Philippines: President Aquino's Foreign Policy Legacy (original) (raw)

Benigno Aquino, Jr. And The Making Of U.S. Policy In The Philippines During The Marcos Years

This essay attempts to illustrate the role of U.S. foreign policy in Philippine politics during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos, along with the assassination of popular opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., leading to the comparatively peaceful transition that followed the fraudulent 1986 election. This point marked the end of Marcos’ slowly perishing regime and paved the way for a new democratic government under Corazon Aquino. Both the tragic event that left Aquino dead only minutes after his arrival from exile at Manila airport on August 23, 1983, as well as the subsequent change in U.S. perception of the ageing Marcos and his ability to manage domestic problem were crucially important in helping the country overcome and eventually end 21 years of suppressive presidential rule. Furthermore, it tries to cast light on the complex developments during the final years of Marcos’ autocratic rule and Washington’s constant inability and reluctance to critically discuss political reality in the Philippines. It also talks about Marcos’ ability to hold off political opponents, among which Aquino was the most influential and with whom he shared a special relationship of mutual respect and even admiration.

Redefining the Philippine Foreign Policy (MMAMamoyac).pdf

This paper seeks to assess and examine the degree of influence of the 1973 Oil Crisis on the Philippine diplomatic and economic relations towards the two centres of power in the Socialist bloc, i.e. the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union.

The Philippines: A Past Revisited Critical Paper | by Katelene Grace Paloma

2021

History has made who and what we are today. We should be seeing that picture as a lesson and testimony of many people of those time. It is not just merely a story of early people or a story of wars, but this history could define who we really are, where does everything has started, and what we are as a Filipino people. This history carries a significant role in our present times and even in the future that will help its people to visit the real Philippines once more.

The Poverty of Philippine Foreign Policy: Moving Towards a New Paradigm

In the past, the Philippine foreign policy has been overly submissive to the US interests, and often failed to promote the country's own interests. As the world increasingly becomes a multipolar environment, the country will need to invest more in bringing the best minds to work on national diplomacy and strategy. The Discursive deficit Probably, the most important issue missing from our public discourse on national development is the nature of our foreign policy, and whether it has served our national interest in recent times. Most of the political discourse in the country has been predominantly, if not exclusively, focused on the issue of corruption, and its implications for poverty alleviation, good governance, and holistic national development. In our obsession with the generic, somehow elusive notion of 'corruption', we have missed the opportunity to tackle other fundamental issues that have contributed to the profound state of stagnation and cycle of poverty in the country. History, in unequivocal terms, tells us how many of the so called "late-developing countries" such as Germany, Russia, Japan, and later China and other emerging powers, were able to catch-up and close the development-gap-existing between them and the industrialized capitalist countries in the West – through crafting an optimal foreign policy doctrine. No nation is an absolute self-sustaining island, and that is why in a quest for national development, each country should be very prudent in its approach towards the other nations on issues such as trade, security and diplomatic ties. The outside world is a market of opportunities that can be optimally utilized if one applies the best possible foreign policy calculus.However, the restrictive nature of our public discourse has made it almost impossible for us to pressure, encourage, and inspire our political leaders to adopt and implement a foreign policy doctrine, which will ensure that we get the best possible outcome out of our every engagement, agreement, and treaty with other nations. A concrete indication of such under-appreciation for our foreign policy is how we allocate minimal budget to our already overstretched, exhausted, and under-funded Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). This is in contrast to many of our neighboring countries, especially Malaysia and Singapore, and co-developing countries, namely Brazil and Turkey, which have realized the importance of an optimal foreign policy calculus. As a result, they have substantially invested in attracting the best minds into the diplomatic core, and continuously reexamined , re-configured, and upgraded their foreign policy maneuvers on a plethora of issues: from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to security arrangements with major powers such as the US or China. The Philippine Grand Strategy A careful look at our foreign policy doctrine reveals how it has been persistently defined and 'operationalized' along the contours of the U.S.' foreign policy exigencies, both during and after the Cold War. Grand strategy is defined as, "a basic stance adopted by a country vis-à-vis the rest of the world; it may or may not be explicit. It is promoted by a political elite – in competition with other elite factions – with substantial domestic political base."Assuming we got some kind of a 'grand strategy', if any at all, it must be said that it is essentially a non-assertive, submissive 'grand strategy' under the shadows of a superpower. Let us put things into context. Despite the fact that the Philippines possesses a significant combination of demographic, economic, and geo-strategic assets, we have hardly played a pivotal role in the shaping of the broader international order, which inevitably-and will continue to-affected our long-term national interest. Unquestionably, we also capitulate to external powers on key issues, which adversely affect the very fundamentals of our national development priorities: from succumbing to the demands of international financial institutions (IFIs) – through accepting onerous 'structural adjustment program' (SAPs) in the 1980s and beyond-to allowing the U.S. to

A Critical Paper on 'The Philippines: A Past Revisited' By: Renato Constantino (Written by: Daryl P. Nabonita)

A Critical Paper on 'The Philippines: A Past Revisited' By: Renato Constantino (Written by: Daryl P. Nabonita), 2022

History is more than just a series of dates and events. It is a rich tapestry of human experiences, full of triumphs, tragedies, revolutions, and the never-ending quest for knowledge and understanding. Through the years, the Philippines has been shaped by a wide range of influences, from the Indigenous peoples who have called these islands home for thousands of years to the waves of foreign powers seeking to claim them as their own. "The Philippines: A Past Revisited" by Renato Constantino is a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of the nation's complex history, from the arrival of the first Spanish colonizers to the contemporary challenges faced by the Philippines. Written with rich storytelling and insightful analysis, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the country's past and present. Whether you are a student of history, a lover of literature, or simply looking to deepen your understanding of the world, "The Philippines: A Past Revisited" offers a captivating and illuminating look at the Philippines' history. So, join us on this voyage through the Philippines’ rich and varied past, and learn the stories and secrets that have molded this nation over time.