The Philippines and Its Past

The Republic of the Philippines is the archipelago lying in the Pacific Ocean with its 7,107 islands. It is mainly inhabited by people called Filipinos who are by themselves ethnically diverse. This may be because of the separation of the people according to the geographic characteristic of the country. As well as the diverse foreign invasions experienced by this nation.

The Philippines is geographically divided into Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila which can be found in the northern part of the country, Luzon. It boosts of its tropical climate making it biodiversity – rich, one of the richest in the world at that.

The country is considered as the world’s 12th most populous country with an estimate of 92 million people. Another 11 million is estimated to be located overseas. With the said number, one can really say that overseas Filipino workers are widespread, worldwide.

The prehistoric Philippines is believed to be inhabited by the Negritos. The Malay, Hindu, and Islamic cultural influences visible in Filipinos can be attributed to the successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought these influences with them. The Chinese cultural influences were brought about by the trading system widely exercised during that time.

It was in 1521 that the Spanish interest and dominance began with the entry of Ferdinand Magellan in the country. The archipelago became the Asian hub of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. And Christianity entered the country and became widespread with the Spanish priests widely dispersed in the countryside.

The Filipinos revolted and the Americans joined in the picture. It later turned into the Spanish – American War which also resulted to the Philippine – American War. The Filipinos were overthrown and was since then subjected to the leadership of the Americans. The Japanese also had its dominance over the country but they were overpowered by the Americans. The country was once again subjected to American dominance until the end of World War II that the Philippine independence was achieved.

With all the subjugation and revolutions that the country had to undergo as well as all the influences that can be perceived till this day, the country is still being viewed as a prisoner of its past. The fact that the country got its name “Felipinas” after the King Philip II of Spain (then called Asturias) which originally, mainly referred to the islands of Leyte and Samar after Ruy Lopez de Villalobos expedition in 1542, the country surely has much of its past enslaving its present.

But as the country continues to strive for its survival, the Filipinos can shout and say that “The Filipinos are worth dying for!”