The Current Political, Economic and Social Contexts in the Philippines Center-Periphery Disparities By Charlito Kaloy Manlupig, Chairperson

, Balay Mindanaw A Presentation to the Conference on Human Rights and Democratization: Trends and Challenges Under the Aquino Government June 29-30, 2011 at the Konrad Adenauer Academy, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany I. Introduction By June 30, 2011, the current Aquino Administration will be completing 16.6% or 1/6 of its 6-year contract with the Filipino electorate. Among the most interesting aspects of analyzing the current context is looking into what has significantly changed after a year, whether for better or for worse. The basic limitation of my presentation is the lack of available 2011 data since most of data cover only up to the end of 2010. This means that it is quite difficult to determine the changes in the socio-economic and political contexts after six months of Aquino Administration (July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010) based on available data. Since President Aquino ran on two basic platforms: anti-corruption and anti-poverty (kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap), it would also be interesting to look into the gains and failures on these two fronts. However, it has to be made clear that the main purpose of this presentation is not to assess the first year performance of the Aquino Administration but to conduct a dispassionate analysis and discussion of the present realities in the Philippines in general and Mindanao in particular. I also would like to state clearly the conceptual framework which guides me in this presentation: inequity in the ownership and control of the basic economic resources (land and fishing grounds) had caused the poverty of the majority. Since land is also a basic political and cultural resource, it is the major cause of the marginalization and continuing powerlessness of the majority. These continuing inequity, injustice and marginalization are in turn the main causes of the continuing unpeace and violent conflicts in the country particularly in Mindanao. Therefore, in order to bring about peace, the conditions of underdevelopment, poverty and marginalization caused by inequities have to be addressed squarely. However, the work for equity, development and peace is not linear. Rather, it is cyclical with each of the three intrinsically related to each other. This highlights the structural nature of the conflict or problem. Thus, the term structural violence. The dispossession of lands and the marginalization of the people especially the farmers, the Moro and indigenous communities can be considered as among the biggest unresolved historical injustices in the Philippines in general and in Mindanao in particular. The effects of this historical injustice are felt until today. This is also the conceptual framework that Balay Mindanaw adheres to. Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) is a Mindanao-based, Mindanao-focused and Mindanaoan-led NGO founded on May 8, 1996 focusing on land rights and advocacy for political parity and economic equity. It later added to its program interventions on good governance and sustainable integrated area development work with the barangay (Philippine village, and smallest political and administrative unit) as the locus and focus of intervention. It eventually added peacebuilding and conflict transformation work to complete its program menu. Its peacebuilding programme is supported by MISEREOR and Cordaid. II. The Philippines History: Colonial and Recent The Philippines has a colonial history that dates back to its discovery and annexation by Spain in 1521. More than a century earlier, Arab missionaries brought Islam to the Philippines beginning in the 14th century, and a formal Sultanate was established in 1450 in Sulu. In 1521 Ferdinand Magellan came to the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spanish rule. It was sold by Spain to the United States of American in 1898, and was granted independence after the Second World War in 1945. Ironically, it considers June 12, 1898 as its Independence Day the day it was ceded by Spain to USA. Its governmental structures are patterned after that of the US except that it has a unitary (not a federal)

system, thereby concentrating or centralizing all resources and decision-making in the seat of power and center of commerce that is Manila. The Local Government Code is an attempt to correct the over-centralization of governmental powers in Manila. It has produced some inspiring stories of innovations in local initiatives, empowerment of local communities and devolution of powers as reflected in the growing list of awardees for excellence recognized by like Galing Pook, KAS and other award-giving bodies. However, despite these successes, there is still a growing clamor for at least a shift to federal form. After almost twenty years of the Local Government Code, decisions about the budgets and funds for the farthest and smallest political units are still made in Manila. Even the decision on the postponement of elections in the supposedly autonomous Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was made by the Senate and House of Representatives upon the prodding of Malacanang. The Philippines is one of few countries to have formally recognized the rights of the first nations or indigenous peoples (IPs) through a law, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), enacted in 1997. However, the IPs remain the as the countrys most marginalized, exploited and threatened. It also has one of the most progressive laws on agrarian reform. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law which was originally passed in 1988 is considered as a social justice legislation aimed at correcting the landlessness of the Filipino farmers. It is an enabling law for the Constitutional principle of Land to the Tiller. After more than 20 years and two extensions, many of the farmers have remained landless and poor. It has also given rise to second generation land problems like the growing indebtedness of the rural poor. A proper implementation of CARPER would have significantly helped address the roots of poverty and hunger. In fact, a simple mathematical calculation could very well show this point: the present Philippine population is 90 million or 12.9 million households (average Philippine household size is 7), 63 million or 9 million households are farmers (70% of the population). If the 9.1 million of Philippine agricultural lands were to be divided evenly among the farmers, each Filipino farming household would have at least one hectare of farm. Thus, no one should go to sleep with an empty stomach when enough food for everyone could be produced by a reformed agricultural sector. The current President (and son of former President Corazon Aquino, under whose term CARP was enacted into law) has inherited the unfulfilled promise of giving land to the poor tiller. Some Data on the Current National Situation: In his presentation to the Asian-German Dialogue on June 24, 2011 in Singapore, Dr. Peter Koeppinger, who is Konrad Adenauer Stiftungs Country Representative to the Philippines, described the countrys situation: We have only a faade of democracy, high levels of violence and impunity, 25% of population in absolute poverty without improvement for decades. He also reported that the Philippines ranks 136th among 153 countries in 2010 Global Peace Index (down from rank 100 in 2007), ranks 134th among 170 countries in 2010 Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International, and 3rd world-wide in the Impunity Index Rating of the Committee to Protect Journalists for the years 2009, 2010 1nd 2011. He asked: How could this happen to a country which was considered to be the first and freest democracy in Asia, to be number two behind Japan in its economic development in the sixties? He attempted to answer his question by quoting Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and: This vicious politics of patronage has allowed few oligarchs and bosses to rule us from colonial to post-colonial times, and their rule has brought us nothing but a faade of democracy.; and Former National Security Adviser General Jose Almonte: Oligarchic influence on the highest State organs enables powerful individuals, families and clans to organize monopolies and cartels, tilt the rules of competition in their favour and acquire privileged access to the rents. To have a better understanding of some changes in the national situation, here are some data as recent as the first quarter of 2011: Our GDP growth fell to 4.9% for the first quarter of 2011 compared to 7.6% for 2010. According to SWS, the number of hungry families increased to 20.5% or equivalent to 4.1 million families compared to 3.4 million in the last quarter of 2010. The number of unemployed and underemployed rose to 27.2% or 11.3 million from 9.9 million in the last quarter of 2010. Official government data show unemployment at 7.4% and underemployment at 19.4%. Inflation rate was 4.5% for the 1st quarter of 2011. The Philippines ranks 97th among 169 countries in the 2010 Human Development Index (HDI).

III. Mindanao The data on the national situation do not fully reflect the skewed relationship between the center and periphery. A look into the Mindanao situation may provide a better and deeper understanding of the inequities and disparities that may explain the continuing unpeace. Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippine archipelago of 7,107 islands that has a total land area of 299,764 km. The population was 76.5 million in 2000 and is estimated to have reached 100 million in 2011. One out of every four Filipinos is a Mindanaoan. Four ou t of every ten hectares of the countrys territory are in Mindanao. Most of the Philippines earnings from agricultural and fisheries exports come from Mindanao. One hundred percent (100%) of banana, pineapple and tuna exports come from Mindanao. More than half of the countrys mineral and forest resources are in Mindanao. Mindanao is the island most threatened by the possible destructive effects of the onslaught of mining. In Caraga Region, for instance, mining permits have been issued covering 2,126,898.2 hectares. The total area for exploration is much bigger than the regions total area of 1,884,770 hectares. Aside from the threat of environmental destruction, the regions indigenous peoples are now in danger of being displaced and their tribes exterminated. The indigenous peoples remain the least involved or consulted group of all. Fourteen (14) of the country's 20 poorest provinces are in Mindanao. All the Moro provinces belong to the 10 poorest. Eight of the ten poorest municipalities are in Mindanao. Indeed, despite the island's richness and giftedness, Mindanao remains as the country's poorest region. Its rural populace alone, despite their closeness to agricultural resources are among the poorest, mainly because seventy percent (70%) of those who work in agriculture do not own the land that they till. Mindanao remains marginalized economically, politically and culturally. Decisions concerning the lives of Mindanaoans continue to be made by decision-makers in Manila, the Philippines' seat of economic, political and socio-cultural powers. While the Philippines is ranked 97th among the 169 countries listed in the 2010 Human Development Index Report, disaggregating the data on the Mindanaos 14 poorest provinces from the national data would place Mindanao even lower than the 169th country which is Zimbabwe. In its publication entitled Shattered Lives, Amnesty International reports: Mindanao, particularly in its conflict-ridden provinces, continues to lag behind the rest of the Philippines in economic and social development. According to the 2008/2009 Philippine Human Development Report which covers the period of 2004-2006, provinces with the lowest life expectancy in the country were Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur (all conflict-affected for decades). Those living in Tawi-tawi province are expected to live only 53.5 years, 21 years less than those who live in La Union, the province with the highest life expectancy. This disparity could be explained by disparities in access to quality healthcare. Six of the countrys provinces with the lowest high school graduate ratio are also in Mindanao. Finally, people living in the conflict-affected provinces of Saranggani, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi also had some of the lowest real per capita income and the lowest human development index (HDI) in the Philippines, with HDI levels of the provinces not significantly different from those of Uganda, Nigeria and Senegal. The same provinces, except for Zamboanga del Norte, were also among the ten provinces with the lowest human poverty index, which captures deprivation beyond income poverty. Finally, while the island region is poor and lacking in basic social services, it is flooded with weapons. In a public statement, a senior police officer said that 80 percent of the two million illegal weapons in the Philippines can be found in Mindanao. The official said, in some communities, particularly in Mindanao, guns have almost become a fashion accessory to display power and authority". In May 2009, the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) reported that the Philippines ranked 10th in the

world in the list of countries with the highest number of gun-related killings, with an average of almost 10 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people annually. Aside from being the poorest (or perhaps more correctly, because it is the poorest), Mindanao is also the most war-torn region. It continues to suffer from the violent conflicts and the armed struggles being waged by the Moros as they continue to fight for self-determination, the Maoists revolution for national liberation, and the local Marxists-Leninists struggle against landlessness, marginalization and poverty.

References: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Dr. Peter Koeppinger Amnesty International Victor Gerardo Bulatao IBON SWS

Economy of the Philippines

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Economy of the Philippines is the 40 largest in the world, according to 2012 International Monetary Fund statistics [26] and it is also one of the emerging markets in the world. The Philippines is considered as a newly industrialized country, it has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. According to [6] the CIA Factbook, the estimated 2012 GDP (purchasing power parity) was 424.355 billion. Goldman Sachs estimates th that by the year 2050, the Philippines will be the 14 largest economy in the world, Goldman Sachs also included the Philippines in its list of the Next Eleven economies. According to HSBC, the Philippine economy will become the 16th largest economy in the world, 5th largest economy in Asia and the largest economy in the Southeast Asian region by [27] 2050. Primary exports include semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits. Major trading partners include the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, the Netherlands, Hong Kong,Germany, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Philippines has been named as one of the Tiger Cub Economies together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

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Macroeconomic trends[edit]
See also: Economy of Asia, Economic history of the Philippines (19731986), Post-EDSA macroeconomic history of the Philippines, andEconomic Crisis and Response in the Philippines The Philippine economy has been growing steadily over decades and the International Monetary Fund in 2011 reported it as the 45th largest economy in the world. However its growth has been behind that of many of its Asian neighbors, the socalled Asian Tigers, nor is it a part of the Group of 20 nations. Instead it is often grouped in a second tier of emerging markets or of newly industrialized countries. Depending upon the analyst, this second tier can go by the name the Next Eleven or the Tiger Cub Economies. In the year 2012 and 2013, the Philippines had posted high GDP growth rates such as 6.8% in 2012 and 7.7% in the first [3][28] quarter and 7.5% in the second quarter of 2013, making them the highest GDP growth rates in Asia for the two [29] consecutive quarters of 2013, followed byChina and Indonesia. A chart of selected statistics showing trends in the gross domestic product of the Philippines using data taken from [30][31] the International Monetary Fund.

Philippine Culture

This is the one thing that separates us from the rest of the world - our colorful and lively culture that makes us distinctly Filipino. This includes traditions, language, arts, etc. which are found in museums, churches and galleries, found within the heart of the key cities. Most provinces have their own identifying folk dances too wherein they showcase the elegance and beauty of the way we do things, the way we dress, the way we see things as shown in different paintings, as we have been influenced by events that happened in our history. Thats not all. When you have lived in the Philippines long enough, youll know that its not an exaggeration to say there is a town thats celebrating its fiesta every single day.

Philippine Culture, Customs and Traditions - Filipino Culture

http://www.cebu-philippines.net/philippine-culture.html
The Philippine culture is rich in customs and traditions. Philippines culture reflects the complexity of the history of the Philippines through the combination of cultures of foreign influences. Spanish colonization of the Philippines lasted for more than three centuries. There is a significant amount of Spanish-Mexican influence within Filipino culture, customs and traditions. Hispanic influences are visible in traditional Philippine folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion. Pre-Hispanic and non-Christian Philippine cultures are derived from the Indigenous tradition of the Austronesian primitive tribes called Malayo-Polynesian. The Philippines was a colony of the United States from 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American War, until 1946. American influences are evident in Philippine culture by the use of the English language, and in contemporary pop culture, such as fast-food, music, film, and sports. Other Asian ethnic groups such as the Chinese, and Japanese have been settling in the Philippines since the colonial period, and their influences are evident in the popularity of mahjong, jueteng, Filipino martial arts, and other Asian cuisine. Family relationships are the basic building block of Philippine culture and society. Each Filipino is at the center of a large circle of relatives, usually extending to third cousins. Marriage is rarely permitted for members of the same kinship circle. Philippine Culture Philippine Culture The kinship circle is customarily enlarged through ritual co-parenthood, the Catholic custom of selecting godparents to sponsor ones child at baptism. In the close-knit Filipino family, members are provided assistance when needed and expected to give their first loyalty to their kin. In rural areas the villages contain clusters of households supporting an extended family system within the Philippines culture. The social support provided by these close-knit communities is reflected in the absence of retirement homes. Philippine Culture and Tourism

The hospitality of the Filipino culture is one of the reasons why tourism in the Philippines is steadily growing Foreigners and tourists who have experienced the Philippine culture and being with Filipinos find them very hospitable. This is a common trait that Filipinos are known for to most foreigners who have traveled around the country. The attitude of Filipino people towards foreigners and other people is said to be exceptional. Even the humblest home along the road can serve as a shelter for a stranger who has lost his way. In Filipino culture, serving other people the best of what they have gives them an honor and a promise of true friendship. A typical Filipino house is not completely called a home without any facility ready for guests. It is filled with new and nice-looking items reserved only for them while ordinary ones are for everyday use. Arriving at your hosts house during mealtime may be awkward but if its in a Filipino house, you will be asked to sit down and share what they have on the table. Because eating alone without asking others according to Filipino culture is considered rude. These manners picture how Filipinos accept and properly respect the presence of their visitors. A form of hospitality that comes truly from the heart, just like how the country made its image as the land of true smiling people considering the struggling economy, political confusion and rising poverty in the country. You may be surprised to see how such situations are handled in Philippines culture. It is like taking everything from them except their love of joking. Joking and laughing at everything perhaps give them relief and makes them see things more positively. Traveling in this country means more of building a rapport with its people and understanding the Philippine culture, customs and traditions. Filipinos love entertaining foreign visitors; whether to help, or for whatever reason, interacting with them is unavoidable. Consequently, aside from the countrys stunning natural assets, meeting the Filipinos promises you true friendship and memori es to keep..