Breaking free

Quite appropriately, I think it was around the time of Independence Day when I was asked what I thought genuine freedom meant. I usually pause before answering serious questions like this one but here I immediately blurted out: financial independence. True freedom is financial freedom.

- OF TREES AND FOREST FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT MANNY VILLAR

On the level of the individual, one cannot claim freedom by simply living separately from your parents if they actually pay for the rent and all your personal expenses. Even if we talk about national independence, financial freedom is key. I remember when I was exposed to left-leaning ideologies when I was studying in UP Diliman, one of the most common theme was the fact that despite achieving our independence on June 12, 1898 we are never truly free because of foreign intervention, courtesy of the World Bank-IMF, in our economic policymaking.

When I finished my bachelor's degree in business administration in 1970 and my master's degree in 1973, I worked as an accountant for the prestigious firm Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. Later, I would also work as financial analyst for the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines (PDCP). They were fantastic companies. I enjoyed my time there and I learned a lot too. But deep inside I knew I was not meant to work an 8-to-5 job behind a desk. I knew I had to break free. That was probably one of the best decisions I have made in my life.