Tosha Hanford Week 3 (the Philippines and Japan)

Tosha Hanford
Professor Valverde
ASA 189
Week 3

                                                        Japan and the Philippines

Of the colonized countries in Asia, the Philippines was the first to decolonize. Many of the Asian countries that decolonized used modernized and economically successful countries as models to strategically devise ways to empower, mold, and create economical and political success in their own countries. While the Philippines  did employ such methods pre, during, and post a variety of political challenges, it has not reached the success of other countries. Arguably, a few factors potentially contributing to this is the lack of a unifying cultural tradition, national pride, and trust in the government. As a melting pot of so many cultures (for example Spanish, Japanese, American, and Islamic) and having needed to resist many interventions, and occupations from different countries, this does not necessarily seem so surprising. One similarity the readings pointed out between Japan and the Philippines (and really any country that has strive to better itself economically) was a desire to create an economic reformation. However, these countries came from different political and economical viewpoints, given the outcome of the WWII. As per a question related to to the reading, have any other countries been a positions similar to Japan in struggling to take military action due to an administration issue regarding difficulty defining either "collective defense" or "collective security."
The current state of the Philippines is one still not having a unified cultural identity, at least from an external perspective.
I feel strongly that an artistic movement or being able create some sort of figure that allows the people of the Philippines the ability to relate to and recognize themselves. In such a way to develop some sense of cultural unity and national identity. To give a sense of belonging, to the people and within the people.



Sources cited:

(Language and National Identity in Asia Edited by Andrew Simpson." Journal of Sociolinguistics 12.5 (2008): 697-701. Web.)

Image:
From the Frontline World website.
"American troops pose victoriously on the ramparts of Manila" circa 1899.
(photo: Library of Congress)
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/philippines/tl01.html