The Philippines Must Be The Sole Judge Of Its Own DESTINY
Written on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm | by BencardFor as far as one can go back in known history of that territory that now exists and is known as Philippines, its people have always been, successively, directed, guided, dictated to, and influenced, one way or another, by a foreign power. It took the Spaniards to spawn the embryo of Filipino nationhood. It took the Americans to hatch it and bring it forth into the world.
While the road to nationhood was drenched in the blood of our forefathers, historical evidence is compelling that the struggles were never for the cause of melding the archipelago and its diverse inhabitants into one distinct nation. The revolution against Spain was not a united effort by the colonized inhabitants for total independence. Jose Rizal and other intellectuals of his day wanted no more than administrative and secular reforms and , ultimately, a meaningful Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes. While Emilio Aguinaldo subsequently proclaimed a revolutionary Philippine Republic, consisting mostly of the territories in Luzon and Visayas under his effective control, his subsequent actions betrayed an intent to make it a part of America, either as a commonwealth or a member of the United States, with him as the highest local leader.
It was an accident of history that as a colony of Spain, the Philippines got embroiled into Spain’s war against the U.S., and in the latter’s war against Japan.
For reasons that one can only speculate, U.S. “allowed” the Philippines to become independent following the U.S. victory against Japan. Whatever that reason is, suffice it to say here that America always tries to act according to what it believes to be its best interests. If that belief somehow coincides with universal notions of freedom, liberty, justice and human rights, there is no room for controversy. Otherwise, it seems that it regresses to the most basic instinct of self-preservation and survival.
Since gaining “independence”, it has become customary for Filipino leaders to seek the “blessings” of America before embarking on a course of action of national or international importance. From Manuel Quezon to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the all-important consideration for almost every sovereign decision is, how would Washington react to it?
In the current controversy over the proposed peace initiatives in Mindanao, speculations about American and Malaysian “vested” interests in the peace process, i.e., creating a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, are widely talked about in blogs and mainstream media.
Perhaps, more than ever, it is time for us to sever the umbilical chords that shackle and hinder us from charting our own destiny as an independent nation. In the first place, why do we allow America to influence us, either way, in pursuing a course of action on a purely domestic matter? If America’s concern is the prevention of Mindanao, or part of it, from becoming a spawning ground for terrorists, then why not supply us with adequate and effective war materiel to crush the rebels, or force them to return to the folds of the law. In the second place, what business has the Malaysians having anything to do with our law enforcement problems, even as a “mediator”? Who needs a mediator between outlaws and a sovereign state?
Tags: philippine government, Philippine history, philippine society- Like Caesar’s Wife
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- What to do with Arroyo after 2010?
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- Ces Drilon Accepts 3-Month Suspension
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Spot on Bencard!
I have often had the impression of the Philippines as the “spoiled child” of America. It grew up effortlessly pampered by the US with all the multinational companies in the country artificially giving the Philippines the impression that it was an economic powerhouse and didn’t need to improve on its politics, infrastructure and investment climate.
Then during the Marcos years it got booted out of the household as a teenager and, not knowing how to fend for itself, had to get by difficult times, depending still on that “parent” that spoiled it for a long long time.
A loser that needs to grow up and stand on its own feet.
You’d think the non-renewal of the US Bases in Subic would have been a major milestone in our journey to adulthood as a society.
It seems though that it merely highlighted our plight as a born loser society. As plausible excuses for our continued failure to prosper dwindle, we are left to face certain realities that increasingly become difficult to ignore or sweep under the rug of feel-good slogans.
It is only when we get past this fear of looking that proverbial man in the mirror squarely in the eye will our initiative and resolve to move forward as a nation become tangible.
bencard and jon, i don’t think the Philippines even comes close to the attention Uncle Sam has on other theaters. it is a big world and this nation is but a small nearly insignificant dot in the grand scale of things. So let us not be too presumptuous about our place in the world.
That said, it is the business of every nation-state to meddle in other people’s business. “Spying breeds trust”, after all. Spying on your allies is of course the norm. Meddling in other nation-state’s affairs to forward your own self interest is the norm.
I disagree Jon that the Philippines is America’s spoiled child. I don’t think America or any other external force got us to where this nation is. simply put, we fucked up.
Jon, i agree with you on the point that this nation needs to grow up and stand on its own feet. We are afraid to think. We are afraid to try. We are afraid of tomorrow. We are afraid of failing. We are afraid of being creative. More than Hope that requires our people to have Courage to face our fears.
Firstly, Atty. Ben,
Welcome to the FV collective and I do hope that as regular contributor, we’ll have more of these expansive essays which enrich the cross fertilization/ focus group level of exchange. As Jon says above you are spot on. As the readers of FV have come to expect we are far from being a choir, with the exchanges sounding acrimonious at times, but always passionately Filipino.
You are correct, we must, truly must cut the umbilical cords. But it can only happen if our leaders some their subservient, even mendicant slavishness towards America.
Our foreign policy must reflect, nay, give flesh to our aspirations as a people: free,resolute, with our destiny in our hands as you succinctly put it.
Welcome formally to FV, Atty. Ben. I am sure you, like the rest tsake pride in FV’s recent citation as among the most influential emerging blogs.
Till we next tangle
oh, one more thing, “solving” this country’s problems isn’t as easy as saying good bye America or good bye everybody else. we have to go past our provincial attitude. even that is just the beginning.
Bencard, welcome to FV! It’s about time you had your own blog.
I’ve recorded an essay written by the historian Denis W. Brogan, The End of Empire which readers of this post may find a useful reflection on Bencard’s thesis. Brogan reveals the painful truth that independence, even true independence, is no guarantee of progress and development. It’s more complicated than that, colonial domination being our indispensable grievance for our own failures.
Oops, here is that link:
The End of Empire
We all know that independence was just on paper. The U.S. continued to dominate the political, economic, and military elites, maintaining a ‘virtual’ colony up until PGMA.
In his book “In our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines” Mr. Stanley Karnow, an American historian detailed how a succession of U.S. presidents and administrators coddled the archipelago’s 60 or so ruling families, perpetuating the feudal oligarchy that continued to this day, and widening the gap between rich and poor.
Philman,
That’s what I mean by “indispensable grievance”. After our paper independence what was America supposed to do with those 60 or so ruling families? Make enemies of them? Confiscate their wealth and redistribute it so we can close the gap between the rich and the poor?
What, pray tell, were Filipinos doing to change their own lot that the Americans were so painfully opposed to. Oh that’s right, we launched insurgency after rebellion after coup d’etats against ourselves and continuing to be part of American interests (such as it has been!)
If anything look at all the countries in the world today that have been or were under decades of virtual American occupation since World War II: Japan, Korea, Belgium, France, Germany, Taiwan.
It is when American power is not fully applied to a situation, and it abandons its projects in democracy such as in the Philippines that the things you claim, paradoxically occur! We were primus in Asia only during colonial times, with our descent to the cellar congruent with our rise to independence, which you claim was somehow damaged at birth and remote controlled afterwards by the US.
Verifly, there is no more grievous emotional loss than that of an explanation for one nation’s failures in the actions of another. Yours, is our indispensable grievance.
Beg to differ with one of your points: France under American occupation for decades? Dean, you sure you’re not imagining things there?
Or maybe you’re thinking of NATO gen hqs presence in Paris, France after WWII up to the time Gen de Gaulle kicked out NATO in 1966?
That’s not American occupation… and Re-read your history Dean. Won’t do to revise history in the name of some ideological expediency.
From Wikepedia:
Military occupation: control of a territory by a military force
(or Occupation: the temporary forceful occupation of a building, space or symbolic site)
Art. 42. Hague Conventions of 1907.
Territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army.
Art. 43.
The authority of the legitimate power having in fact passed into the hands of the occupant, the latter shall take all the measures in his power to restore, and ensure, as far as possible, public order and safety, while respecting, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country.
adb,
okay it’s not “occupation” which implies “unfriendly”. But militarily, not only did American soldiers die to save the concept of a Free France, the US also poured help into all of Europe, and guaranteed their security from the Soviet Union until now! In any case, these are surely closer ties and equal reliance on American military power than anything the Philippines experienced after 1946. The Marshall Plan too was a massive intervention in those economies. Done in America’s interests, which happened to jive with those of the countries she “influenced” (there, satisfied now Anna, hehe!)
The point is that an America fully engaged in any country has been generally a good thing. Whilst her half-hearted efforts, for whatever reason, have been failures, like the Philippines and Iraq.
In our case, I blame the Woodrow Wilson Democrats, and I guess in Iraq, it would be the Bush-Cheney Republicans. They did a great job of ridding the world of Saddam, but they fucked up Reconstruction. Same here. They got rid of the Japs but left us with the war torn tatters of their previous colony.
It’s just infuriating to think, as Philman claims, that the US somehow oppressed or coerced us into poverty and disrepair. We did that largely on our own for I cannot imagine an America that spent at least 40 years building something good here would begrudge it if we had somehow made something of ourselves, ’stead of blaming her for everything.
maybe she had greater faith in us than we had in ourselves.
Well, am glad you admitted it was not an occupation.
Most of us are aware of WWII and the incredible efforts by the United States to free the world of Hitler but let’s not poo pooh the efforts of other nation members of the Allied forces to free the world of Hitler. It will not only be unjust but also dishonest to do so.
And hang on, re “guaranteed their security from the Soviet Union until now! … you must not forget that it works both ways… there are 26 nations that comprise NATO to ensure the security of the United States too in case of conflict.
Let’s not be so blinded by such one-way ideology that we forget to be objective.
And I completely agree with you: The point is that an America fully engaged in any country has been generally a good thing. Whilst her half-hearted efforts, for whatever reason, have been failures, like the Philippines and Iraq.
And I concur with Bencard: The Philippines Must Be The Sole Judge Of Its Own DESTINY as other nations must…
Examples of where America’s full engagement produced extraordinary results: Germany and Japan
ADB,
I’m challenging the supposition that the Philippines is not now the judge of its own destiny. Were not Germany, France, Japan, Korea, etc. not “judges of their own destiny” in staying under American protection and assistance?
Do you see how it is a dodge, an excuse for our own failures? We are blaming the US for somehow holding us back. It’s a like an unsuccessful child blaming his or her parents for continuing parental control beyond the age of independence.
But Dean, what’s wrong with the dictum that The Philippines Must Be The Sole Judge Of Its Own DESTINY?
I don’t understand.
If it pleases you, then simply take the US issue of the entire destiny equation, i.e., stop, don’t, refuse to blame them, etc. and be done with it — finally assume the obvious: The Philippines Must Be The Sole Judge Of Its Own DESTINY
Sorry, meant: take the US issue OUT of the entire destiny equation,
djb, i don’t think of it as an “excuse” for our own failures. far from deliberately “holding us back”, it’s not the americans’ fault that we are what we are; that our “destiny” cannot go beyond reliance on foreign protection and assistance; or for thinking that what is good for the americans is good for the philippines and vice versa. change need not happen overnight in one fell swoop. decades of spineless and cowardly foreign policy and general pinoy attitude would be hard to discard.
it could start with a new outlook in our youth. instead of noisy marches with effigy and flag burning by young men and women bearing slogans like “down with the americans”, we need peace-loving, disciplined, law-abiding, and self-reliant citizenry imbued with true patiotism. we need parents at home, teachers in school, and priests in churches, that teach our children the right kinds of values instead of indoctrinate them with failed ideologies that poison the soul.
one little step, one child, at a time.
But I do understand what you mean — and it’s true that the Philippines the judge of its own destiny today and that we should not blame our own failures on Uncle Sam.
However, there is also nothing wrong with calling on the old dictum that we must be the sole judge of our destiny if only to ensure that it’s done, is there?
(Heck, for once I agree with Bencard!)
thanks, adb. that’s the FV spirit. right nick, ding?
Some pundits here are just clueless. Equating Japan’s and Germany’s experiences under the Americans as similar to RP’s. Ever heard of the Yamato, Shinto, and Nara and The Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic People, which were centuries-old before the U.S. was founded. For crying out loud, those great nations/empires were civilizations before being occupied because they lost in a war.
Before being labeled as revisionists, better re-read your history, guys.
cvj, thanks for the invite. perhaps, when i’m fully retired, i may be able to set up and maintain my own blog. right now, i’m still feeling my way through the cyber world.
And to help readers/commenters sift through with so many entries and help them avoid comments which are so full ot the author’s ego/self, I have decided to be a reviewer/rater of blog entries and will adopt the following ratings, (based on traditional movie classifications):
GP = GOOD PUNDITRY
PG = PURE GARBAGE
RATED R = REVISIONIST
I also decided to invent my own rating: SP = STUPINDIT, reserved for a really special blog.
Philman,
Excellent idea!
cocoy,
Certainly it isn’t true now but, the Philippines was once upon a time, (read, 1930s -> 1960s) the apple of America’s eyes. Part of the Philippine’s failure is the realization that this isn’t true anymore.
Atty. Ben,
Without gushing, being in this writing collective of ‘unlike-minded but thouroughly articulate FILIPINOS assures me that we do deserve better from our OWN leaders, and to hell with the unlamented “Manifest Destiny” from a colonial era long gone.
But the residual effects are still with many Filipinos, so ingrained that they seem mentally immobile.
But I am an optimist and this phase too shall pass, I hope in our lifetime.
(BTW. I have an uncle Ben, Ruben Guzman, who is a lawyer and once worked with the law for of Sen.Jovy Salonga.)
P.S.
Shouldn’t it be Filipinos CHARTING their own destiny?
ding, i think we have to first know what our destiny should be. and we should be the sole judge of that. after that, we can CHART our journey towards that goal.
btw, ben guzman is a familiar name. is he still in practice?
jon, imho i disagree. Our leaders back then— the commonwealth+ era decide they wanted this country’s freedom from any foreign power. and even before that this nation went to war against Spain for our independence. Subjugation under America was deemed always as a temporary situation. The commonwealth was devised as a stepping stone to greater freedom.
“apple of the eye” is way to simplistic, imho. nation states make strategic and tactical decisions based on what interests them. it has got nothing to do whether they “like people” or not. nation-states are not altruistic.
my point being America’s and every other nation in the world’s technology is right out in the open. *This* blog is a pedigree of America’s cold war effort and a CERN scientist’s innovative “web”. Why isn’t our country taking advantage of technology more? but i guess that’s another topic entire.
my point being it isn’t America or anybody else is to blame for Filipino’s lot in life. it is *we the people* who fucked up. let us accept we made strategic and tactical errors as a people and move on from here.