The Philippines' Relationship with America
A commentary by Edmond D. Macaraeg
United Church of God pastor, the Philippines
Posted July 9, 2009
 Recently,
on the 4th of July the United States celebrated its 233rd Independence
Day. The Philippines once shared the 4th of July with the United States
as its own Independence Day—for almost 16 years.
As a citizen of the Philippines (the
12th most populous country on earth with 90 million people), I will
briefly trace the now declining relationship that my country
has had with the U.S. over the past century. I will start 110 years
ago when the U.S., after winning the Spanish-American war, first acquired
the Philippines.
Thoughts from President McKinley
James F. Rusling, an elderly supporter of U.S. President William McKinley,
recalled in 1903 that about four years earlier in 1899 McKinley had
spoken to a religious delegation, saying:
"The truth is I didn't want the Philippines, and when they came
to us as a gift … I did not know what to do … I prayed
to Almighty God for light and guidance … And it came to me this
way: (1) That we could not give them back to Spain … (2) that
we could not turn them over to France or Germany … (3) that we
could not leave them to themselves … they would soon have anarchy
and misrule … worse than Spain's was; and (4) that there was
nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos
and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do
the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also
died" (Lewis L Gould, The Presidency of William McKinley,
pp. 140).
All that Rusling claimed that President McKinley had spoken was accomplished.
Not only was Christianity introduced, but also the English language,
general public education, the American culture—and a degree of
prosperity.
Philippine Independence Day: 4th of July
In acknowledgement to the affinity between these two countries, the
United States granted the Philippines its national independence on July
4, 1946.
However, almost 16 years later on May 9, 1962 the then President Diosdado
Macapagal, moved by resentment over
rejection by the U.S. House of Representatives of the $73 million additional
war payment bill (later rectified), changed the Philippine Independence
date to June 12, 1898 (a date still disputed by
some).
The most controversial provision of the Bell Act imposed on the Philippine
legislature two days before its independence was a "parity" clause
that would have granted United States citizens equal economic rights
with Filipinos. Violation of the parity privileges would have given
the president of the United States the authority to revoke any aspect
of the trade agreements.
Although Manuel A. Roxas—the newly installed president of the
Philippines—was successful in getting rehabilitation funds from
the U.S. after independence, he was forced to concede military bases,
23 of which were leased for 99 years. From the U.S. perspective, of
course, it was to give free and continued protection to our fledgling
nation against the advance of communism in the region.
Declining U.S. influence
Later President Carlos P.
Garcia modified the Bohlen–Serrano Agreement
to shorten the lease of the U.S. bases from 99 years to 25 years, and
made it renewable every five years. He also mandated the Filipino First
Policy, favoring Filipinos over foreigners.
During the term of Corazon Aquino (our first woman president), the two
biggest military installations outside of the U.S. were closed on September
13, 1991 when the Philippine Senate rejected their right to stay. The
closed bases were:
Clark Air Base in Angeles City was operated by the U.S. Air
Force from 1903 to 1991. It was not only the largest U.S. overseas base,
but also the most advanced military facility in history. It became the
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport and the Clark Freeport Zone.
U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay was the largest U.S. Navy installation
in the Pacific, a major supply and ship-repair base and a rest and recreation
facility for the U.S. Navy.
Changes in the wind
As the U.S. and the Philippines
drift further apart each nation is losing many of its defense advantages.
The rising influence of powerful non-democratic nations in Asia is cause
for concern for those of us inhabiting the many isles of the Philippines.
  For
added insight to blessings we will lose as the Philippines withdraws
from the U.S. umbrella and the perils that will bring, please request
or download our free publications: The
United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy and Are We Living in the Time
of the End?
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