive, in addition they have site visitors jams, however normally solely close to the large malls in downtown Bangkok. There are elevated “skywalks” connecting the largest malls, so you possibly can simply stroll in case you don’t need to endure the site visitors. In contrast, simply crossing SM North to TriNoma in Quezon Metropolis is lots like an impediment course, and the North Triangle Frequent Station has been languishing for years.

These skywalks are proper below the BTS Skytrain, their model of LRT/MRT, and the stations are ethereal and never claustrophobic and darkish in comparison with MRT stations. For years now, you can use your credit score or debit card to pay — not like within the Philippines, the place cashless transactions have been launched actually solely previously week, and solely at MRT stations.

Other than being exceptionally flavorful, Thai meals can also be cheaper. Your cash may have extra buying energy in Bangkok than in Manila. Thais are huge spenders like Filipinos, however in Bangkok there’s a a lot larger number of manufacturers, a few of which might’t be discovered anyplace in Manila.

You may as well inform lots from a tradition by the use of the companies there. Small companies should not required to brandish their enterprise permits, not like within the Philippines, the place even parking cashier cubicles are required to indicate a mayor’s allow, barangay allow, tax certificates, and so forth.

In Thai groceries, there are complete sections devoted to coconut merchandise — leaving me with the impression that they’ve capitalized on coconut derivatives in a approach we haven’t. (Which is ironic as a result of coconut is life within the Philippines.) In a single provincial journey we took, there’s a cease at Buffalo Amphawa, a lodge and café that includes as a essential attraction two albino water buffalos. In my thoughts, it’s a excellent instance of agri-tourism.

A variety of companies are additionally centered on Thailand’s rivers and canals, like boat rides and dinner cruises alongside the mighty Chao Phraya River, and the floating markets within the provinces. Regardless that you undergo the esteros by boat, there’s no foul odor in any respect. We even noticed cranes and at the very least two monitor lizards, a testomony to how clear the atmosphere is. Evaluate that to our rivers and canals, which reek. Alongside Pasig, the ferry possibility just isn’t so dependable, and only some ever use it.

Lastly, Thailand can also be extra progressive in lots of respects. Solely in 2022, Thailand successfully decriminalized the leisure use of hashish (marijuana), but there’s no signal that Thai society is on the point of collapse. In contrast, within the Philippines, there’s nonetheless extensive use of medication below the radar — even amongst these near high-ranking authorities officers — rendering the supposed Duterte “warfare on medication” hypocritical. 

Then, solely in January 2025, same-sex marriages have been allowed in Thailand as nicely, the primary Southeast Asian nation to take action. Rainbow flags are all over the place, even outdoors of Delight Month.

For Filipinos touring Thailand, you possibly can’t assist however examine our state of affairs with theirs. A minimum of when you’ll surprise, “Ought to I stay and work right here?” Unhappy to say, the Philippines has been left behind in so many respects. Because of this touring gives you a a lot better thought of the state of the nation than any presidential handle will do. – Rappler.com

You may as well learn my reflections on Thailand final 12 months.JC Punongbayan, PhD is an assistant professor on the UP Faculty of Economics and the writer of False Nostalgia: The Marcos “Golden Age” Myths and How you can Debunk Them. In 2024, he acquired The Excellent Younger Males (TOYM) Award for economics. Comply with him on Instagram (@jcpunongbayan).