Political uncertainty has increasingly taken over the narrative in the country, with Fitch Ratings and Japanese investment bank Nomura recently warning that the ongoing crisis of governance could impact the Philippines' investment and overall economic growth expectations.
And when was the last time conflicting business and labor groups agreed on a particular issue, after major industry chambers and the church issued their own statements? I don't remember, but it may not be “good” (depending on whether one considers the current situation to be a glass half empty or half full, I guess).
Nevertheless, this governance crisis has not yet developed into a political crisis, much less an economic one (despite the peso falling to a new record-low of P59.13 against the dollar at the close of trading on October 28, partly due to governance concerns).1The central bank's third-quarter Business Expectations Survey, conducted from July 4 to August 17, showed that overall sentiment has been generally optimistic, although the quarterly reading for the “next 12 months” is on a general decline from the first quarter of 2024 and recently rose to 48.1%.2
Viewed from the ground, such cautious optimism is evident. For example, nearly half of German investors in the Philippines who were surveyed for the September 29 to October 17 AHK World Business Outlook Fall 2025 survey, conducted for the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they still expected business conditions to remain stable over the next 12 months, even as they cited the need for more economic growth.[a] Stable, predictable and accountable governance environment… [to] “This will deepen investor confidence, attract high quality long-term investments and strengthen the Philippines’ position as a competitive and reliable partner in the region.”3
mindset
I'm optimistic, I always remember the Chinese character for “crisis”, which includes the character for “danger” (V) to the left and “crucial/critical turning point” (Yes On the right – but which has been translated in the West, somewhat erroneously, as “opportunity”). But since the Northeast Asian reading tradition runs from right to left, one must read the character for “important/crucial/turning point”/”occasion” first.
What “opportunity” could possibly arise from the current situation?
Well, businesses have complained about the worsening of graft and corruption over the past decade and even in this administration – a sentiment expressed in the Philippines' worsening performance in the annual Corruption Perceptions Index that is closely monitored by investors. Governance indicators have long featured prominently among the metrics regularly tracked by global competitiveness surveys.
So, all eyes are now on whether this administration will finally crack down on the top corrupt, starting with those close to them (and apparently this is where the current problem lies).
time to communicate better
It was refreshing to exchange views with a visiting expert international communicator last Monday, especially amid increasingly polarized political discussion on social media.
Jack Valero, co-founder of the United Kingdom-based Catholic Voice – which was formed in 2010 to train lay Catholics to speak out in a variety of media about controversial topics related to the Catholic Church – offered practical tips identified by his group that may prove useful to us laity as we discuss matters both during and outside of the current crisis.
Saying in 2009 that “we can build a better world together, even if we disagree on many things,” Mr. Valero told an audience at the University of Asia and the Pacific in Pasig City on October 26 that “[e]Much controversy is an opportunity to communicate on matters that society might not otherwise address in normal times.
“Basically, what happens with the controversy is that it brings to the fore an issue that people weren't talking about before,” he told me in a conversation on Monday.
“And it's in those times that people are listening to me, whereas at other times, they might not be as interested.”
point of departure
Mr Valero said the first thing to do to better communicate on disputes is to “redefine” the starting point of the discussion by finding common ground. They said that “[e]Much criticism appeals to a value…that we share.
“Negotiations are more fruitful when we start from a common ground,” he said.
“We are meeting because we want this problem to never happen again. Now, let's listen to different proposals, and evaluate them to see if they will help us achieve the objective… because we all have the same goal.”
For example, current corruption controversies point to the need for honesty – something that all people of all political affiliations and ideologies agree on.
“When it comes to rampant corruption… you wouldn't expect people to be interested in talking to me about living an honest life and teaching virtues to young people… They might say: 'Okay, that's all very well, but… I'm busy with things I have to do,'” Mr Valero said.
“Whereas now, we are in a situation where everyone wants to know not only the short-term answers – who did it and who can be sent to jail – but also the long-term answers to the question: ‘How do we stop this from happening again?’” He explained that solutions are not limited to values like integrity, but also include setting up more robust accountability systems.
reconstruction to build a bridge
The conversation that follows such a reframing requires a spirit of solidarity, whereby no one erects walls. For example, learn to avoid using the words “they” or “other people,” which indicate one's separation from others right off the bat.
Actions can support this internal disposition, said Mr. Valero, who recalled an example when he approached other guests at a public event before discussion on a divisive issue began to greet them with a smile (and “let's go out for drinks afterward”).
This leads to another principle of good communication: communicate ideas clearly, but always with the other person's well-being in mind. He said, “We may be more concerned about our principles, reputation, wealth… than the well-being of people.”
Furthermore, “compassion matters,” he said, explaining that “people won't remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.”
, [T]This will help you get your message across, because if you make the other party feel rejected or stressed, they will not listen to you…”
Seeking to build bridges – seeking to provide clarity, “light, not heat” (not “talking down” the other side) – is also another requirement for good communication. “There's a lot of heat in the world, and it's leading not to communication, but to “miscommunication,” he said.
Yet another tactic: “Testifying” – getting your point across to other people – is more effective than any attempt to “win” an argument. At this point, my mind immediately recalled some lawmakers who excel in such efforts in public hearings or plenary discussions. Consistently acting according to high principles in and out of the public eye, they can be proclaimed from the rooftops at any time if one has to convince others.
Now, effective communication, of course, does not automatically lead to dispute resolution – which also has other elements – but it is a prerequisite to that objective.
This is, by no means, an exact science, but rather a way of finding enough common ground to move forward, while also laying the foundation for resolution of other points on which the parties cannot easily agree at the moment.
1 https://tinyurl.com/25up8b7y
2https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Lists/Business%20Expectations%20Report/Attachments/23/BES_3qtr2025.pdf
3 https://tinyurl.com/2ap8purq
Wilfredo G. Reyes was the editor-in-chief of businessworld From 2020 to 2023.
