THE death of a loved one or a friend—two friends Michael Marasigan and Roy Sinfuego passed away recently—always reminds one how fleeting life is. The realization that the nation-state is the most important organization that determines whether a human being lives in happiness or misery is called nationalism. Contrast Japanese or Thai capitalists’ nationalism, and you will realize how bad our situation is. All these points would be just theoretical if not for recent developments: the emergence as an economic powerhouse of China, one of the world’s most nationalist countries. That 800 million lifted out of poverty is equivalent to the population of eight Philippines.

Source: Manila Times August 15, 2017 16:52 UTC