I wonder why we as a people seem so insecure about our capabilities that we try to isolate ourselves from competition with the rest of the world. We called it Filipino First when I was growing up. It is still here after 70 years, as if to indicate we still have no confidence in our ability to compete. When I was taking advanced courses in economics, I recall class discussions about how protectionist policies kept us from developing a manufacturing industry able to export its products. The ruling elite that went into some light industries, mostly assembly of appliances, etc., made sure they wer…