Brief Political History of the Philippines

Summary

This video script explores the rich yet tumultuous history of the Philippines, from pre-colonial times to modern-day challenges. It delves into Spanish colonization, the Philippine Revolution, American occupation, World War II devastation, and the Marcos dictatorship. The narrative highlights key figures like Rizal, Bonifacio, and Marcos, and pivotal events like the People Power Revolutions. It also touches on post-Marcos politics, economic struggles, and the Duterte administration's war on drugs, offering insights into the nation's ongoing quest for stability and progress.

Takeaways

• 🏝️ The Philippines was a collection of independent polities before Spanish colonization, each with its own distinct culture and influences.
• 👑 Spanish colonization began with Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521, and later formalized under Miguel López de Legazpi, leading to the establishment of the Spanish East Indies.
• ⛪️ The Spanish introduced Catholicism and centralized governance, which significantly altered the social and political landscape of the islands.
• 📚 The arrival of American forces during the Spanish-American War led to the Philippine Revolution and the eventual U.S. colonization of the islands.
• 🏛️ The U.S. introduced widespread educational reforms, infrastructure development, and a new political system, but also entrenched economic dominance through land ownership.
• 🌟 The post-WWII period saw the rise of the Third Republic, with the Philippines experiencing political instability and economic challenges.
• 🏰 The Marcos era, marked by martial law and widespread corruption, ended with the People Power Revolution in 1986, a bloodless coup that restored democracy.
• 🌐 Post-Marcos politics have been characterized by weak party systems and strong personalities, with economic liberalization and privatization efforts.
• 💸 The Philippines has a history of economic reliance on remittances from overseas workers, which has influenced its economic policies and social dynamics.
• 🚨 The Duterte administration has been marked by a controversial war on drugs, economic growth, and a shift in foreign policy, particularly with China.
• 🔮 The future of the Philippines is uncertain, with ongoing challenges in governance, infrastructure, and social services, as well as the potential for continued influence from strong political figures.

Q & A

What was the Philippines like before Spanish colonization?

Before Spanish colonization, the Philippines was not a unified entity but a collection of independent polities known as barangays. These polities had different cultures and influences, with Islam prevalent in the south and Hinduism and Chinese influence in trading hubs like Manila.

Who was the first European to arrive in the Philippines and what was his goal?

Fernando Magellan was the first European to arrive in the Philippines on March 1521. His goal was to find a route to the Maluku Islands, known for their spices.

How did the Spanish establish their first permanent settlement in the Philippines?

The Spanish established their first permanent settlement in Cebu in 1565 under the command of Miguel López de Legazpi. They then proceeded to conquer the islands one by one, establishing a stronghold in Pannai in 1569 and later conquering Manila in 1571.

What was the role of the Catholic friars in the Spanish colony of the Philippines?

The Catholic friars played a significant role by moving people from barangays into larger, centralized pueblos where they built churches and acted as rulers over rural fiefdoms. They had considerable power and were more influential than the civil officials due to their knowledge of local languages.

What was the Katipunan and what was its significance in Philippine history?

The Katipunan, also known as the KKK, was a secret revolutionary society led by Andrés Bonifacio. It aimed to establish a government and resist Spanish colonial rule. The Katipunan played a significant role in initiating the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

How did the United States become involved in the Philippines and what was the outcome?

The United States became involved in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War in 1898. After defeating the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, the U.S. effectively bought the Philippines from Spain for 20 million dollars. This led to the Philippine-American War, where the U.S. and Filipino forces fought until the U.S. declared victory in 1902.

What were the major reforms introduced by the United States during their administration of the Philippines?

The United States introduced major reforms such as overhauling the education system, building infrastructure like bridges and roads, and instituting an American-style political system. They also promised eventual independence for the Philippines.

What was the Commonwealth of the Philippines and when was it established?

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in 1935. It was a transitional phase towards independence, with the drafting of a U.S.-style constitution and the first national election.

How did World War II impact the Philippines and its political landscape?

World War II led to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines from 1942 to 1945. The war resulted in a weakened civil service, a reduction in Manila's dominance, and an expansion of voter participation with provincial politicians gaining power.

What was the significance of the People Power Revolution in 1986 in the Philippines?

The People Power Revolution in 1986 was a non-violent, bloodless revolution that led to the ousting of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines. It was a significant event that inspired similar movements worldwide.

What are some of the challenges the Philippines continues to face as mentioned in the script?

The Philippines continues to face challenges such as corruption, crime, economic inequality, and improving infrastructure. Additionally, the country deals with political instability and the aftermath of the war on drugs initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Early History and Spanish Colonization

The paragraph discusses the pre-colonial Philippines, characterized by independent polities known as barangays with distinct cultures and influences. The arrival of the Spanish, led by Ferdinand Magellan, marked the beginning of colonization. Despite initial resistance, notably the death of Magellan, Spain established a permanent settlement and later expanded its control through conquests and alliances. The Spanish rule was marked by the establishment of a centralized authority, the conversion of natives to Catholicism, and the creation of a colonial economy. The paragraph also touches on the cultural and political diversity of the islands before colonization, including the presence of Islam in the south and the unique cultures of various indigenous groups.

05:02

🗡 Philippine Revolution and American Rule

This section delves into the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule, led by figures like Andrés Bonifacio and José Rizal, who became symbols of resistance. The revolution was marked by the formation of the Katipunan and the eventual declaration of Philippine independence. However, the Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Paris led to the United States acquiring the Philippines. The American period introduced significant reforms, including education and infrastructure development, but also saw the perpetuation of an elite-dominated society. The paragraph highlights the shift from Spanish to American colonial rule and the initial resistance and eventual adaptation of Filipinos to these changes.

10:03

🌟 World War II and Post-War Politics

The paragraph covers the period of World War II, during which the Philippines was occupied by Japan, leading to the Battle of Manila and significant destruction. It discusses the return of General Douglas MacArthur and the subsequent liberation of the Philippines. Post-war, the country experienced a period of political and economic changes, with the rise of new political figures and the establishment of the Third Republic. The paragraph also touches on the impact of the war on the country's infrastructure and the shift in political power towards provincial leaders, as well as the challenges faced in rebuilding and reforming the nation.

15:06

🏛 Marcos Era and People Power Revolutions

This section focuses on the rise and fall of Ferdinand Marcos, who initially brought about positive changes but later declared martial law, leading to widespread corruption and human rights abuses. The paragraph details the People Power Revolution, a non-violent protest that led to the ousting of Marcos and the restoration of democracy. It also discusses the subsequent political landscape, marked by the rise of various leaders and the challenges of rebuilding the nation's political and economic systems.

20:06

🌐 Modern Challenges and Future Prospects

The final paragraph addresses the current and future challenges faced by the Philippines, including political instability, economic disparities, and social issues. It mentions the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, his war on drugs, and the mixed reactions to his administration both domestically and internationally. The paragraph concludes with an acknowledgment of the ongoing struggles and the potential for the Philippines to overcome them, reflecting on the resilience and potential for change in the country.

Keywords

💡Colonization

Colonization refers to the establishment, expansion, and maintenance of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. In the context of the video, it details the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, which began with the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and continued until the 19th century. The video discusses how colonization led to the imposition of Spanish culture, religion, and governance on the indigenous populations, significantly altering the social, political, and cultural landscape of the archipelago.

💡Barangays

Barangays were the independent polities that existed in the Philippine islands before the arrival of the Spanish. The term is used in the video to illustrate the pre-colonial political structure, where each barangay was a self-governing community with its own leadership and culture. The video mentions that these barangays were not unified and had distinct cultures, which contrasts with the later Spanish attempts to centralize control and impose a single identity on the archipelago.

💡Datus

Datus were the traditional rulers of barangays in the pre-colonial Philippines. The video uses the term to describe the local leadership that governed the various independent communities before Spanish colonization. The mention of datus helps to highlight the decentralized nature of power in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spanish, who sought to replace these local rulers with their own system of governance.

💡Philippine Revolution

The Philippine Revolution refers to the conflict between the Filipino revolutionaries and the Spanish colonial government in the late 19th century. The video discusses the revolution, led by figures like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo, as a significant event in the fight for Philippine independence. The revolution was marked by the establishment of a revolutionary government and the declaration of Philippine independence, which are key moments in the country's struggle for self-determination.

💡Katipunan

Katipunan, also known as the KKK, was a secret society established in the Philippines that played a crucial role in the revolution against Spanish rule. The video describes how the Katipunan built a revolutionary government and mobilized the population for the fight against Spanish colonization. The term is significant as it represents the organized resistance and the nationalist sentiment that was growing among the Filipino people during this period.

💡Martial Law

Martial law refers to the imposition of direct military control over civilian functions of government, often in response to a perceived threat to the state. In the video, martial law is discussed in the context of President Ferdinand Marcos's rule in the Philippines. Marcos declared martial law in 1972, which led to the suspension of civil liberties, censorship of the media, and the arrest of political opponents. The video highlights martial law as a period of repression and human rights abuses in the country's history.

💡People Power Revolution

People Power Revolution refers to the series of non-violent protests that led to the end of Marcos's dictatorship in 1986. The video describes how millions of Filipinos gathered in the streets to demand the end of martial law and the restoration of democracy. The term signifies a pivotal moment in Philippine history where civilian resistance successfully led to political change, demonstrating the power of collective action in the face of authoritarian rule.

💡Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of the Philippines refers to the semi-autonomous status granted to the country by the United States in 1935. The video mentions the establishment of the Commonwealth as a step towards the eventual promise of full independence. This term is significant as it represents a transitional period in the Philippines' relationship with the United States, reflecting the gradual shift from direct colonial control to a more autonomous governance structure.

💡EDSA Revolution

EDSA Revolution, also known as the People Power Revolution, is the term used to describe the 1986 non-violent uprising that led to the ousting of President Marcos. The video specifically mentions 'EDSA' (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) as the location where millions of Filipinos gathered, leading to the peaceful transition of power. The EDSA Revolution is a notable example of civil resistance and is celebrated as a symbol of the Filipino people's commitment to democracy.

💡Remittances

Remittances are the money transferred by foreign workers to their home country. In the video, remittances are highlighted as a significant part of the Philippine economy, with nearly 10 percent of the GDP being based on money sent home by overseas Filipino workers. This term is important as it underscores the economic impact of labor migration and the reliance of many Filipino families on these funds for their livelihood.

💡War on Drugs

The War on Drugs refers to the campaign initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 to combat illegal drug trade and drug use in the Philippines. The video discusses the campaign's controversial approach, which has been criticized for its high death toll and alleged human rights abuses. The term is significant as it reflects the Duterte administration's tough stance on crime and its impact on both domestic and international perceptions of the Philippines.

Highlights

The Philippines was a collection of independent polities before Spanish colonization.

Islam was prevalent in the southern Philippines, while Hinduism and Chinese influence were found in trading hubs.

Fernando Magellan's expedition arrived in the Philippines in 1521 and attempted to convert the natives to Catholicism.

Lapu Lapu led resistance against Magellan, leading to his death and temporary Spanish retreat.

Rizal, a national hero, symbolized the Filipino struggle for freedom through his writings and execution by the Spanish.

The Katipunan, led by Andres Bonifacio, initiated a secret revolutionary movement against Spanish rule.

The Philippine Revolution began in 1896 with the cry 'Long live the Philippines'.

The Treaty of Paris in 1898 ended the Spanish-American War, with the U.S. purchasing the Philippines.

The U.S. introduced widespread educational reforms, significantly increasing literacy rates among Filipinos.

The Philippine Commonwealth was established in 1935, a step towards self-governance.

World War II saw the Philippines occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945, with significant civilian casualties.

Fernand Marcos was elected president in 1965, initially seen as a political savior.

Marcos declared martial law in 1972, leading to widespread human rights abuses and suppression of dissent.

The People Power Revolution in 1986 peacefully ousted Marcos and restored democracy.

Rodrigo Duterte's presidency, starting in 2016, was marked by a controversial war on drugs and economic growth.

The Philippines continues to face challenges such as corruption, crime, and infrastructure issues.

Transcripts

[Music]

the history of the philippines is one of

colonization resistance and attempts to

create a democratic state that could

improve the lot of all filipinos but

which has often failed

to see why join me in this brief look at

the history and politics of the

philippines

spanish colonization the philippines did

not exist and i don't mean the name

which was given to the islands to honor

the then heir to the spanish throne

philip ii rather before the spanish

there was no unified archipelago instead

the islands were divided into dozens of

independent polities known as barangays

which were ruled by dhatus competed with

each other and occasionally went to war

some of the more important ones were

manila tondo namayan cebu etc

this distinctiveness meant different

cultures and influences across the

archipelago with islam being especially

prevalent in the south in the island of

mindanao while hinduism and chinese

influence were more likely in trading

hubs like manila and

further north in the highlands of the

luzon islands there were the ifugao

people famous for their rice terraces

and rich oral literary traditions and

whose ancestors historians think

originated in china and or vietnam

thousands of years before and all

throughout the future country there were

the negritos or ita people the original

inhabitants of the islands who had a

nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle and

anonymistic religion

into this cultural landscape stepped

into spanish when on march 1521 fernando

magellan had ride with his men

magellan's expedition had been looking

for a way to the malukas the famed spice

islands and after surviving hunger and

disease in a harrowing journey that

lasted just short of four months across

the pacific they finally came across

guam an island where they could get

water and provisions they then proceeded

west to the philippines where things

were going quite well for the spanish

until magellan took it upon himself to

forcibly convert the natives into

catholicism

[Music]

under the leadership of lapu lapu did

not take kindly to his advances

especially after he ordered his homes

burned and on april 27 1521 they killed

him in battle and exposed the spanish

temporarily from the archipelago

emphasis is on temporary however

one of magellan's captains sebastian

elcano made it back to spain with a

spice cargo that only made the spanish

more eager to return especially when it

became apparent they had to compete with

the portuguese for the claim determined

to maintain authority over the islands

the spanish crown sent several

expeditions to the area in the following

decades the most important was that of

hui lopez who in 1547 sailed from

jalisco into spain to cebu where he

established the first permanent spanish

settlement in the country and named the

island's philippines

at the time philip was not yet king but

rather the heir to the throne when he

did gain the crown however he sent a

fresh fleet with explicit orders to

colonize and christianize the islands

under the command of miguel lopez de

legaspi

the expedition consisted of five ships

and 500 soldiers it returned to cebu in

1565 the place magellan had been killed

and quickly overran the locals realizing

that no single authority ruled over the

islands and individual pacts with 1.2

was meaningless to the others lopez de

legaspi then proceeded to conquer them

one by one he first set a spanish

stronghold in pannai in 1569 and later

with the help of local allies conquered

manila in 1571.

the control of the archipelago coupled

with the newly discovered manila

acapulco trade route ensured that the

islands would become a permanent colony

officially the spanish east indies

the new colony was run by a spanish

governor who reported to mexico at least

in theory because in practice his

ability to appoint his own civil and

military governors made him extremely

powerful

outside of manila however authority was

divided between native leaders who held

govern known as the principalia

and the catholic friars who held the

most power

there were lots of reasons for this two

big ones were that the fires outnumbered

civil officials in the provinces and

also they had a command of local

languages a rarity among the lay spanish

the other was that the friars moved

people from the barangays into larger

more centralized pueblos or towns where

they built imposing stone churches in

the center of each and acted as sole

rulers over what was essentially rural

fiefdoms

spain grew weaker as the fries grew more

repressive and the natives started to

resist

several minor peasant revolts easily

quashed marked the end of the 18th

century but in the 19th century the face

of the resistance would change as

wealthy class of european educated

mestizos filipinos of mixed spanish or

chinese blood with nationalist

tendencies began to emerge

known as illustratos the greatest and

best known of the lot was dr jose sal

doctor of medicine poet novelist

sculptor painter linguist naturalist and

fencing enthusiast

executed by the spanish in 1896 rizal

epitomized the filipinos dignified

struggle for personal and national

freedom

by killing such figures the spanish were

creating martyrs

andres bonifacio led an aggressive

movement known as the katipunan or kkk

which secretly built a revolutionary

government in manila with a network of

equally clandestine provincial councils

complete with passwords masks and

colored sashes denoting rank the

katipunan membership both men and women

peaked at an estimated 30 000 in mid

1896.

in august the spanish got win of the

coming revolution and the katipunan

leaders were forced to flee the capital

depleted frustrated and poorly armed the

katipuneros took stock in nearby

balintawak a barangay of kalukan

and voted to launch the revolution

regardless

with the cry of mabuhayan pilipinas

long live the philippines the philippine

revolution lurched into life following

the incident that is now known as a cryo

balintoboc

after 18 months of bloodshed most of it

filipino blood a spanish filipino peace

act was signed and the revolutionary

leader general emilio aguinaldo agreed

to go into exile in hong kong in

december 1897.

predictably the pax demand satisfied

nobody promises of reform by the spanish

were broken as were promises by the

filipinos to stop the revolutionary

plotting

meanwhile spain and the us became

embroiled in a dispute over another one

of spain's colonial trouble spots cuba

this led to a war in april 1898 which

drew the philippines as a colony of

spain into the conflict in august an

american fleet under commodore george

dewey sailed into manila bay and routed

the spanish ships

keen to gain filipino support dewey

welcomed the return of exiled

revolutionary general aguinaldo and

oversaw the philippine revolution phase

2 which installed aguinaldo's president

of the first philippine republic the

philippine flag was flown for the first

time during aguinaldo's proclamation of

philippine independence in cavite on

june 12 1898

with the signing of the treaty of paris

in 1898 the spanish-american war ended

and the u.s effectively bought the

philippines along with guam and puerto

rico for 20 million dollars

a fierce debate raged in the u.s over

what to do with its newly acquired

territory hawks on the right clamor to

hold onto the islands while

anti-imperialist liberals attacked the

subjugation of a foreign people as

morally wrong and warned about the cost

of occupation

american president mckinley originally

opposed colonization before caving into

hawks and his republican party and

agreeing to take over the islands

echoing the imperialists mckinley opined

that because filipinos were unfit for

self-government he had no choice but to

take over the islands and quote unquote

civilize them filipinos led by aguinaldo

had other ideas they set up a makeshift

capital in malolos outside of manila in

open defiance

the americans in turn antagonized the

filipinos and war broke out in february

1899. the guerrilla campaign launched by

aguinaldo and rebels who included

gregorio del pilar and apolinario mavini

proved remarkably effective at

neutralizing american military

superiority aguinaldo was captured in

march 1901 but still the war dragged on

as it did and as casualties on both

sides mounted the american public's

opposition to the war grew resentment

peaked in september 1901 in the

aftermath of the battle of balangiga

when 54 american soldiers were killed by

irregular forces

this in turn led to retaliation by the

americans who killed indiscriminately 2

000 to 2500 people in the island of

samar

eventually the u.s declared victory on

july 4th 1902 although the pockets of

guerrilla resistance continued for

several more years in the end some 200

000 filipino civilians 20 000 filipino

soldiers and more than 4 000 american

troops died in the war from combat or

disease

the americans tried to gain the approval

of the filipinos after the war they

began instituting reforms like the

complete overhaul of the education

system

whereas the spanish had attempted to

keep filipinos illiterate and ignorant

of the spanish language the americans

imported hundreds of teachers to the

country to teach reading writing

arithmetic and english within 35 years

the literacy rate among filipinos had

risen from a miniscule percentage to

almost 50 percent and 27 percent of the

population could speak english

besides schools the americans built

bridges roads and sewage systems they

neutralized their recalcitrant morals in

mindanao and christianized the

cordillera tribes of the north two

groups the spanish had tried and failed

to influence they also instituted an

american-style political system that

gradually gave more and more power to

filipinos and openly promised the

eventual independence for the country

their economic policy however entrenched

the dominance of the landed elite as the

free flow of u.s imports was a powerful

deterrent to philippine industrial

growth while those who explored sugar

prospered

this would have serious consequences

later on

critics describe american benevolence

during this period as a thinly veiled

carrot disguising america's true goal of

establishing economic hegemony over the

islands whatever the motive the u.s

endorsed the commonwealth of the

philippines in 1935 along with the

drafting of a u.s style constitution and

the first national election on paper at

least democracy and freedom had at least

come to the philippines unfortunately

world war ii would ensure that they

would be short-lived

when japan bombed hawaii's pearl harbor

in 1941 other forces attacked clark

field where general douglas macarthur

was caught napping despite many hours

warning

sitting off a string of events that

would lead to the japanese occupying the

philippines from 1942 to 1945.

in 1944 macarthur honored his now famous

pledge to return landing a late

determined to dislodge the japanese

the main battleground in this onslaught

was manila where defenseless residents

suffered horrifically in ensuing

crossfire during february 1945.

by the time macarthur marched into the

city the combination of japanese

atrocities and american shelling had

killed at least 150 000 civilians and

the city that had been one of the finest

in asia was destroyed

a fierce debate rages to this day about

who was to blame for the destruction of

manila the vast majority of civilian

casualties resulted from us artillery

fire but many argue that by failing to

abandon manila and declaring it an open

city the japanese gave macarthur a

little choice

whatever the truth manila belongs in the

category with warsaw hiroshima and

hamburg as cities that suffer the most

damage in world war ii

the impact of the war led to a weaker

civil service and a reduction in the

dominance of manila with provincial

politicians gaining power and in some

cases the fact of autonomy universal

suffrage saw an expansion of voter

participation although power remained

concentrated in the hands of a small

elite

despite the landed elite continuing to

dominate the legislature a diversifying

post-war economy saw politicians who are

not primarily from agricultural

backgrounds come to executive power

the post-war period until 1965 known to

filipinos as the third republic was a

competition between the nationalists and

liberal parties and the strong

personalities that led them

men such as elpido quirino ramon

magsaysai and diosdado macapagal

in fits and starts they tried reforming

and liberalizing the economy and the

philippines seemed to be slowly moving

in the right direction but things were

about to change in 1965

fernand marcos a dashing former lawyer

from a prominent ilocos political family

was elected the philippines fourth

post-world war ii president under the

seductive slogan this nation can be

great again

at first it indeed was a new era and

marcos and his even more charismatic

wife imelda went about trying to bring

back some of manila's pre-war energy by

1970 widespread poverty rising inflation

pitiful public funding and blatant

corruption triggered a wave of protests

in manila when several demonstrators

were killed by police outside the

presidential malacanang palace marco's

image as a political savior died with

them

citing the rise of leftist student

groups in the communist new people's

army or npa marcos imposed martial law

on the entire country in 1972. i signed

proclamation number 1081 placing entire

philippines under martial law

normally a constitutional last resort

decided to protect the masses martial

law was declared by marcos to keep

himself in power since the constitution

prevented him from running for a third

term and to protect his foreign business

interests

under martial law a curfew was imposed

the media was silenced or taken over by

the military international travel was

manned and thousands of anti-government

suspects were rounded up and put into

military camps

an estimated 50 000 of marco's opponents

were jailed exiled or killed marcos

would not lift martial law until 1981.

his end was brought about by people

power a movement born in the streets of

manila in 1986

as the whole world watched millions of

filipinos armed only with courage and

religious faith poured onto the streets

to defy the military might of the

michael's regime despite marcos on

popularity in the mid-1980s people

powered by never have happened were it

not for the assassination of immensely

popular opposition figure ninoy aquino

aquino had been a political prisoner and

then got into exile in the united states

he was murdered on the tarmac of the

manila airport as he came back to the

philippines to face the dictator with

his death filipinos felt they had lost

their hope for a peaceful return to

democracy

the decline and fall of the marcos

dictatorship came swiftly after that by

1986 even the u.s which had backed

marcos against communism in southeast

asia began to withdraw its support

in the face of mountain criticism abroad

and rising unrest at home marcos called

for snap elections on february 7 1986

corazon corey aquino the noise widow

became the reluctant at first standard

bearer of the opposition at the

instigation of the roman catholic church

marcos came out the winner of the

election but the people knew corey had

been cheated and they were no longer to

be silenced

on february 26th a massive sea of

humanity gathered around two camps along

epifanio de los santos avenue better

known as edsa where two of marcos's

former ministers juan fonsen riley and

fidel ramos had taken refuge after

defecting to the side of the people they

sang chanted prayed and shared food and

drink both among themselves and with

government troops who refused to fire

into crowds and eventually went over to

the side of the people by nightfall the

restless crowds were threatening to

storm the palace at this point the u.s

stepped in and advised marcos to let go

hurriedly the marcosus boarded a u.s

aircraft and flew to hawaii and into

exile

the filipino people had staged the

world's first successful bloodless

revolution inspiring others to do the

same across the world

fernand marcos died in exile in 1989 and

his happy wife imelda soon returned to

the philippines despite evidence that

she and her husband helped themselves to

billions of dollars from the treasury

imelda lives freely in manila and was

later elected to her fourth term in

congress in 2016 but once for leyte and

thrice for locos norte

politics since the fall of marcos has

been tumultuous largely because the

stable party system that existed before

marcos never returned

instead today the country has weak

political parties that tend to coalesce

not around sets of policies which stir

little debate but around leaders with

vivid personalities who win elections in

the 1990s the country aggressively

privatized and liberalized the economy

under fidel ramos but the 1998 asian

crisis left it in bad shape and the

president elected to clean up the mess

joseph estrada failed badly soon he

would face an impeachment trial over

corruption allegations this would see

millions of filipinos take to the

streets to support his removal and he

was forced to resign the country's

second people power revolution in 15

years estrada gave way to his vice

president gloria macapagalarroyo

daughter of the former president whose

nearly 10 years in office were also

talked by scandals including election

proprieties in her 2004 re-election and

in 2007 congressional elections misuse

of public funds

and

well general plunder and corruption

in the 2010 presidential elections the

country found the fresh face it was

looking for in the form of benigno

noinoy aquino iii the previously squeaky

clean son of corazon aquino hero of the

first people power revolution in 1986

riding a wave of natural grief after his

mother's death in 2009 aquino won a

landslide victory with 42 percent of the

votes emerging from a pack of candidates

which included former president estrada

even while the philippines economy grew

quickly still nearly 10 percent was

based on remittances talk of impeaching

president aquino was banded about after

he instituted the disbursement

acceleration program or dap essentially

a way for aquino to bypass the

legislature and according to him fast

track a much needed stimulus package in

a discouraging tip for tat aquino

threatened to impeach the supreme court

justices who ruled that unconstitutional

the aquino administration made progress

in ending several decades of armed

conflict in parts of the southern

islands of mindanao and the sulu

archipelago in the summer of 2014 the

government and the mortal islamic

liberation front or milf one of the

major rebel groups seeking an autonomous

muslim homeland agreed to the basic

framework for this entity called the

bangsamoto the splinter groups objected

however and periodic violence still

surfaces leading up to the presidential

election of 2016 confidence in aquino

and traditional politics was diminishing

there was the attack on farm workers at

hacienda visita the zamboanga siege the

manila hostage crisis cuts in social

services and a lack of progress

improving the transportation and power

infrastructure

aquino however was hardly alone in his

shrinking political fortunes the ongoing

police investigation in which an

influential businesswoman was accused of

channeling kickbacks to prominent

opposition leaders was a smorgasbord of

wrongdoing promising to end corruption

crime and reset relations with china

rodrigo duterte the former long-time

mayor of the southern city of davao beat

his closest rival by more than 6 million

votes in the 2016 presidential elections

he immediately implemented a war on

drugs that led to thousands of deaths

the opposition outraged insisted these

were human rights abuses and a breakdown

of the rule of law criticism that was

echoed abroad but at home it made no

difference duterte was and continues to

be one of the most popular filipino

presidents ever in part this was because

of the roaring economic growth the

philippines was experiencing until

2019 still even after covet put an end

to that duterte retains majority

approval because of that it is still

unclear whether his influence will

persist even after his term is over in

june 2022 for now he's announced he will

run for the vice presidency but there's

also the option to support his daughter

for president whatever happens the

philippines will continue to face

enormous challenges for quite a while

yet