There's a lot to praise and a lot to scorn about the state of the Philippines today, but what I have a vested interest in are the over local 150 languages! Sadly, many are endangered or dying out, and many are relegated to being called "dialects" of the Philippines... moreover, there is a certain disdain held by most Filipinos in using the local languages as being informal, vulgar, or inappropriate, while holding English and other foreign languages in a much more favorable light.

I think there is a slight misunderstanding. The Philippines exists today because it was colonized. Had it not been, the country would be a hodge-podge of mini-kingdoms and loose federations. Once we accept that then we'll understand how we can fix the current issues.

1. The precolonial past is fascinating and very interesting... but it has very little bearing on current issues and problems. 2. Constant gaslighting goes both ways. Give it a few more elections and you will lose hope too. 3. People consciously elect the national and local officials that they have. Unless you are saying Filipinos are naturally stupid/gullible for electing corrupt and incompetent politicians, then it is pointless saying the government and the country are somehow different.