Destiny, decisions and development | The Manila Times

AS a government planner, economist and program manager in foreign-assisted projects for over 30 years, I've observed the various forces that shape a country's development. Now, as a travel photographer, I continue to ask: "How does this country compare to mine?" Often, I find myself wondering why the Philippines lacks certain aspects I see in other countries that I visit.

In the past two years, I've traveled to Vietnam four times for leisure and photography. Each trip took me to various parts — from Hanoi and Ha Giang in the north to Danang, Hue and Hoi An in the central region. On each occasion, my travel companions and I were struck by the remarkable progress Vietnam has made in tourism, agriculture and infrastructure. But one person in our group left an indelible remark, "It's not that other countries have left us behind; it's that our leaders have failed us." Three words came to mind as I reflected on these comparisons: destiny, decisions and development, and their interconnectedness. I came upon this paradigm: the development of a country is a dynamic process influenced by a complex interplay of destiny and decisions. While destiny encompasses historical, geographical and cultural factors beyond immediate human control, decisions reflect the choices made by leaders, institutions and citizens that shape a nation's trajectory. Both are critical, but their roles differ in shaping the development path a country takes towards progress or stagnation.