A "Liham" to the Filipino Worker this New Year: On Discipline, Dignity, and the Future of Your Republic

My fellow workers,

I observe your nation from a distance, and I see a people of immense talent, warmth, and grit. You have a natural gift for connection that other nations envy. But as we stand in 2026, I must speak to you with the bluntness of a father who cares more for your future than for your temporary comfort.

You live in a land of paradox. Your economists point to a 4.4% unemployment rate—a number that suggests progress. Yet, you walk through streets where the infrastructure fails you, and you read headlines of billions lost to the "ghosts" of corruption. You feel the sting of prices rising while the fruits of your labor seem to disappear into a systemic void.

You are frustrated. You are tired of being told to be "resilient." And you are right to be.

On the Trap of "Resilience"

For too long, your leaders have used your "resilience" as an excuse for their own incompetence. Resilience is a virtue, but it is not a national strategy. A nation cannot survive on the ability of its people to suffer in silence.

The difference between a First World nation and a Third World nation is not just resources; it is discipline. It is the refusal to accept "pwede na yan" (that's good enough). In Singapore, we did not build a miracle on hope; we built it on the uncompromising demand for excellence and the absolute intolerance of theft.

The Poison of Corruption

Corruption is not just a headline; it is a direct tax on your children’s dinner table. Every peso pocketed by a dishonest official is a classroom not built, a road that crumbles, and a job that remains out of reach.

Do not look only to the top for the cure. A culture of integrity begins at the desk of the clerk, the site of the foreman, and the heart of the manager. When you refuse to participate in the "shortcut," you are performing an act of revolution. When you demand transparency in your own company and your own community, you are building a nation.

The 2026 Mandate: Skill or Subsidize

The world does not owe the Philippines a living. In this age of AI and rapid shifts, your "hard work" is no longer enough. You must have relevant work.

I see the 2026 budget shifting toward education—this is correct. But you must take it upon yourself to be the master of your craft. Do not wait for a government program to save you. Learn the new tools. Master the digital landscape. If you remain stagnant, you become a liability. if you evolve, you become the indispensable engine of Asia.

My Fatherly Advice

1. Demand Order, Not Just Promises: A nation that cannot enforce its own laws cannot protect its own workers. Support the systems that bring order, and hold accountable those who bring chaos.

2. Focus on the Long Game: Prosperity is a marathon. Avoid the "get rich quick" schemes and the populist rhetoric that promises much but delivers nothing. Invest in your skills and your family’s education.

3. Stop Being a Victim of Your History: You cannot change the corruption of the past, but you can change the expectations of the present. Stop electing "personalities" and start electing "systems."

The Filipino worker is the backbone of the region. You are the nurses, the engineers, the creatives, and the builders of the world. It is time you became the masters of your own house.

Work hard, but work with a cold, clear eye for the truth. Discipline is the price of freedom.

With stern affection and high expectations,

An Observer and Friend