History

Joshua Pasion
BSCE 2-4
1. Discuss geography. Explain how it can be utilized in various aspects of development
in the country.
Geography can be defined as the study of the lands, the features, the
inhabitants, and the phenomena of Earth1. Webster describes it as, A science that
deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical,
biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface. It can also be defined as the
multi-faceted relationship of humans with their environment. In virtue of these
definitions, we can accurately state that geography can be used in a multitude of ways
to ensure the straightforward development of our country.

Philippine Geography Mans Relation ship to its environment

The United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) annual Human

Development Report (HDR) defines human development as, the expansion of peoples
freedoms and capabilities to lead lives that they value and have reason to value. It is
about expanding choices. Freedoms and capabilities are a more expansive notion than
basic needs. Development, as stated by UN authorities, is expansion of freedom and
capabilities. It means the ability of the common man to advance in not only what he
needs to do, but what he wishes to. In order to achieve this, the government,
supported by the people, must make the right decisions regarding the actions of the
state, consistently.
The relationship of man to his environment can be further studied for
application in development. Such study can be synonymous to the study of history, for
it can be simply defined as a record of what was. Analyzing precise statistics and
determining influential events is a great start to help the development of the country.
An example of this would be knowing the currents surrounding the country. Accurate
records of long-term current movement brought about by climate can be a solid study
on the locations that can be urbanized through sea trade. Trading with other nations
is a sure way to help the economic advancement of a country. Though trade, areas
that are dependent on the national government can acquire revenue. Participating
with other countries like China with the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-
1
"Geography". The American Heritage Dictionary/ of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton
Mifflin Company. Retrieved October 9, 2006.
century Maritime Silk Road would prove to be a timely move now that we seek Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank ratification.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road

Building up industry must be one of the first steps to ensure our progress.
Every developed country has a solid industry backing up its continuing growth. By
evaluating historical and current records, we will be able to pinpoint our reservoir of
resources and putting it to effective use. This kind of use of information can be
implemented almost immediately. Ensuring the correct allocation of resources can be
done by legislating specific laws. Establishing a growing industry is a long and
arduous task. Making use of on-hand information will make this easier by an extent.
By economic development and industrial advancement, we will attain low
unemployment and poverty rates. This will be lowered by introducing jobs to the
populace, these jobs coming from industrialization. We will be able to have low infant
mortality and death rates because of our nation reaching medical advancement. We
will also be having low birth rates for the mentality of parents having plenty of
children to ensure survival will not be common because of national economic
performance. These applications can be implemented to positively affect economic
growth, sustainable development, gross domestic product (GDP), gross national
product (GNP) and purchasing power parity (PPP).
2. Enumerate three major problems or issues that you wish the local or national
government would finally be able to find a solution. What suggestions can you offer?
Three solved major problems is a great start towards overall national
development. The three problems I would like to address are economic, educational
and political. These three problems are related to each other in almost every aspect.
The government controls national education and has a hand in the economic growth
(or lack thereof). The economy dictates the living condition of the population which
determines if the majority will receive decent education. Lastly, education can make
both the government and the economy better or worse than what it was.
The bitterness of studying is preferable to the bitterness of ignorance, as an
old Filipino proverb can attest. Education is one of the main foundations on which a
successful society is built upon. It can effectively eradicate any and all problems facing
our government today. If every Filipino can get quality education, in time the problems
that seem irreversible and unsolvable today will be answered with a permanent
solution once and for all.
In order to ensure the population of its education, the government should be
the one to spearhead all the efforts, not the private sector as the current and past
administrations would have us believe. Giving out national (not local) scholarships to
deserving students is one solution. These scholarships should be strictly managed so
as the people receiving the scholarship did not get it merely by knowing a
congressman or a mayor. These scholarships though should have the condition that
once graduated, the student must render a reasonable amount of time to the service of
the country. An example would be educating doctors and making them work in a
government hospital for two or three years before letting them go to other countries.
What would it be like to give scholarships to future engineers, educators, militarists
and scientists that the nation sorely needs? This would be an answer to a multitude of
problems already.

Philippine General Hospital

 Economic problems are common to struggling nations. This, I think, is brought
about by ineffective and poorly enforced legislation. Contrary to popular belief, our
laws cover almost every problem that we have today. The problem is the enforcement
of these laws. Economic manipulation and monopoly should be eradicated if we are to
realize economic stability in our lifetime. Big corporations should not be able to give
donations to politicians so that favor will not be for them but only for the common
people who voted for them in the first place. Another solution is industrialization. We
say that we are already industrialized when our only export is human workforce. We
strictly enforcing our laws that ensure small Filipino businesses, and not
multinational corporations, are given all the incentives they need to be successful.

House of Representatives

Every election we hope for change but every election we vote for the same
people. This is a farce that must end. Ending private donations from companies will
ensure the right candidate will win. Not the one with the most number of stickers and
banners. This will reduce the corruption prevalent in the government. Having more
legal actions to represent public interests will benefit the populace. Having the
national television channel report each and every bill that is being passed around by
congress would be a great start. Making the legislation of laws should be swifter to
ensure action and public announcement of projects should be commonplace. Making
every receipt transparent to the people will make the politicians more wary of their
spending.
3. Pick your top five Philippine presidents and discuss the pros and cons in their
respective administrations.
In our long history as a nation, I think five presidents to highlight would not be
enough. Each president contributed greatly to our society. Though these contributions
might be questioned and debated about by many, none can deny that it gave us a
chance to learn from experience. As it is the best way to learn, I think our presidents
are all nationalistic by heart and have done what they could for our country in their
own different way.
The first president that I would like to highlight would literally be the first.
Emilio Aguinaldo was not only a president, he was a revolutionary, a statesman, a
writer and a great militarist. Making a nation realize itself and its capabilities is not an
easy task and it was not made easier added the fact that the country was under a
military and economic superpower at that time. This was further hardened by deep-
ingrained regionalism that the Spaniards forced on us to make us easier to subjugate.
Creating the system of government, though helped by other great men, is as hard as it
gets. Talking to families, common people, businessmen, and other countries of power
and convincing them to join your cause is not a feat many have achieved. I think he
deserves more recognition as a militarist also. Being able to mobilize forces, providing
them with clothing, weapons, ammunition, and rations is a very daunting logistical
task. Being able to win against gun powdered armaments with only bolos and pistols,
by executing superior strategies is one of many achievements of Aguinaldo.

Battle of Alapan
The literal fact that he did not give up after his exile to Hong Kong, proves him a
worthy president with a true heart for Filipinos. With the entry of Americans, Filipinos
were given new hope that that what we once only hoped for might become a reality.
Allying with the Americans, Aguinaldo was lead to believe that they had no ulterior
motive. This was proven wrong when at February 4, 1899, an American soldier,
Private Robert Grayson shot and killed a Filipino soldier who was trying to cross the
bridge of San Juan del Monte. The fight was bloody and seemingly unending until he
was tricked by his own countrymen, the Macabebe Scouts into his capture. It was
downhill from there for the revolution. In the American period, Aguinaldo supported
groups that pushed for immediate independence and helped veterans of the struggle.
He organized the Asociacin de los Veteranos de la Revolucin (Association of Veterans
of the Revolution) to secure pensions for its members and made arrangements for
them to buy land on installment from the government. Until his last few decades he
was serving his country. He was appointed by President Elpidio Quirino as a member
of the Philippine Council of State, where he served a full term. He returned to
retirement soon after, dedicating his time and attention to veteran soldiers' "interests
and welfare."
 The Guy, as Ramon F. Magsaysay would be affectionately called by the
commoners, is my second president to highlight. The champion of the masses was
not hailed as a man of the people for no reason. Born from Malay stock, in contrast to
the Spanish roots of previous presidents, Magsaysay was more open to the people
than any president before him. Starting his nationalistic service by fighting in World
War II as guerrilla, he was appointed as a military governor in his home province of
Zambales.

Man of the Masses

Then President Elpidio Quirino appointed him as the secretary of defense to

deal with the threat of the HUKBALAHAP (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapones)
after its leader, Luis Taruc, called for a coup d'tat. In order to negate this threat, he
strove to win the trust of the peasants by offering land and tools to those who came
over to the government side and by insisting that army units treat the people with
respect. By dismissing corrupt military officers, he made many enemies within the
government which lead to his resignation at which time he accused the Quirino
administration with corruption and incompetence.
Winning the national elections for presidency, he promised reform in every
segment of Philippine life. As president, he persuaded Congress to pass several land
reform legislations that gave some 90,000 acres to 4,500 indigent families for farming
and settlement purposes. He made Malacaang open to the public and made a system
that hear and address citizen grievances. Having the willpower and dignity to maintain
his stand against corruption, his administration was viewed as one of the cleanest,
even until today. An example of his iron hand against fraud and dishonesty would be
his refusal of an offer from his brother to help establish a law firm. The possibility that
it would draw gray dealings because it will be run by the presidents brother was more
than enough reason to decline the proposal.
Seen by some as more friendly to the United States of America than most
presidents it was not as big as a problem then as it is now. With the aid that the U.S.
has brought to us after the war, common people was more inclined to be pro-
American. Some of his relocations from land reform acts resulted in feuds between
native people and the people who relocated.
Death came somewhat mysteriously to Magsaysay when his plane crashed at
Mount Pinatubo in the early morning of March 17, 1957. He was then succeeded by
Carlos P. Garcia.
 Coincidentally, the next president that I would like to mention would be Carlos
P. Garcia himself. Though he was made president in the shadow of a death, I think he
is worth talking about. Hailing from Talibon, Bohol, he graduated law school and was
among the top ten in the bar examination. Another nationalistic president, with a
heart for the Filipino people, he crafted the Filipino First Policy. This ensured Filipino
businessmen government support and protection in conducting their affairs. Foreign
investors were allowed to conduct their businesses in the country but the law stated
that 60% at least of the business was owned by Filipinos. I think this is a brilliant
move to make sure that local businesses would not be rolled over by foreign
competitors. This also guaranteed that most of the currency would only circulate in
the country, thus resulting in inclusive growth.

President Carlos P. Garcia was received by the crowd during his campaign for the
Presidential

As the threat of another world war was ebbing, it was high time that the
American bases be kept in check. After all, the Philippines is an independent state and
does not require another military presence in its border. President Garcia pushed
forward the BohlenSerrano Agreement that shortened the original 99 year lease of US
bases here in the Philippines to 25 years. The agreement was renewable for periods
only up to 5 years.
His other achievements include the Austerity Program that was implemented to
cut the rampant graft and corruption within the country. The program centered on
wise spending, industry, thrift, trustworthiness, integrity and honesty. He also urged
people to avoid luxury items and to live a simple life and reminded government
officials and employees corruption destroys the peoples trust in the government.
Corruption was still present in the Garcia government, particularly in the
Bureau of Internal Revenue, despite the enactment of the Austerity Program. The
United States criticized President Garcia for his anti-foreign policies.
 The Asian Financial Crisis, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and extreme
poverty. These were only some of the problems that faced President Joseph Ejercito
Estrada when he was elected president. First took up engineering in Mapua Institute,
transferred to Polytechnic University of the Philippines then tried his hand, or shall we
say face, at the movies, Estrada was a troublesome man. Made responsible after
winning an electoral protest against Mayor Sto. Domingo in San Juan, he was also
very close to the masses.
The MILF, an Islamic group formed in 1977, seeks to be an independent Islamic
State from the Philippines, and, despite the agreements, a sequence of terrorist
attacks on the Philippine military and civilians still continued. These included the
kidnapping of a foreign priest, namely Father Luciano Benedetti; the destruction by
arson of Talayan, Maguindanao's municipal hall; the takeover of the Kauswagan
Municipal Hall; the bombing of the Lady of Mediatrix boat at Ozamiz City; and the
takeover of the Narciso Ramos Highway. By doing so, they inflicted severe damage on
the country's image abroad, and scared much-needed investments away. .Waging the
all-out war against MILF was proved to be successful for the next three months of the
war, Camp Abubakar, headquarters of the MILF, fell along with other 13 major camps
and 43 minor camps, and then all of which became under controlled by the
government.

President Joseph "Erap" Estrada inspects government

forces at Camp Abubakar

The Estrada administration widened the coverage of the Comprehensive

Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to the landless peasants in the country side. The
latters administration distributed more than 266,000 hectares of land to 175,000
landless farmers, including land owned by the traditional rural elite. On September
1999, he issued Executive Order (EO) 151, also known as Farmers Trust Fund, which
allows the voluntary consolidation of small farm operation into medium and large
scale integrated enterprise that can access long-term capital.
In 1998, by virtue of Executive Order No.8, President Estrada created the
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) with the objective of
minimizing, if not totally eradicating, car theft and worsening kidnapping cases in the
country. With the help of this task force, the Philippine National Police for the first
time in history achieved a record-high trust rating of +53 percent. Panfilo Lacson was
its first head.
President Estrada was ousted for a number of reasons. The plunder case
consisted of four separate charges: acceptance of 545 million pesos from proceeds of
Jueteng, an illegal gambling game; misappropriation of 130 million pesos in excise
taxes from tobacco; receiving a 189.7-million-peso commission from the sale of the
shares of Belle Corporation, a real-estate firm; and owning some 3.2 billion pesos in a
bank account under the name Jose Velarde. The minor charge of perjury is for
Estrada underreporting his assets in his 1999 statement of assets and liabilities and
for the illegal use of an alias, namely for the Jose Velarde bank account.
 The last president that I would wish to discuss about is President Ferdinand
Edralin Marcos. Although Marcos was branded as dictator, corrupt, human rights
violator by plenty of people and his achievements were expunged subtly by the
manipulation of mass media and vindictiveness of the administration that succeeded
him, the impacts of his interventions remained and are undeniably germane part of
our countrys system. Marcos completed power plants in 20 years. Some of which are
the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, completed 1983, Leyte Geothermal Power Plant,
completed 1977, Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Power Plant, completed 1979, Tiwi
Geothermal Power Plant, completed 1980 and Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant,
completed 1967. Power plants built by Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Gloria
Macapagal, Ninoy Aquino III combined in 26 years is zero. Every new power plant built
During their time were all privately Owned (mostly by Lopezes, AboitIz, Aquino And
Cojuangco Family) and is now owners of some power plants completed during Marcos
time.

The control room of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant as of 2015. Much of the technology here is
analog and will have to be replaced if the plant will be revived.
Marcos established/founded state colleges/universities in 20 years. Some of
which are Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in La Union founded in
1981, Cagayan State University established in 1978, Quirino State University
established 1976, Isabela State University established 1978 and Pampanga
Agricultural College established 1974. The remaining of 108 State
Colleges/Universities are built and founded before 1965. They though renamed few
Colleges and Universities and Refounded them after 1986. National Manpower and
Youth Council (NMYC) founded 1976. Now changed to TESDA to discredit Marcos.
Access to free education widened during the Marcos Administration. The biggest
portion of the budget was allotted for Educational Programs (P58.7 Billion in 20 years).
The literacy rate climbed from 72% in 1965 to 93% in 1985 and almost 100% in Metro
Manila on the same year.
 The Cultural Center of the Philippines was established through Executive Order
No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos, the CCP provides performance and
exhibition venues for various local and international productions at its 62-hectare
(150-acre) complex located in the Cities of Pasay and Manila. The Cultural Center of
the Philippines was opened on September 8, 1969, three days before the President
Marcos 52nd birthday.
Originally named as Philippine Heart Center for Asia , the Philippine Heart
Center in Quezon City was established through Presidential Decree No. 673 issued by
President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1975. Inaugurated on February 14, 1975,
cardiovascular specialists including Christian Barnard, Denton Cooley, Donald Effler,
and Charles Bailey practiced at the center. The first Director of the PHC was Avenilo
P. Aventura (1974-1986), a cardiovascular surgeon who performed many pioneering
operations in the Philippines including the first successful renal transplantation in
1970, the first CABG in 1972, and developed and implanted the first ASEAN
bioprosthesis, the PHCA porcine valve. The first patient to be admitted to the PHC was
Imelda Francisco, on April 14, 1975.
The stories are as varied as the forms of torture, but these sordid tales all
scream in pain; the cries reverberate beyond the confines of the prison cells and
locked-up chambers of 40 years ago.
To this day, the thousands of victims of the military rule imposed on my
country on 21 September 1972 still carry the marks of the torture they suffered in the
hands of the military rape; sexual assault; beatings; electrocution; enforced
disappearances; being buried alive; shot in cold blood; hog-tied; water torture; solitary
confinement; sleep deprivation.
The list goes on and on and so does the memory of pain,sealed in the victims
weary voices, their bruised hands, blank stares, burnt legs and the wounds that they
carry. And to those who have disappeared, their loved ones empty nights of waiting
desperately.