The Philippines (Teen Lives Around the World)
Jayeel Cornelio2020, Teen Lives Around the World: A Global Encyclopedia
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, is one of the emerging economies in Southeast Asia. It is seen as a bright spot in the region, the economies of which are generally slowing down. The World Bank considers it a "strong performer" given its sustained economic growth and the reduction of extreme poverty in recent years. One of its assets, formerly seen as a liability, is its very young population. Recent figures show that around 52 percent of the total population, estimated at more than 100 million now, are below 24 years old. Around 20 percent of the population are teenagers. They are growing up in a fast-changing environment. Poverty incidence of Filipino families has declined from 21 percent in 2006 to 16.5 percent in 2015 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2016a). This means that fewer families now live below the poverty threshold, which is the income needed to meet needs in food, clothing, housing, transportation, health, and education; calculated at a monthly income of around $180.00 for a family of five (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2016a). The population's youthfulness stands in contrast to the aging character of other advanced economies in Asia. At the moment, more than 60 percent of its population is in the labor force (15 to 64 years old). Given the current population structure, the economic potential of more young people in years to come is secure according to some experts (Whaley, 2012). In fact, projections show that the Philippines will be the youngest country in Southeast Asia by 2050. Economists believe that the demographic dividend will make the country outperform even the economies of northern Europe (Mendoza et al., 2014). Policy experts consider the youthfulness of the Philippines to be a promising asset that industries can take advantage of to shore up productivity and innovation. In recent years, the biggest contributors to gross national income have been the sectors of industry (e.g. manufacturing, construction) and service (e.g. real estate, trade, transportation, and communication) (PSA, 2016). There seems to be a positive take on the role of the youth in keeping the momentum of the Philippine economy. In fact, the term "millennial" has caught on and analysts often employ it to refer to an innovative generation that is able to shape consumption, travel, politics, and society at large. That they are driven, mobile, and passionate is one of the dominant narratives insofar as the Philippines' young people are concerned (see Mariano, 2016). In fact, a yearbook on the Filipino youth celebrates their achievements in politics, media, sports, and education (Leung, 2009). At the same time, young people, taken as a whole, are seen as game-changers in terms of politics in the country. They are also seen to be technologically driven: 76 percent of teenagers (15 to 19 years old) own a cellular phone; 60 percent of individuals in the same age bracket use the internet (DRDF and UPPI, 2014). These recent developments provide opportunities for young people. This is why strides have been made in certain areas such as literacy and education. And yet there are also other issues that need to be addressed in such areas as health, political participation, and inequalities. At the same time they are growing up at time when significant changes are taking place within the social institutions of religion and the family. These issues and how young Filipinos navigate them are discussed throughout this entry.