Figure 1.--.

The Philippines was to be a staging area for Operation Olympus, the planned invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. The Japanese had retreated to the mountains of northcentral Luzon and were isolated there. Finally after the atomic boms were dropped, the Japanese surrenderd (August 1945). They had lost nearly 0.5 million men trying to hold the Philippines in the Japanese Empire. With the end of the War, The United States could then begin to transfer soverignity to an independemt Filipino Republic which had been scheduled earlier. When the Japanese invaded, the Philippines had a democratically elected Government preparing to accept the responsibilities of independence. The president was Manuel L. Quezon. Independence had to be postponed because of the Japanese invasion (December 1941). After the War ended, the United States granted substantial sums to the new Filipino Government. The United States kept its committment made before the War. The reconstituted Philippine congress met for the first time since its 1941 election (June 9, 1945). Any new Government faces problems. The task faced by the new Government was unprecented, because of the explotive nature of the Japanese occuipation and the savege treatment of the Filipino people. The country was devastated by the War. Manilaooked like Hiroshima. The country's economy was in ruins. There was also political division and guerrilla warfare. Not all the anti-Japanese forces were committed to restoring democracy. There was also a Communist guierilla movement, President Quezon had died durig the War (1944). Vice President Sergio Osmeña replaced him. Osmeña was a founder of Nacionalista Party. In the first election after the War, Osmeña’s leadership was immediately challenged (January 946). What emerged as the Liberal Party) broke away from the Nationalist Party and nominated Manuel Roxas who proceeded to win the election (April 1946). The Philippines became an independent country (July 4, 1946). Developments since independence have proven volitile, including dictatorship, corruption, terrorist attacks and economic problems. The Philippines has not shared the economic siuccess of some of its neighbors such as Singapore, Malaya, and Taiwan.

World War II (1939-45)

The Philippines played an important role in World War II. Independence was postponed by the the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent invasion of the Philippines (December 1941). Capture of the Philippine Islands was esential to Japan's effort to control the resources of southeast Asia and Oceania--particularly the oil of the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese carrier assault on Pearl Harbor which incapaciated the American Pacific fleet made possible simultaneous Japanese attacks on Malaya, Thailand, Guam and Wake Islands Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. After nearly 3 years of Japanese occupation, the United Sttes began the liberation of the Philippines with the invasion at Leyte Gulf (October 1944). The Japanese Navy's attempt to stop the American assault resulted in the greatest naval battle in history.

Independence (1946)

The Philippines was to be a staging area for Operation Olympus, the planned invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. The Japanese had retreated to the mountains of northcentral Luzon and were isolated there. Finally after the atomic boms were dropped, the Japanese surrenderd (August 1945). They had lost nearly 0.5 million men trying to hold the Philippines in the Japanese Empire. With the end of the War, The United States could then begin to transfer soverignity to an independemt Filipino Republic which had been scheduled earlier. When the Japanese invaded, the Philippines had a democratically elected Government preparing to accept the responsibilities of independence. The president was Manuel L. Quezon. Independence had to be postponed because of the Japanese invasion (December 1941). After the War ended, the United States granted substantial sums to the new Filipino Government. The United States kept its committment made before the War. The reconstituted Philippine congress met for the first time since its 1941 election (June 9, 1945). Any new Government faces problems. The task faced by the new Government was unprecented, because of the explotive nature of the Japanese occuipation and the savege treatment of the Filipino people. The country was devastated by the War. Manilaooked like Hiroshima. The country's economy was in ruins. There was also political division and guerrilla warfare. Not all the anti-Japanese forces were committed to restoring democracy. There was also a Communist guierilla movement, President Quezon had died durig the War (1944). Vice President Sergio Osmeña replaced him. Osmeña was a founder of Nacionalista Party. In the first election after the War, Osmeña’s leadership was immediately challenged (January 946). What emerged as the Liberal Party) broke away from the Nationalist Party and nominated Manuel Roxas who proceeded to win the election (April 1946). The Philippines became an independent country (July 4, 1946).

Early Political Developments

Developments since independence have proven volitile, including dictatorship, corruption, terrorist attacks and economic problems. Manuel Roxas was the first president elected by the independent Republic of the Philippines (July 4, 1946). The sudden and unexpected death of President Roxas (April 1948) meant that Vice President Elpidio Quirino, became president. President Quirino subsequently defeated José Laurel to win a 4-year term on his own (November 1949). It proved to be a hard fought, bitter election. Defense Minister Ramón Magsaysay defeated President Quirino in the next election (November 1953). He campaigned on a platform of comprehensive economic changes, including land reform. He began aand reform effort when he took office. He opened new settlements outside crowded Luzon island. His enrgentic leadership came to a sudden end in atragic plane crash (March 1957). It was aserious blow to a young democracy. Vice President Carlos P. García succeeded him and ten won a full term of his own (November 1957). President Garcia becametainted by corruption and anti-Americanism rose in the Filipinon political discourse. The Liberal and Progressive parties uited under the leadership of Vice President Diosdado Macapagal (June 1959). This enabled hom to win the next election (1961). Macapagal attempted to limit the mounting inflation, a problem which dogged the economy since independence. He attempted to negotiate alliances with neighboring countries. He also lodged a territorial dispute with Britain over North Borneo (modern Sabah). Macapagal claimed that the territory had been leased and not sold to the British North Borneo Company by the Spanish in 1878.

Cold War

The Philippines became a staunch American ally in the developing Cold War. The Philippines and the United States signed a military assistance pact (March 1947). The Philippines granted the United States a 99-year lease on designated military, naval, and air bases. This was later reduced to a 25 year period (beginning 1967). The Cold War began in Europe, but developed in Asia and Oceania as well. The massive tak of rebuilding a war=devestated new nation was aided by extensive American asistance. There were, however, major problems. One of the most serious was a Communist insurgency. The Communist-dominated Hukbalahap guerrillas (Huks) were active in central Luzon. They employed terror and other forms of violnce to achieve land reform and achieve political power. They were a mjor threat for nearly a decade. Minister of National Defense Ramón Magsaysay (and future president) oversaw a major military effort to supress the Huks insurgency (1954). While not dstroyed, the Huks wre defeated as a major military threat to the democratically elected Government. The Philippines joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (1954). There were difficulties with the United States over American military installations. Consideranle anti-Americanism entered Filipino political discourse. The major issues involved seemed to have been the military bases. The bases were an important contribution to the Philippines economy, but apparently offended Filipino poklitical sensibilities. The United States formally recognized full Philippine sovereignty over the bases (1956). Tensions with the United states continued until some of the bases were dismantled and the lease period reduced (1959). The United States for its part rejected Philippine financial claims and proposed trade revisions. The Huk insurgency flared again (1960s).

Ferdanand Marcos (1965- )

Ferdinand E. Marcos was a young politican who claimed to have been a guerilla fighter during the Japanese occupation. He fefeated President Macapagal in the next election (1965). He continued the territoril dispute over Sabah whioch played well in the nationalistic press. He signed a congressional act annexing oil rich Sabah (1968). This caused foreign policy problems as they were no longerdeling with Britain. Sabah joined the Federation of Malaysia (1963). Malaysia suspended diplomatic relations with the Philippines. The issue was finally referred to the United Nations. The Philippines ultimately ended its claim to Sabah (1978). The Philippines became afounding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (1967). The continuing problem of land reform regenerated the Huk insurgency in central Luzon. They launced a series of assassinations and other terror attacks. President Marcos launched a major military campaign to subdue the HUks. At the same time increasing problems developed in the south on Mindanao. Moro groups of Moros opposed Christian settlement. President Marcos was reelected (1969). He defeated Sergio Osmeña, Jr. There were reoorts of violence, most attacks on anti-Marcos candidates. And for the first time there were reports of voter fraud and irregularities. Presidenr Marcos began his second term with rising civil disorder.

Economic Developments

The Philippines has not shared the economic success of some of its neighbors such as Singapore, Malaya, and Taiwan. In the immediate aftermath of World war II, Phillipnes exportswere dominated by commodity shipments (sugar, cocnuts, logs and lumber, and minerals. These commodities totaled about 90 percent of export shipments. This changed dramatically n the 1970s. While the commodity xports contumued to be important, thy no longer dominred the economy, composing only 5o percent of shopments by the end of the 1970s. [Sachs and Collins]

Southgern Insurgency

There is an on going conflict in the Southern Islands involving Communist, then Muslim fighters who are in a long time war with the the Christian-dominated Northern Islands (Leyte and Luzon). It was this on going fight that allowed Marcos to continuously claim an Emergency Military rule to hold on to power for so long. This is related to developments in Indonesia.

Sources

Sachs, Jeffrey D. and Susan M. Collins. Developing Country Debt and Economic Performance, Volume 3: Country Studies--Indonesia, Korea, Philippines, Turkey (University of Chicago Press: 2007), 831p.

Created: 11:15 PM 6/10/2007
Last updated: 3:35 AM 10/12/2012