108 years later....

Today, the Philippines celebrates its 108th Independence Day. 108 years have passed since that fateful day when General Emilio Aguinaldo waved the Philippine flag from the balcony of his residence in Kawit, Cavite. 108 years. And what do we have to show for it?

An exchange rate of P53.034 to a US dollar;

A population of 85.2 million Filipinos;

A poverty incidence of 24.4% (as of 2003);

2,840,000 people of employable age without work (as of January 2006);

A central government domestic debt of P2,167,916,000,000.00 (as of February 2006);

A central government foreign debt of P1,796,472,000,000.00 (as of February 2006);

An international external debt of $54,186,000,000.00 (as of Q4 2005);

A trade deficit of $12,000,000.00 (as of March 2006);

Gasoline at more than P40.00 per liter;

Doctors and lawyers taking up nursing or caregiving courses;

Citizens who would rather work abroad than stay here if given the opportunity;

A growing industry in the field of answering phones and making medical transcripts;

An executive department which lacks credibility and moral ascendancy;

A legislative department tied up with issues of charter change and impeachment;

A judicial department rife with alleged "errors";

Media practitioners and alleged leftists being killed left and right.

Of course, we're free and independent.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Related Posts:

Independence Day....

Links:

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
National Statistical Coordination Board