The Philippines in its centennial year

By Vijaya Gajananda Vaidya

The independence of the Philippines was proclaimed in Kawait, Cavita by Generla Emilio

The archipelago of 7107 islands and islets came into existence centuries ago. It all began with the arrival of the Chinese Malay and Indonesian Muslims to different islands of archipelago in search of food and new settlements.

Ferdinand Magellan was dubbed the discoverer of the Philippines after he landed in Homophone islet near Samara on March 16, 1521. Many argue that it began in the 13th century when 10 dutas from Borneo each with 100 kinsmen landed in Panay Island in the Visayas. Yet it was Magellan and succeeding expedition from Spain, who put the Philippines on the map of the world. Spainish rule lasted 19th century, then, Filipinos were dominated by Americans who brought it from Spain for US$ 20 million. But in World War II, the Japan annexed the Philippines. Filipinos took to the hills and waged guerilla war four years. In 1945, US forces liberated Philippines and finally granted it independence.

The Philippines has many splendoured cultures. Nigritos in the mountains take you back to primitive times. Negritos are a primitive tribe but have extensive knowledge of phenomenal number of plants, birds, animals and insects and each of their habits and behavior. It was the Nigritos who taught American Pilots the art of Jungle survival during the Vietnam war. In Cordillera Mountains, you will come across another primitive tribe known as Ifugaos who made terraces. Some terrace walls go as high as seventy - five feet. Florence Horn writes, "Stretched end to end, the world. "Dr HO Beyer, the first archeologist believes that it took between two to three thousands years to construct them. It is, to date the greatest achievement of the Filipino people, an engineering feat executed by a primitive tribe and considered the eight wonder of the world.

In Mindanao you can see one of the most touching religious practices the Hari Raya Poasa which falls on the tenth moon of Islamic calendar. The feast marks the end of the month long fasting and after the feast, children ask forgiveness from their parents for all their misbehavior. In Balangas, it is the Subli, an advanced version of the old Christian practice of creeping to the cross. The Subli had been performed all over the world by the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company and sublimated into a folk Ioric ballet by no less than the National Aritst for Dance, Lenor Orosa Goquingco.

Filipinos are industrious and hardworking, yet there is another side to this. Filipinos are also fun loving and this can be seen in the fiestas held throughout the country. Filipino fiestas are a mixture of Christian commemoration and folk elements, celebrated with great pomp and pageantry.

Spaniards named the archipelago Filipinos. In Plaridel, Bulacan, the feast of Santiago Apostle is commemorated with an equestrian procession. The name Philippines comes from " Philip" which means" lover of horses" and the Philippine archipelago is outlined like a horse's head.

Though after independence the successive president till 1992 strived to improve the nation' s economic growth and solve social problems the achievement was minimal.

When President Fidel V Ramos assumed office in 1992, the country's economy and order were in shambles, people lived under conditions of appalling poverty barely above the survival line, military and feudal families were not under control . He defined his priorities as (1) restoring civic order and reconciling all political actions (2) nursing the economy back to health and restoring it go growth, (3) marking the bureaucracy more effective and efficient and (4) using development diplomacy as the thrust of foreign policy.

The people were empowered to ensure access to their rights and opportunities to build up their personal capabilities and skills through education, health care housing assistance and disaster mitigation. In the area of science and technology, the government, the private sector and non-government organizations forged a more active partnership for the joint development and utilization of technology through contract researches.

A firm political foundation was laid for sustained socio-economic development through established of the peace process, a social pact for development and touch actions against war-lordism and criminality.

As a member of ASEAN, the Philippines redrew the regional political and security system so that members, and not outside powers, would have the greater say in determining the fate of their own region .

Philippines boasts of cultural and historical attractions like old Walled City (Intramuras) in Manila; Corregidor across Manila Bay; and the old Spanishera town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur with its cobbled streets and ancient houses. Today, it has emerged as one of vibrant economic nations to reckon with in the Asia-pacific.

President Field V Ramose and President-elect Joseph Estrada and Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia agreed to from a government of national unity to spur and facilitate the enactment of laws that will respond aggressively to the needs of economic recovery and development and social equity.

(The author is the Hon. Consul-general of the Philippines)