The Philippines is considered to be one of the most westernized countries in Asia. It has
strong ties to the United States and the United Nations. In fact, It is the only charter
member of the U.N. in all of Southeast Asia.
The United States has a very close relationship with the economy and culture of the
Philippines. For instance, Filipinos have a strong resentment toward communistic
countries. During the cold war, the Philippines supported America by consistently being
hostile toward communist countries, and did not maintain diplomatic relations with the
Soviet Union or any other communist state.
The United States is the largest foreign consumer of Philippine products. In many ways
the survival of the philippine economy depends on the united States. We purchase almost
all of the sugar exports, most of the coconut oil, embroidery, at least half of the base
metals, and a fourth of the lumber. The United States supplies most of the Philippine
imports of machinery, dairy products, cotton, papers, drugs, automobiles and much or the
petroleum products. Although countries like Japan, Canada Australia, and New Zealand are
getting more and more involved in trade with the Philippines, America remains to be the
Philippines most important trading partner.
When America acquired the Philippines and established free trade in 1909, the economy of
the islands was tied to that parent country. As a result, the Philippines became almost
entirely dependant upon United States markets. Thus, America has had a strong influence
on not only the economy of the Philippines, but also the politics of it.
The United States established a public education system in the Philippines in the early
1900's. Although they were not American schools they had many similarities. American
teachers were used as well as American books. The teachers also taught in english. The
Philippine government is even designed after the American system and dedicated to
democratic process.
All in all America has become a very strong influence on the Philippines. Even though
the exterior plan was to build up the philippine economy and government then let them
have their independence, it seems obvious there was a deeper plan to Americanize and
economically control the county. Follow the money.
|