Are Filipinos too selfish?

Trading cartels have inflicted suffering on millions of consumers and small traders by manipulating commodity supplies to gain fabulous profits for themselves. – Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network

ARE we Filipinos generally more self-centred and selfish than other Asians? Is this a cultural flaw of ours that has kept our country from progressing at the same pace that most of our neighbours have done over the past decades?

A friend, who was in the business of manufacturing wooden butcher-block knife holders, once told me of his experience when he received a large order from overseas that he couldn’t possibly service within the time frame specified by the foreign buyer. Knowing who his direct competitors were, he invited them to team up with him in order to meet the volume needed within the required time. Not one was willing. All seemed to prefer going about their business on their own terms, “kanya-kanya (to each his own)” style. That was a major export opportunity lost, which easily could have led to more subsequent orders, sustained business, and possibly even wider opportunities – if only those firms had agreed to band together as a team.