Poverty in the Philippines Accoriding to the ADB Clowns

According to the Asian Development Bank economists
( MST March 29 ) – the following are the causes of poverty in the Philippines:
1) Weak Macroeconomic management
2) High unemployment
3) Weak agricultural production
4) High corruption and weak governance
5) Insurgency and violence particularly in Mindanao
6) Physical disability
It’s incredible how the economists of the ADB responsible for these conclusions utterly failed to include one of the greatest, if not the most powerful causes of poverty in the Philippines: – religion.
Indeed, what wealth could be produced by a people who, during these past 400 years, have been taught to believe and to have faith in the following:
That the cultivation of one’s mind is not that important as the salvation of one’s soul after death.
That this life is nothing compared to the next life in the next world after death.
That this land down here is nothing compared to the promised land of the Lord up there.
That while we are struggling to survive on this earth, we should be waiting by praying for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. We are told that He will remedy all the ills of our sick society. By the way, this is the same Jesus who, in his lifetime, cured leprosy temporarily in his community. Leprosy is a disease that is curable but still victimizes people throughout the world today.
Before Christianity arrived in our shores in the 16th century, we were among the simple people of Asia. Today, in this 21st century, after 400 years of Christian values and beliefs, we Filipinos have only become the complicated Sick Man of Asia. And to think that the Chinese, Japanese, Thais, and the Vietnamese and other Asian neighbors have always enjoyed what we Filipinos have never enjoyed in the Philippines: love of country and love of fellow-citizens. What,instead, we have always loved is that pie in the sky, by and by. Indeed, we take pride and continue to have faith in what the holy bible teaches us: - “Love not this world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” John 2:15.
I ask you ADB economists: Have you taken into account the assets and properties and other commercial enterprises including schools, colleges, and universities that are owned and controlled by the religious institutions of this country? They are worth in the trillions of tax - free pesos. In the meantime, during the past 400 years, hundred of millions of spiritually impoverished Filipinos continue buying what our religion has always been selling: eternal salvation with Jesus in the next life. Indeed, blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matt 5:3.
Other Asian countries have already emerged out of their economic stagnancy. Thanks to the power of science and technology. But if we Filipinos were to grow and to develop as a nation, we too must begin to learn to accept the scientific way of thinking. It is the only path towards regaining our health as a people and achieving our wealth as a nation. If, however, we just continue to embrace more of the same old religion, the poor quality of life in the Philippines will worsen. And in our already sick society, this will mean more poverty of the worst kind: - the poverty of the Filipino minds and hearts. Poch Suzara