Is Southeast Asia prosperous?

Eulises Quintero

Content Manager at Titoma Design (2019–present) Updated 3y

Is Southeast Asia prosperous?

Well, this is a photo of Singapore

This is Hồ Chí Minh in Vietnam

This is Jakarta, Indonesia

This is Bangkok

This is Manila, Philippines

By looking at some of their cities we can tell that there has been some prosperity over the last decades.

If we take a look at some economic forecasts, we can see that in the next 40 years, Asia will lead the global economy-lead by China, India and Japan- as the USA and Europe start a slow fall.

Indonesia and the Philippines -both south east Asian countries- are expected to be part of the Top 10 economies of the world by 2068, Indonesia will have higher GDP than Germany and the Philippines will surpass Turkey.

And I know very well that GDP doesn’t define people’s quality of life, but at least it shows us that there is progress in a country’s economic development and this means that there is indeed prosperity, maybe not for all of its inhabitants but there’s certainly prosperity.

The future is Asian. Asian economies are climbing the ladder faster than any other region of the world.

Indonesia alone has a stronger economy than any country in Latin America, Africa, Oceania and the Middle East

Among Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which country will be the 1 trillion economy the soonest? Why?

Wirawan Winarto

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Indonesian. Ex-engineer at Microsoft, Samsung, & Intel

Among Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which country will be the 1 trillion economy the soonest? Why?

Ideally, I think it will be the Philippines.

Nations rise and fall. It is difficult to predict what happen in the next ten years because a lot of things can happen. The best way is to pick the most fastest one among the years to come. Philippines is doing well, but the stability can be an obstacle for them to achieve the target fast enough.

For me, I suspect Thailand and Malaysia are starting to look they are running out of steam. This can be due to the lower number of population (less room for market growth) and higher labor cost (less attractive for foreign investors that want to establish manufacturing plants). Thailand is still in the same position today as they were back in 2012, so is Malaysia.

Philippines on the other hand has grown very well. They run fast, but learning from their past, this country is riddled with uncertainties and often randomly stagnating. As long as Philippines can keep themselves stable, they will be the second nation, after Indonesia to reach 1 trillion dollar economy.

Vietnam is better bet if you want stability. And judging at how they plan their industries and economy recently, I believe they are just getting started and will be getting faster and faster in the coming years. I think Vietnam will be the fastest growing economy in ASEAN for the next decade (2020–2030). However, remember that Vietnam started far behind the three other countries in this case and other countries might have reached 1 trillion earlier than them.

My pick is the Philippines.

Looking for You

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ’The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’" From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe that you are the Word come into the world. I know you speak to me of the Father, of his truth and love. I know that I can trust you to bring me to the Father. In spite of the smallness of my heart, you come in search of me. Thank you for coming to look for me.

Petition: Help me look for you more today, Lord.

He Came to His Own: Our God came looking for us. “It is not that we have loved God, but that he has first loved us” (Cf. 1 John 4:10). What is it that so attracts God to us? The Bible uses images of the love of a spouse or a parent to help us understand how deeply God desires to make us his own. He knows that this is where our true happiness lies. Often, he looks for man in mysterious ways, but in Jesus Christ he plainly shows himself and his desire to be with us. Do I appreciate the gift of the Incarnation? Do I understand a bit better each day how humbly and powerfully God looks for my love?

Born of God: Our transformation into Christ is a gift. God offers us this gift, and if we are open to it, he deeply changes our relationship with him. Through Christ we have confidence to come before the Father and call him our “Father,” not just our “Creator.” Through Christ we have the power to lay aside sin and put on the holiness of God. Through Christ we have the possibility of leaving a mark on the history of salvation, helping to bring his Good News to the world. This comes from God’s goodness and mercy. Do I appreciate the gift of my divine adoption? Do I try to live as a new man or woman, born of the Spirit?

Full of Grace and Truth: Jesus Christ shows us what it is to be truly human. The power and beauty of his life, the unselfishness of his total love, help us see the heights to which we are called. He shows us that it is possible to be holy. He leads the way; we have only to follow in his footsteps. With him we can be confident that the good we have done in our lives will last forever. Do I let myself fall in love with Christ each day? Am I fascinated with him to the level that I discover something new in him each day? Can I say that each day he wins me more and more for his cause?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank you for coming to look for me. Today I want to look for you, too. Help me to discover you in faith. Help me to see the signs of your presence in the Church, the sacraments, and the good you sow in those around me. Give me new ears and an open heart to listen to your Word, and to welcome you into my life.

Resolution: Today I will speak with someone about Jesus’ love for us as demonstrated through his Incarnation.

The Family as a Communion of Love

Sunday, December 31, 2023 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—Feast Sunday in the Octave of Christmas Readings for Today

Video When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.  Luke 2:39–40 (Gospel Year B) Today we honor family life in general by pausing to ponder the particular and beautiful hidden life within the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In many ways, their daily life together would have been very similar to other families at that time. But in other ways, their life together is entirely unique and provides us with a perfect model for all families. By God’s providence and design, the family life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was spoken of in the Scripture very little. We read of the birth of Jesus, the presentation in the Temple, the flight into Egypt and the finding of Jesus in the Temple at age twelve. But other than these stories of their life together, we know very little. The line from today’s Gospel quoted above does, however, give us some insight worth pondering. First, we see that this family “fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord…” Though this is in reference to Jesus being presented in the Temple, it should also be understood to apply to all aspects of their life together. Family life, just like our individual lives, must be ordered by the laws of our Lord. The primary law of the Lord regarding family life is that it must share in the very unity and “communion of love” found in the life of the Most Holy Trinity. Each person of the Holy Trinity has perfect respect for the other, gives selflessly to each other without reserve, and receives each person in their totality. It is their love that makes them one and enables them to act together in perfect harmony as a communion of divine Persons. Though Saint Joseph was not immaculate in his nature, the perfection of love did live in his divine Son and in his immaculate wife. This overwhelming gift of their perfect love would have daily drawn him into the perfection of their lives. Ponder your own closest relationships today. If you are blessed with a close family, ponder them. If not, ponder the persons put into your life who you are called to love with familial love. Who are you to be there for in good times and in bad? Who are you to sacrifice your life for without reserve? Who are you to offer respect, compassion, time, energy, mercy, generosity and every other virtue? And how well do you fulfill this duty of love? Reflect, today, upon the fact that God wants you to share in a communion of life, not only with the Most Holy Trinity but also with those around you, especially your family. Try to ponder the hidden life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and seek to make their family relationship the model for how you love others. May their perfect communion of love be a model for us all. Lord, draw me into the life, love and communion that You lived with Your Immaculate Mother and Saint Joseph. I offer You myself, my family and all those to whom I am called to love with a special love. May I imitate Your family love and life in all my relationships. Help me to know how to change and grow so that I may more fully share in Your family life. Jesus, I trust in You.

Why did the French lynch Gerard Depardieu?

John Wotek

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Lives in France (1901–present)

Why did the French lynch Gerard Depardieu?

Because Gerard is a has been that has been a sack of shit for pretty much his entire career. Anyone pretending the man is getting unfairly lynched is at least a decade too late to that party.

Yes, he was a monster of the French cinema. The monster.

He was Obélix,

he was Portos,

he was the Count of Monte Cristo,

Jean Valjean,

the young punk from les valseuses,

a suprisingly hillarous vilain in Inspecteur LaBavure,

he was the no-nonsense man stuck with a dumbass…

and also the dumbass stuck with a no-nonsense man.

He was at the top of the world. He was one of the biggest name in French cinema. He had range, comedic timing, raw talent and an advantageous physic. A real star. He could have it all. Even has he grew old and fat, far removed from his glory days as the big and strong man, he still was beloved by the French public. He was the epytome of Frenchness, a “bon vivant” waving proudly a salami, a bottle of wine and the colors of our nation.

But Gerard had two weakness: alcohol and being a fucking boomer with too much money and power in a world where absolutelly everything is about sex and sex is about power. People like Depardieu have access to the prettiest woman you can imagine and they can hold incredible power over them.

As early as the 70’s, when the man became a well established movie star, he was already known for having rather backward views on women and be a bit of piece of work. But it was swept under the rug and people didn’t mind it much, because the mindset was very different.

In the 90’s, he tanked any prospect of an american career when, during an interview, question arose about his previous position and the words he held in the 70’s. The dude basically claimed women wanted to be raped. He still had a career after that in France.

In the 2000’s, the man who had been known for his public support toward Mitterrand, the 80’s socialist president of France, and the communist in the 90’s, was now publically supporting Nicolas Sarkozy, a hard line conservative. So now he was a turn coat. But really, people didn’t mind. The commies were has been and Sarko was elected “fair and square”…

Then, in 2013, he had the good idea, after a series of scandal that basically boiled down to “Gerard does not want to pay his fucking taxes”, to go sucks Putin dicks and begs for a Russian passport. Now the French people started to tell him to fuck off. He didn’t cared, he still had all the money in the world and could now LARP as a Russian oligarch for the rest of his days. And that's exactly what he did.

Today, the man is mostly known because he was caught sexually harassing women in North Korea and because a shit ton of women he abused in France are starting to speak up. Up until now, he had been fairly forgotten as an actor, only poping up in the news because he droped a stinky hot take on some random subject no one asked his opinion for.

So, yeah, Gerard deserve’s all the flak he’s getting. He was already out of line in the 70’s so he had enough pass and second chances.

Thanks for the movies Gerard, but you can stay in Russia. We don’t want you back in France. 

Luccas Laquintinie

It is rare, but every now and then people seem to misunderstand my writings and choose to send me a rather distasteful message.

Just a reminder that I do not send friend requests, I only accept them... and I do not go anywhere for the sake of promoting myself either (though maybe I should? lol).

Anyone who regrets following me can simply unfollow in silence, you know... this is not an airport so there is no need to announce your departure.

What I seem to have been accused the most is of being selfish, delusional, judgmental, and of thinking of myself to be superior than others - which I find particularly hilarious. But anything disrespectful simply results in being blocked, nothing more, and nothing less.

It sucks, but I do appreciate the opportunity to practice neutrality and not take things personally.

I just think it is a bit amusing when people are more concerned about appearances, and attempt to define themselves, as well as one another - perhaps to get a sense of security and certainty.

When instead we could acknowledge that there is too much we do not know... and even what we think that we know continues to change, as we open ourselves to new perspectives and growth.

So it would seem much more reasonable to be unreasonable, and to simply open ourselves to what is - without getting attached to it, since it continues to flow.

It is paradoxical how this is both a collective and personal experience, how there are levels to it but no one is superior or inferior to another, how both "good" and "bad" are equally valuable as they provide contrast which then allows us to better qualify our choices, priorities and experiences...

It is very easy to get high on our own achievements. But rather than calling anyone out, I just think we could all afford to be a little more playful and relaxed - which does not mean to weaken our commitment. It is just my choice to approach this whole thing in a more casual way, without giving in to extreme emotions of any kind.

All I know is that however, people interpret my writings and the way they choose to respond says a whole lot more about themselves than about me. As for the rest, I agree with my good friend... I truly do not know. Just winging it and seeing what happens!

Which is why I beat the drum of following our intuition and practicing sincerity above all else.

This page exists merely to share my experiences and insights. The books were written to further consolidate the information in a more coherent and practical way - also creating a venue for energy exchange.

"Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add that which is particularly your own." (Bruce Lee)

And off to the next breath we go.

Those who pay attention also know that I have never defined myself as anything on this page... not even "vegan" or "hu-man". I talk about what I think and do, but I do not let it define who I am.

Which is the actual point of this post as well as other recent ones... I continue to use the name Luccas out of convenience, but that is not my identity.

At this point in the game, the less attachments we have, the easier things will flow. Many of the tools and stories we relied on the past no longer serve us. Letting go of virtually EVERYTHING with ease and grace has been a major theme for many.

Thank you, goodbye.

PS: letting go does not necessarily mean creating distance or rejecting something - that would be an inverse attachment. It just means not being enslaved to it.

A Unique and Sacred Calling

Saturday, December 30, 2023 Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas Readings for Today

Video There was a prophetess, Anna…She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.  Luke 2:36–38 We all have a unique and sacred calling given to us from God. Each one of us is called to fulfill that calling with generosity and wholehearted commitment. As the famous prayer of Saint John Henry Newman puts it: God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons… Anna, the prophetess, was given a very unique, one-of-a-kind mission. When she was young, she was married for seven years. Then after losing her husband, she remained a widow until she was eighty-four. During those decades of her life, the Scripture reveals that “She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.” What an incredible calling from God! Anna’s unique calling was to be a prophetess. She fulfilled this calling by allowing her whole life to be a symbol of the Christian vocation. Her life was spent in prayer, fasting and, most especially, in anticipation. God called her to wait, year after year, decade after decade, for the one and definitive moment of her life: her encounter with the Christ Child in the Temple. Anna’s prophetic life tells us that we each must live our lives in such a way that our ultimate goal is to continually prepare for the moment when we meet our divine Lord in the Temple of Heaven. Unlike Anna, most are not called to literal fasting and prayer every day all day within the church buildings. But like Anna, we must all foster an interior life of ongoing prayer and penance, and we must direct all of our actions in life to the praise and glory of God and the salvation of our souls. Though the way this universal vocation is lived out will be unique to each and every person, Anna’s life is nonetheless a symbolic prophecy of every vocation. Reflect, today, upon how well you imitate this holy woman in your own life. Do you foster an interior life of prayer and penance and daily seek to devote yourself to the glory of God and the salvation of your soul? Evaluate your life this day in light of the wonderful prophetic life of Anna that we are given to ponder. Lord, I thank You for the powerful witness of the prophetess Anna. May her lifelong devotion to You, a life of continual prayer and sacrifice, be a model and inspiration for me and for all who follow You. I pray that You daily reveal to me the unique way in which I am called to live out my vocation to total dedication to You. Jesus, I trust in You.