The Poison of Capitalism in Filipino Society

The history of the Philippines is a history of class struggle. Over the century of Filipino life, it has gone through various processes of change, from a feudal system to the present, dominated by capitalism and imperialism. Alongside this, there has been the emergence of various cultures originating from foreign ideas, particularly the Popular Culture in our country. However, none of this happened in an instant; it has been a decades-long process leading Filipinos to embrace this kind of behavior.

Because we were colonized for a long time by capitalist countries like America, its role in controlling the mindset, education, and even the lifestyle of ordinary Filipinos has been significant. This left a mark that we still carry today. The media is the primary promoter of popular culture, given its characteristic of reaching the widest and largest number of Filipinos. It became a platform for capitalists to showcase their products, making them popular and consumable for Filipinos.

Moreover, the media was used as a tool by the ruling class to exploit one class against another fully. This system gave birth to popular culture, currently manifesting in the daily lives of every Filipino.

Firstly, due to popular culture, Filipino products have been left behind. Instead of patronizing Marikina Shoe Exchange (MSE), Filipinos prefer to buy shoes from foreign corporations like Nike, Adidas, and other popular shoe brands. Although these brands create jobs for Filipino workers, it is undeniable that foreign corporations profit more due to the super-profits they earn from exploiting and abusing their workers' labor.

Secondly, popular culture has paved the way for the rise of many more capitalists. As capitalists, they inherently exploit their workers. While these workers toil tirelessly for more than 8 hours a day, they lack benefits and continue to receive meager wages.

In the end, popular culture's manifestation is the subjugation of our economy to foreign countries. Our economy has become dependent on foreign investors, significantly impacting ordinary Filipinos whenever there are major changes in the global market.

Furthermore, popular culture stunts Filipinos' ability to establish their own industries, as they are devoured by larger companies, and a few maintain a monopoly on power. Due to popular culture, its manifestations are evident in the lives of ordinary Filipinos, from its macro to its micro effects. The disadvantages are clear. Although it has become ingrained in our culture, it must be discarded for our country to achieve greater successes in culture, economy, and politics.