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Globalization comes to the Philippines at an inopportune time. Countries, which have benefited optimally from globalization, went through inward‐directed phases in their social and economic development. The Group‐of‐Seven Western powers, the Asian tigers like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and now the dragon of China, first made themselves ready before joining the global competition — they implemented land reform, became self‐sufficient in food, engaged in self‐reliance programs for basic industries, experienced import‐substitution in various degrees, launched locally‐driven industrialization, and had centuries of closed‐door trade policies. These countries first undertook phases of self‐preparation and protectionism before going all‐out into the global fray. Even today, Japan, European Union and the United States remain to have protectionist tendencies in their policies (e.g. key industries, labor supply, migration, etc.) even while mouthing platitudes about the supposed borderlessness of the world. Norway and its Scandinavian neighbors are among the ten most progressive nations but have opted to stay away from what they see as the charade of globalization.