Thailand: Yesterday

In 1979, my wife and I were assigned to Bangkok and we were excited to live in a country so different from our own culture. We tended to compare Bangkok with the English speaking, cosmopolitan, and thoroughly Americanized commercial environment of Manila. When comparing economic data we were much alike: population, per capita income, tourism statistics etc. Yet despite this similarity, our countrymen felt that we were a more advanced country. Former Thailand prime minister Anan Panyarachun, a member of my corporate board, once told me: “You Filipinos have only one distinct advantage, which is your fluency in English.” Reflecting on that statement years later, I realized he gave me a subtle warning indicating that the advantage was merely temporary.

For the next three years, Olivia and I became immersed in Thai culture, as well their exotic and delicious food.  But more than that, we learned there are many cultural differences which we learned to admire. Most notable is their devotion to their religion, predominantly Buddhist. A Thai’s daily life is part and parcel of their religious beliefs. They live it – every day and not just Sundays. It is one embedded in humility and respect towards their fellow man, which is evident even when navigating the horrendous traffic of Bangkok, despite bumper to bumper traffic they remain remarkably calm – no horn blowing and everyone follows traffic rules. You will rarely see hot-tempered drivers zig-zagging in Bangkok traffic and turning a two lane road into six. If there is an accident, you will note the traditional “Y” of the protagonists before alighting from their vehicles. Their respect and their devotion to King Bhumibol was a revelation.  On his birthday, you would see the citizenry kneeling, praying, and lighting candles on street corners in front of the King’s portrait. The King provided stability that helped smooth out Thailand’s turbulent political history. 

Thailand today

Recently, my son, an investment banker, driving in on the spanking new eight-lane skyway from the Suvarnabhumi Airport, remarked that he was stunned by the magnitude of new infrastructure that had risen on both sides of the road, in contrast to just 10 years ago when the capital was dotted with abandoned construction. He learned that the Thai economy will grow from 3.5 percent to four percent this year, which is an improvement from the past despite martial law. Thailand’s tourism statistics showed a robustness which our figures could never equal, with the number of tourists reaching 17.3 million in the first half of 2017 and projected tourism revenue at $50 billion this year. Thailand ranks 3rd in world tourism and is surpassed only by USA and Spain. My son attributed Thailand’s growth to the aggressive infrastructure build up with an eye towards providing, among other things, an appropriate welcome mat for tourism. Massive inflows of foreign investments over the years and astute economic planning have turned Thailand into a manufacturing hub, most notably in automobile production. One reason for Thailand’s attraction to foreign investments can be attributed to the fact that in the latest World Bank ranking on the ease of doing business, Thailand was 26th out of 190 economies.

So, from being equal in terms of economic performance in the late ‘60s to the ‘70s, Thailand has turned on the jets and surpassed the Philippines with their gross national income surpassing ours by 35 percent. The World Bank classifies them as upper middle income and us as lower middle income. One glaring statistics is population growth. In 1969, Thailand had roughly more than 2 million people than ours. Its population now is close to 70 million, whereas we are now just over 100 million.

Thai team stranded in cave

An old timer in Asia, Burton Blume wrote this piece: “A rural football team of 12 scrappy boys almost upstaged the playoffs of the FIFA World Cup, which was running simultaneously. For 18 days, the internet and television pumped this virtual experience into millions of homes and communities. Trump who? (At least temporarily, Trump now has the world’s collective eyebrows raised after his abject performance next to Putin at their Helsinki press conference.)

By the time the Wild Boars soccer team and coach emerged from the Tham Luang cave, the world saw Thailand in a new light: a land of tolerance, courage, joy in unity, and an example of leadership and cooperation. No doubt, more stories will emerge in the coming days, but none will alter the truth that we have witnessed: Nations are defined by the values of their people.”

In reading this, I cannot help but compare it to our response to Typhoon Yolanda. There was all out effort on the part of the Thai government in devoting resources and welcoming help from outside. I recall the bureaucratic delays in even receiving foreign assistance, not to mention the distribution of relief goods. Then there was the strong leadership of Narongsak Osatanakorn, the former governor of Chiang Rai province, who oversaw the rescue.

As Burton Blume said: “You may not believe it, but Thailand just got rebranded in a dark cave by 12 boys and their young coach….because branding is just simply bringing shared values to life.” The 1986 Cory People Power revolution was a greater rebranding for Filipinos. How we have lost our way!!!

May I suggest that my niece, Berna Romulo-Puyat, our new secretary of tourism, keep in mind that a nation is perceived by the values of its people and that perception is as powerful an attraction as the tourist spots themselves. It might explain why people return to Thailand year after year.