The Philippines: A Development Paradox
Text and Photos by Jessica Huang-Lara

MANILA – ‘Rich poor country’ might well be a way to describe the Philippines, a South-east Asian nation that provides so much of the world’s labour, from nurses to musicians, yet continues to struggle with deep-rooted poverty and roadblocks to good governance at home.

With more than 95.7 million people, it is the 12th most populous country in the world, according to statistics by the U.S.-based Population Reference Bureau. Some 11 percent of its population work overseas in more than 120 countries, sustaining the economy with remittances that total nearly 20 billion dollars a year. Yet nearly a third of Filipinos live below the poverty line.

These photos provide some glimpses of the ironies of development in the Philippines.