It’s possible many Filipinos think “kung walang kurap, walang mahirap” equates also to “kung walang kurap, lahat mayaman”. If that’s the case, our motivation of reducing corruption is also misplaced.

We shouldn’t reduce corruption because we want to be rich. We shouldn’t be corrupt because it is the right thing to do by our neighbors. In this sense, a measure of idealism, politics-as-it-should-be, is healthy and commendable.

Want a hypothetical example of that? Even if the Philippines is not corrupt, if its neighbors are also not corrupt, manufacturing investment would be concentrated there still. Why? Geography. Same reason why less-corrupt Australia has a small manufacturing base for its size.