The Real Reason the Philippines Is Stuck in Poverty (It’s Not Corruption)

Why is the Philippines, a nation full of resources and talent, still stuck in poverty and political chaos? In this episode, I sit down with Orion Perez, founder of the CoRRECT Movement, to uncover the uncomfortable truth: the system isn’t broken — it was designed this way.

From the 1987 Constitution’s anti-foreign investment clauses to the six-year no-reelection presidency that destroyed political party systems, Orion breaks down why our economy struggles to grow, why Metro Manila is overcrowded, and why corruption feels endless.

We also compare the Philippines to neighbors like Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and even Japan — countries that opened up, embraced foreign investment, and built real industries. Could federalism and a parliamentary system be the solutions we need?

This isn’t an easy conversation, but if you care about the Philippines and its future, you need to hear it.

🔔 Do you think changing the Constitution is the key to breaking free from stagnation? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:22 – Meet Orion Perez
01:30 – The 1987 Constitution: rushed, flawed, and outdated
04:00 –U.S. vs Mexico: which system did we really copy?
07:00 – Six-year presidential term and how it destroyed political parties
09:00 – Why parliamentary systems work better in Asia
10:30 – Foreign ownership restrictions and the 60/40 rule
12:26 – Why investors choose Vietnam and Malaysia over the Philippines
15:00 – The OFW economy: exporting our middle class
18:16 – Case studies: Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and China
23:08 – Debt vs. investment: the infrastructure funding debate
28:07 – How constitutional restrictions scare away Fortune 500 companies
33:00 – Why Manila is overcrowded and provinces underdeveloped
50:00 – Federalism explained: decentralizing power and opportunity
1:05:00 – Political dynasties, vote buying, and systemic poverty
1:12:00 – Why shifting to a parliamentary system might be the answer

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💡 Key Takeaways

✔️ The 1987 Constitution was built on fear, not strategy
✔️ Foreign ownership restrictions block jobs, liquidity, and innovation
✔️ OFWs keep the economy afloat, but at the cost of broken families
✔️ Federalism could spread growth beyond Metro Manila
✔️ Parliamentary systems favor competence over popularity