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Philippines The history of the Philippines may be divided into four distinct phases: the pre-Spanish period (before 1521); the Spanish period (1521-1898); the American period (1898-1946); and the years since independence (1946-present). Pre-Spanish Period The first people in the Philippines the Negritos are believed to have come to the islands 30 000 years ago from Borneo and Sumatra making their way across then-existing land bridges. Subsequently people of Malay stock came from the south in successive waves the earliest by land bridges and later in boats called barangays. The Malays settled in scattered communities also called barangays which were ruled by chieftains known as datus. Chinese merchants and traders arrived and settled in the ninth century A.D. In the 14th century Arabs arrived introducing Islam in the south and extending some influence even into Luzon. The Malays however remained the dominant group until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Spanish Period Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521 and for the next 377 years the islands were under Spanish rule. This period was the era of conversion to Roman Catholicism. A Spanish colonial social system was developed complete with a strong centralized government and considerable clerical influence. The Filipinos were restive under the Spanish and this long period was marked by numerous uprisings. The most important of these began in 1896 under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo and continued until the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain on June 12 1898. American Period Following Admiral Dewey's defeat of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay the United States occupied the Philippines. Spain ceded the islands to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (December 10 1898), which ended the war. A war of resistance against U.S. rule led by Revolutionary President Aguinaldo broke out in 1899. Although Americans have traditionally used the term "the Philippine Insurrection " Filipinos refer to these hostilities as the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). In 1901 Aguinaldo was captured and swore allegiance to the United States, which ultimately crushed the resistance. U.S. administration of the Philippines was always declared to be temporary and aimed to develop institutions that would permit and encourage the eventual establishment of a free and democratic government. Therefore U.S. officials concentrated on the creation of such practical supports for democratic government as public education and a sound legal system. The first legislative assembly was elected in 1907. A bicameral legislature largely under Philippine control was established. A civil service was formed and was gradually taken over by the Filipinos who had effectively gained control by the end of World War I. The Catholic Church was disestablished and a considerable amount of church land was purchased and redistributed. In 1935 under the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel Quezon was elected president of the new government, which was designed to prepare the country for independence after a 10-year transition period. World War II intervened however and in May 1942 Corregidor the last American stronghold fell. U.S. forces in the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese placing the islands under Japanese control. The war to regain the Philippines began when Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed on Leyte on October 20 1944. Filipinos and Americans fought together until the Japanese surrender in September 1945. Much of Manila was destroyed during the final months of the fighting and an estimated 1 million Filipinos lost their lives in the war. As a result of the Japanese occupation the guerrilla warfare that followed and the battles leading to liberation the country suffered great damage and a complete organizational breakdown. Despite the shaken state of the country the United States and the Philippines decided to move forward with plans for independence. On July 4 1946 the Philippine Islands became the independent Republic of the Philippines in accordance with the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. In 1962 the official Independence Day was changed from July 4 to June 12, commemorating the date independence from Spain was declared by General Aguinaldo in 1898. Post-Independence Period The early years of independence were dominated by U.S.-assisted postwar reconstruction. A communist-inspired Huk Rebellion (1945-53) complicated recovery efforts before its successful suppression under the leadership of President Ramon Magsaysay. The succeeding administrations of Presidents Carlos P. Garcia (1957-61) and Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) sought to expand Philippine ties to its Asian neighbors implement domestic reform programs and develop and diversify the economy. In 1972 President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-86) declared martial law citing growing lawlessness and open rebellion by the communist rebels as his justification. Marcos governed from 1973 until mid-1981 in accordance with the transitory provisions of a new constitution that replaced the commonwealth constitution of 1935. He suppressed democratic institutions and restricted civil liberties during the martial law period ruling largely by decree and popular referenda. The government began a process of political normalization during 1978-81 culminating in the re-election of President Marcos to a 6-year term that would have ended in 1987. The Marcos' government's respect for human rights remained low despite the end of martial law on January 17 1981. His government retained its wide arrest and detention powers. Corruption and favoritism contributed to a serious decline in economic growth and development under Marcos. The assassination of opposition leader Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino upon his return to the Philippines in 1983 after a long period of exile coalesced popular dissatisfaction with Marcos and set in motion a succession of events that culminated in a snap presidential election in February 1986. The opposition united under Aquino's widow Corazon Aquino and Salvador Laurel head of the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO). The election was marred by widespread electoral fraud on the part of Marcos and his supporters. International observers including a U.S. delegation led by Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) denounced the official results. Marcos was forced to flee the Philippines the People/s Power EDSA Revolution, a peaceful civilian-military uprising that ousted him and installed Corazon Aquino as president on February 25 1986. "People's Power" - Edsa Revolution We were watching television with President Marcos giving a speech about the insurgency with his top generals in formal military uniform complete with medals dangling standing behind him. As we watched I said "The rebels don't have a chance, look at all that power of 90% of the military" when all of a sudden the TV screen went black, then foggy, full of static signals and on came the General Ramos and Defense Minister Enrile, leaders of the rebels sitting at tables in a makeshift studio. It was AMAZING and we are so glad to have been there to participate. They were calling on the support of the people to help them fight for what was right against another election fraud where it was obvious to everyone that Marcos lost. Personally, it was like a dream, that most of us anti-Vietnam War protestors shared during the late 60s and early 70s in the States, to take over the airwaves and broadcasting stations, voice our opinions and stop the killing. Right away, I said to Lorna and another couple, "let's GO", let's help so I drove carefully over to the Camp Crame area, parked and walked to the gates when I saw a helicopter bringing Ramos and Enrile to the base. After a couple of hours it was understood that more people were needed to maintain the protective shield of masses surrounding the rebel soldiers so I drove over to Caloocan City, my wife Lorna's barrio. We were able to pickup about 15 or more people to ride inside and in the back of our crewcab pickup truck to help as reinforcements to the Filipinos who had already been there for many hours. A total of 3 million Filipinos showed up to help thanks to the Catholic radio station Radio Veritas repeated broadcasts maintaining about a one million person mass 24 hours a day until it was over. Fidel Ramos was elected president in 1992. Early in his administration Ramos declared "national reconciliation" the highest national priority. He legalized the communist party and created the National Unification Commission (NUC) to lay the groundwork for talks with communist insurgents Muslim separatists and military rebels. In June 1994 President Ramos signed into law a general conditional amnesty covering all rebel groups as well as Philippine military and police personnel accused of crimes committed while fighting the insurgents. In October 1995 the government signed an agreement bringing the military insurgency to an end. Although the other peace talks have not fully resolved outstanding differences and many of the underlying social problems have yet to be addressed the communist and Muslim insurgencies no longer pose a threat to the government. A peace agreement with one major Muslim insurgent group was signed in 1996. EDSA 2 - People's Power In January 2001 the Filipino people have removed another corrupt leader, President Estrada, after bank records, important evidence to the Senate impeachment trial, were not allowed opened. Too bad I missed this one but when Joseph Estrada was elected in 1998, I felt shame for Filipinos home and abroad and sensed only negative results could occur in the future. Of course there's many contradicting reports and opinions at present about Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's leadership in her first few weeks of power. But let's pray that their future will be brighter and history will reward the Filipino's struggle against corrupt leadership.
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