Driving Economic Growth in the Philippines: How the New Generation Can Open Doors to Progress

“What can we do to change the world?”

A young journalist once asked this question to the late First Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. Lee simply smiled and replied with a truth that never ages:

“You cannot change the world. You can only improve it.”

Years later, on Quora, someone asked a similar question:

“What can I do to change the Philippines?”

And one answer stood out:

“To change the Philippines is to change the heart of every Filipino.”

It sounds idealistic. It sounds grand. But here’s the reality:

You cannot change the heart of every Filipino—but you can improve it.

Filipinos are great imitators. We learn fast. We adapt quickly. And when our hearts are guided toward generosity, purpose, and progress, we naturally rise. Winston Churchill captured it with these words:

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

This is where the next generation of Filipino leaders—today’s students—step in. Not with heavy theories.

Not with complicated economics.

But with two powerful strategies that nations like Japan, Singapore, France, and the United Kingdom used to transform themselves from struggling societies into global powerhouses.

These two strategies—sending missions and offering prizes—spark economic growth, ignite national ambition, and empower citizens to contribute their gifts, talents, and ideas.

These are strategies that students, teachers, and parents can all reflect on, because nation-building has always been a shared effort.

Let’s explore them.

1. Sending Missions to Other Countries: Learning from Proven Success

Why send missions abroad?

Because the fastest way to advance is to stand on the shoulders of giants.

Nations that modernized did not do it by locking themselves inward—they learned boldly, copied intelligently, and improved consistently.

Japan Did It First — And Their Strategy Worked Brilliantly

In 1867, a young emperor named Mutsuhito, later known as Emperor Meiji, ascended the throne. He was supported by noble advisers connected with Chōshū leaders—among them Ito Hirobumi, a member of the famous Chōshū Five, who secretly traveled to England to study.

Their modernization took a giant leap when Japan launched the Iwakura Mission in 1871–1873.

The mission had three goals, and its third goal changed everything:

“To conduct a comprehensive study of modern political, economic, industrial, military, and educational systems of the United States and Europe.”

They sent statesmen, scholars, recorders—individuals who would observe, learn, and bring home insights that became the blueprint of modern Japan.

This mission set Japan on the path that eventually made it one of the world’s most advanced nations.

Singapore Did the Same — Under Lee Kuan Yew’s Direct Leadership

Lee Kuan Yew said:

“I discovered early in office that there were few problems confronting me in government that other governments had not met and solved.”

So he sent teams to countries that had solved similar problems, whether it involved:

• building a new airport

• improving teaching methods

• setting up efficient industries

• or strengthening governance

  
  

He preferred to “climb on the shoulders of others who had gone before.”

And Singapore became a global model because of it.

The Philippines Already Has a Quiet Advantage

We have our own “mission force”—Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Millions of Filipinos work in advanced nations where systems, governance, and technologies are decades ahead of us. When encouraged and organized, OFWs can become:

• observers

• recorders

• informants

• and contributors of development ideas

  
  

Their insights can help Philippine leaders understand how other societies operate—from public transport to education to energy use and public discipline.

For students, this is a reminder: your learning does not stop inside the Philippines. You explore the world through books, videos, professors, and someday, maybe even study missions.

Missions Expand the Mind, Save Our Leaders From “Trial and Error,” and Accelerate Development

Reading books written by great leaders—from LKY to global policymakers—helps. But experiencing a country’s systems firsthand?

That accelerates learning by tenfold.

When Filipino students, future leaders, and government officials immerse themselves abroad and return home with insights, we shorten our learning curve—and stop reinventing the wheel.

2. Offering Prizes to Unleash Filipino Ingenuity

If missions allow us to learn, then prizes allow us to create.

History proves this again and again.

How Prizes Sparked Global Progress

In 1714, the British government offered £20,000 (today’s equivalent of nearly $4.5 million) for anyone who could solve the problem of accurately determining longitude at sea.

This challenge inspired John Harrison to invent the marine chronometer, an invention that revolutionized navigation.

In 1795, France offered a prize to anyone who could preserve food for Napoleon’s armies.

This led to Nicolas Appert’s breakthrough method of canning food.

In 1919, hotelier Raymond Orteig offered $25,000 (more than $300,000 today) to the first person who could fly nonstop from New York to Paris.

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh won the prize—kickstarting the era of transoceanic flight.

These rewards were simple, but powerful:

• they invited creativity

• they encouraged problem-solvers

• they launched new industries

• and they stimulated economic growth

  
  
  
  

The Modern Version: The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

Tim Berners-Lee, the man who invented the World Wide Web, is one of its awardees.

Prizes still work. Innovation still pays.

And Filipinos are naturally ingenious—I have my own story proves this, when I designed a trashcan that ants cannot invade.

If something as simple as a clever trashcan can be invented… imagine what else we can create.

Why Not Apply This in the Philippines?

Actually, we already tried.

The government passed Republic Act No. 11293, the Philippine Innovation Act, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.

It created a ₱1 billion revolving fund “to encourage the development and implementation of innovation initiatives.” It even established April 21 as National Innovation Day.

But here’s the problem:

The Act does not specify how much should be awarded.

It does not say how regularly prizes should be given.

It lacks the spark that makes people excited to innovate.

Innovation dies when recognition is unclear.

It thrives when rewards are consistent, clear, and celebrated.

A Practical Example: Grow GDP Through Inventing a Cool Textile

Imagine this:

• The DOST offers ₱5 million for the creation of a new cool garment.

• A Filipino inventor creates it.

• A Philippine textile manufacturer mass-produces it.

• The product becomes the first of its kind in the world.

• We export it.

• The country earns.

• Our GDP per capita rises.

  
  

This is what happened to South Korea.

Brands like Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, and others became global giants—contributing billions in taxes and sustaining the Korean nation.

Innovation feeds the economy.

Innovation lifts families.

Innovation creates jobs.

And yes—innovation can be Filipino-made.

Where This All Leads: A More Prosperous Future

When next-generation leaders:

• send missions

• offer prizes

• study global models

• motivate Filipino ingenuity

• pay attention to the needs of the people

…our economy begins to transform.

It becomes active.

Creative.

Forward-thinking.

And filled with opportunity.

When our hearts are trained to search for answers, instead of waiting for miracles…

When our minds are trained to give our talents, instead of holding back…

We grow.

We improve.

We rise as a unified nation.

And for every student reading this:

Your role is simple but powerful—don’t stop learning ahead of time.

We used to grow up reading books from elementary to college.

It shaped how we think and how we dream.

Why stop now?

If Singapore built its progress by learning ahead…

If Japan transformed by learning ahead…

Why shouldn’t the Filipino youth do the same?

Final Thought

The world’s greatest leaders didn’t wait for change—they prepared for it.

They trained their minds.

They strengthened their hearts.

They studied other nations.

They rewarded their own people.

And then they led.

The Philippines can rise the same way.

Not by hoping for change…

But by preparing for it.

And you—the Filipino youth, the teachers shaping them, and the parents supporting them—are at the heart of it all.