GETTING AROUND THE METRO

METRO MANILA, the Capital of The Philippines is a sprawling metropolis that covers an area of approximately 250 square miles. Into that area are crammed a contentious number of people. The 2010 census would tell us that 11.5 million people live in the Metro, but to listen to media reports and other sources, numbers of 20 million people are often quoted. Whichever is right probably doesn’t matter, either way, it’s an awful lot of people crammed into such a tiny area. I’ve heard Metro Manila called the most populous city in Asia and I wouldn’t bet against it. Wherever you turn there are people.

Metro Manila is actually a conglomeration of sixteen separate cities and one municipality, that form the Metro, or as it is often called, The National Capital Region (NCR). The largest of these cities by population and by area is Quezon City at just over 62 square miles, with a population of almost 3 million. The smallest of the cities is San Juan at just less than 2.3 square miles and a population of only 121,000 people. The other 14 cities sit in between with the Capital, Manila itself being at just on 15 square miles, with a population of around 1.7 million people. To give you some perspective on that, Auckland City, with a population of just on 1.4 million people covers an area of 187 square miles. Whatever way you look at it, there’s one hell of a lot of people living in a very small area in Metro Manila. Of course that makes it an awful lot of fun just getting around the city. 

       

The first thing I would caution people against is that if you have issues with “personal space” then Metro Manila may not be the place for you, especially if you plan to travel on the public transport system here in the Metro. On the public transport system there just is no such thing as “personal space”. Think cans of sardines and you won’t be far off the mark. In fact, cans of sardines, marinating in their own juices seems a fairly appropriate metaphor for the way the public transport system works here in the Metro, especially in high summer.

Gustavo Petro, the former Mayor of Bogota, Columbia in South America once said; “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.”  Unfortunately, successive national and local politicians in Metro Manila have never quite subscribed to this theory. At last count, unofficially 20% of commuters in Metro Manila owned cars, for the other 80% of us, it’s a case of public transportation or shank's pony (walk). Given the extreme heat here and the vast distances to get from one place to another, walking is not really an option for any great distance. Most of the politicians’ efforts in Metro Manila seem to be focused on roads and improving and adding to the local roading infrastructure. There are two small overhead rail systems that service parts of the Metro, but they are also grossly overloaded and in need of major overhaul and refurbishment. So what are our options in getting around this immense city with its millions of commuters?

First and foremost and perhaps an iconic symbols of The Philippines is the humble Jeepney. The concept of the jeepney is a testament to the ingenuity of the Filipino people. When the American troops began to leave The Philippines after World War II hundreds, if not thousands, of surplus army jeeps were sold or given to the local Filipinos. The jeeps were cut down and altered to suit the local’s needs. Roofs were added for shade and the jeepneys were highly decorated with vibrant colours and oodles of chrome. The jeep’s back seats were turned into parallel bench seats and the lengths of the jeeps were extended to accommodate more passengers. Jeepneys emerged as an easy way to recreate a public transport system that had been devastated by the war. From these humble beginnings; modern, custom built jeepneys emerged and have been plying the streets of Manila for over 60 years now. Jeepneys are still the most common form of public transportation in and around the NCR. The vehicles themselves differ greatly in terms of age, design, size, comfort and safety. It would be fair to say that the vast majority of the jeepneys, although they may once have been stylish are now at the end of their practical lives and frankly are falling apart. Nevertheless, they remain the cheapest way of getting reasonable distances around the Metro. Although some jeepneys have glass sliding windows, many are open to the elements, a real blessing in summer when a cool breeze can help to keep the passengers below boiling point. During the rainy season of course, the open windows can be a real curse with water trickling down one’s back as you ride along.

In an effort to ensure the driver makes a living there is always the tendency to try and stuff just one more person into the back of the jeepney. Many is the time I’ve sat squashed into the back of the jeepney waiting to leave when I hear the loader saying; “Dalawang”, meaning two more people to get in before we can leave. I’ll look around and wonder just how they propose to squeeze two more people into this vehicle, but squeeze them in they do. Filipinos are the least complaining, most accommodating people I know and somehow they will manage to create a tiny space to at least put half a butt cheek on. I think the main problem is that over the years Filipinos in general, as diets have changed, have become larger. That doesn’t stop jeepney owners from trying to continue to fit the same number of people in as they did twenty years ago. The reality is that you are crushed up against the people on either side and that’s just the way it is. Many people just close their eyes and go to their happy place while the jeepney trundles on. There is no choice for most of us; it’s jeepney or walk, so we just get on with it no matter how hot and uncomfortable it is.

If you are just looking to travel a short distance, then a tricycle or a pedi-cab could be the answer for you. Tricycles are just what the name implies; a motorcycle with a covered sidecar attached. There are numerous tricycles operating in most areas of Metro Manila. They’re a bit more expensive than other options, but for the short hop around the neighbourhood they are ideal. Most tricycles can hold 3 people comfortably; two in the sidecar and one person sitting behind the rider on the motorbike. One of the more amazing sights you might see here is school-kids heading off to school on their tricycle service. I’ve seen as many as seven or eight children crammed onto one of these bikes. Pedi-cabs are just the same deal as tricycles except they are pedalled, quite a bit more slowly than tricycles, around the neighbourhood by very fit Filipinos. 

There are three other main options for getting around the Metro’s public transport system; the Bus, the FX and the Taxi. With the bus you have two options, “Ordinary Fare” and “Air-Conditioned”. The ordinary fare bus is a bus without any windows, so the breeze can blow in to help keep you cool as you travel, whereas the air conditioned buses are probably the sort of bus that most of us are used to, full-sized buses with air-conditioning. Buses are cheap and frequent, although no less crowded than any other form of public transport. If you are lucky enough to get on early and get a seat, then you are fine, but if it’s standing room only it is hot, uncomfortable and crushing. When I first came here in 1993 there were many buses that appeared to date from the 1950’s and were dilapidated and potentially deadly. These days standards have risen somewhat and many of the buses that ply the Metro’s routes are modern, clean coaches, but there are still plenty of the older variety around. Buses have a bad reputation here as there are regular incidents of bus accidents resulting in many deaths and injuries. The local authorities are trying to bring the operators up to an acceptable standard but like everything here there are too few people policing too many buses. They are a comfortable way to travel around (provided you have a seat), but they are prey to the vicissitudes of the Metro’s traffic jams, in fact many would say buses and jeepney drivers are the cause of many of the traffic jams.

The FX is a relatively new concept started around 15 years ago. The name comes from the vehicle that was initially used to transport people around; the locally produced Toyota Tamaraw FX. These days FX services tend to be large 18 seater mini-buses, rather than the old 10 seater Tamaraw FX. The vehicles are equipped with air-conditioning and theoretically should be more comfortable than Jeepneys or Buses, but in reality are not much different comfort-wise. Like all other Public Utility Vehicles the aim is to cram as many people into an FX as humanly possible. A typical configuration for a mini-bus variety of FX would be; 8 people on bench seats in the rear of the vehicle, facing each other; two sets of seats in the middle of the vehicle, holding four people in each row; and then two people in the front of the vehicle along with the driver. This gives a total of 18 passengers plus a driver and as most vehicle's air-conditioning seems to be either turned down low to save on fuel or not working properly, trips by FX can be just as hot, cramped and uncomfortable as a Jeepney or a Bus.

A popular choice for getting around; especially for foreigners, are the private taxis that ply the Metro. Taxis are relatively cheap by western standards and are usually fairly modern and air-conditioned. Like all traffic in the metro they have to weave their way through the traffic jams, but somehow taxi drivers seem to have an innate ability to find gaps in traffic that nobody else sees. This is probably evidenced by the dents and paint scrapes on most taxis’ bodywork. Two traps for younger players to avoid when catching taxis around the Metro. 1/ Do not accept a ride from a taxi driver who doesn’t want to use the meter, or tells you the meter is broken. The driver will often ask where you are going and then quote a price to take you there. The price is invariably much higher (around 60-100% of the meter rate) and if you are a foreigner, even higher. Just say salamat (thanks) but no thanks and walk away. Trust me there are usually plenty of other taxis around. 2/ You will often find that some taxi drivers don’t want to go too far out of their own locality, which can be a bit ironic since many of them have painted on the side of their cabs – “To Metro Manila and all points of Luzon”. Often though they will not want to travel out of their well-known local area, so if that happens, don’t worry, just flag down another one. As I said, there’s no shortage of taxis plying the metro. 

  

The two overhead rail systems provide commuters with an opportunity to beat the traffic jams and to ride above them in air-conditioned comfort. Well, that’s the promise, but unfortunately not really the reality. The LRT (Light Rail Transport) and MRT (Metro Rail Transport) are a good way to beat the traffic jams if you want to go from say Quezon City to Makati, but be warned – if you go at rush hour you will be in for a long queue. As an example MRT-3, which runs parallel to the main road thoroughfare EDSA runs 16.95 kilometres from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Built to handle 350,000 people per day, the current ridership is closer to 650,000 per day. More carriages are coming, so we are told and just “bear with it for now” the powers that be say, but the reality is getting on the MRT-3 can involve you queuing for up to one or two hours just to get your ticket and get on the train. When you finally do get onto the train, if you’re not at the front of the line, and lucky enough to get a seat, it’s a jostling, very “close” ride to your destination. Even getting on and off can be a real hassle as you have to fight your way through a sea of bodies just to get to the door. The one redeeming feature of both the MRT and the LRT is that they have special carriages, at the front of the trains, just for women and the disabled. This will provide comfort for many women who don’t fancy standing, pressed up against a heaving mass of sweaty men for any length of time. They at least can stand pressed up against a heaving mass of sweaty other women.

If all of this dissuades you from coming to Manila, please don’t let it. The realities of getting around any major city, especially in Asia, are daunting, but in some ways that’s part of the unique experience that we seek when we travel overseas. For visitors it will be a bit of a culture shock, but I say “when in Rome, do as the Romans”. It’s only by travelling around with the locals that you get the true Filipino experience. Like the locals there will be times you will get frustrated, but equally you will take away a great appreciation of the Filipino psyche and you cannot but fail to be impressed by the way the people here keep smiling, keep laughing and keep positive no matter what obstacles are placed in their way.          

  

THE GREAT BEETROOT HUNT

Anyone who has lived overseas for any length of time will know what I am talking about when I mention that there is always one specific thing that we miss from back home. Oh no, I’m not talking about the big stuff, like family, friends and our house back home; of course we all miss that. What I’m talking about is those little things, the things that identify with home, but that we so totally take for granted until we move to foreign climes, and they are no longer available.

For some people it is something as simple as marmite, or if the advertisements are to be believed, then Vogels Bread, but for me the iconic New Zealand product that I’ve longed for and lusted over since arriving here three years ago, is the humble can of beetroot.

I arrived in Manila, the capital city of The Philippines just over three years ago, to start a new beginning with my soon to become wife. To say that the past three years have been ones of happiness and joy, would be to say the very least. I look back at the past three years and marvel at how well I’ve adapted to and fitted into what really is a totally alien environment for me. Despite how well I’ve been accepted and have adapted to living here there has always been something missing from my life; and it is that ubiquitous can of beetroot.

One thing I learnt quickly when I arrived here in Manila was that I better learn to like eating rice. After all, we have rice with literally everything; breakfast, lunch and dinner. If that’s not enough, many of the “merienda” snacks are made out of sticky rice. It is not without reason that rice is seen as the staple meal of most Asian nations. It never ceases to amaze me that even when we get to eat out at the mall and we visit a fast food franchise; say McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, or The Philippines own indigenous fast food outlet Jollibee, the kids, my wife, our friends all order meals that come with rice. I almost feel like screaming; “For goodness sake, we’re not at home now, we DON’T have to eat rice with everything. Order a burger for goodness sake”; but of course, they just order their rice and fried chicken and sit down to devour it happily. Returning to the thrust of this topic; my beloved beetroot - One way I determined that I wasn’t going to eat rice three meals a day was to introduce my family to an old Kiwi favourite for lunch; fresh salad sandwiches.

One of the things that struck me early about this country is that they are not as typically Asian as many countries in South East Asia. After 400 years of Spanish rule, followed by 40 odd years of direct American rule and then another 40 odd years as an American armed forces outpost, The Philippines has embraced and adapted many western habits, attitudes and mores. Their choices of cuisine are often influenced by European and American styles, but of course always with their beloved rice. Sandwiches therefore were not totally unknown here, so it wasn’t like I was trying to convert the heathen to Christianity or anything quite that difficult, but finding the ingredients that I knew and loved from New Zealand, was not as easy as I thought.

First ingredient for my comfort sandwich was lettuce. Now lettuce is available here, but it could not be described as the vegetable of choice for most Filipinos. Still, my wife was able to source some lettuce from the local market, so no problem there. Bread, in the New Zealand style however was and still is hard to obtain. There is plenty of bread here but variety is virtually non-existent. Sliced bread as we know it in New Zealand comes in only one style – plain white. There are other breads available, such as pandesal, which is a small, sweet, bun that you eat warm, and spread with butter or margarine, but for sandwiches my choice was limited to plain, white bread. The rest of the sandwich was pretty easy to concoct – a dab of mayonnaise, some tomato, slices of cucumber and a slice of cheese. Being a very hot country we are limited in the varieties of cheese that we might see back home, but for the sandwich, processed slices of cheese serve the purpose adequately. So, my sandwich was complete...or was it? There’s no doubt the sandwich was tasty. I’ve even managed to convert my wife to eating sandwiches with me for lunch, or taking one with her when she was working, but for me, something was sorely missing...my beetroot.

I made initial inquiries of the family, asking where I could buy beetroot. I was greeted by blank stares. “What is beetroot?” was the query from them. After Googling an image of the iconic Watties Beetroot can, they were none the wiser. “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” was my wife’s response. Every time we went to the supermarket I was on a mission to find a can of the elusive stuff, but to no avail. Where it should have been in the Supermarket aisle, it was nowhere to be seen. Canned tomatoes – sure; Canned carrots – of course; Canned peas – absloutely; Even Canned olives or pimentos – you bet; BUT beetroot – not a single can to be found.

In desperation I turned to the internet. I actually Googled the following question: “Where in Manila can you find beetroot?” I was quite astounded to find many people had asked the same question and YES, there is one company here that makes beetroot in a can – Del Monte Corporation. The next question had to be where I could buy it. Most people who answered said that it was available in the really big supermarkets and was displayed in the “sauces” area or the “International” area. I discussed with my wife that we needed to take a trip to Taguig to visit the brand new Supermarket that had opened there recently as they were reputed to have the largest “International” section in Manila.

Fortunately the Universe was smiling on me, as the very next weekend when we were shopping at SM Fairview, our local supermarket, I glanced down to the very bottom shelf in the canned vegetables section and lo and behold, staring back at me was the most beautiful sight in the world – 3 shiny cans of Del Monte Beets. It may have had a different name, but it was beetroot. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. As I recall, I screamed; “Oh my God, it’s beetroot”, much to my wife’s chagrin. I grabbed the three cans and threw them into the shopping trolley.

So, my great beetroot hunt is over now and lunch is now the most satisfying meal of the day, as I complete my “perfect” sandwich, with that beautiful purple juice staining and coming through the bread. As I munch my lovely sandwich I reflect on just how lucky I am to live in this wonderful country, with these amazing people and of course – beetroot!

BORACAY - THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN

“Now the world has seven wonders, the travellers always tell, some gardens and some towers, I guess you know them well”. That line from an old song I remember as a kid, serves only to remind me that the world has way more than seven wonders; in fact, this amazing planet we live on is full of beauty and wonder and we don’t have to go very far to find it. All New Zealanders know that some of the most awesome and amazing scenery on this planet, is right there in their own back yard. We also know that New Zealanders are inveterate travellers and have an innate desire to see other places; to explore other cultures; and to boldly go where their friends haven’t been before.

I am here to tell you that many of the world’s wonders are in this fair land...The Philippines. I will tell you about many of these hidden treasure in this series of articles, but I will start today with probably the best known of The Philippine resort treasures – Boracay Island. There are a host of beautiful island resorts around the world that come to mind; Ibiza, Fiji, Bali, the Greek Islands, the Whitsundays, Rarotonga; just to name but a few, but if you want somewhere different, somewhere amazing and somewhere that will allow you the peace and quiet that you seek, plus the excitement and pulsating nightlife that you are after, then you need look no further than The Philippines, and the world’s No.1 island resort – Boracay.

Boracay, Philippines 

Boracay is a small island around 300klm south of the capital Manila and just 2klm off the northwest tip of Panay Island, in the Western Visayas. The island and its beaches have received numerous awards from various publications and travel agencies. In 2012 the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure awarded Boracay as the best island in the world. Famous for its pristine white sand beaches and as the perfect place to relax and unwind from the real world, it is also now emerging as a hotspot for exciting and varied nightlife, with numerous international events taking place.

Whether you are a backpacker or a seasoned luxury tourist, there is somewhere suitable for you to stay when in Boracay. Some of the world’s best resort names are located in Boracay. If it is five-star luxury that you seek then look no further than: Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, Philippines; Ambassador in Paradise; Monaco Suites de Boracay Hotel; or Astoria Boracay Resort but if you are budget conscious there is also plenty there for you to choose from: Patrick’s Home Boracay; Danaru Spa Guest House; Desseree’s Place; or Blue Bamboo Hostel. From five-star luxury to one-star backpackers and everything in between. At last count there were over 200 different accommodation experiences available in Boracay, and the prices are more than acceptable to everyone. As an example; a night in a one star hotel will almost certainly cost you less than NZ$100 and even five-star luxury can often be had at peak season for around $250 per night. The answer, as always, is research before you leave. It is a good idea to use and book with one of the many accommodation websites available; such as Agoda, Hotels.com, Expedia, Travelocity or Bookit.com. You can often find real bargain rates, especially off-season.

Despite the exciting night-life on offer, it is still the beauty and peace of the beach that propels people to visit beach resorts, and there is no shortage of gorgeous beaches on the tiny island of Boracay. It may be only 7 kilometres long and at its narrowest point, only 1 kilometre wide, but Boracay manages to pack in more than a dozen spectacular beaches and coves into that small area. All the beaches have the famous Boracay powdery, white sand and all are very safe for swimming and diving.

White Beach, Boracay

Three of the more famous beaches on Boracay are: White Beach, Puka Shell Beach and Balinghai Beach. White Beach is possibly the most well known beach in Boracay and at 4 kilometres long and up to 100m wide, is certainly the biggest. Considered the premier beach in Boracay it is popular with swimmers, snorkelers, and sunbathers alike. Shelter is provided from the blazing sun by swaying palm trees and what could be more relaxing than a soothing massage from one of the local masseurs who ply their trade on the beach. The white sands and crystal clear waters of White Beach make this one of the most enchanting paradises on Earth. As the sun rises in the morning it reflects off the sand, which sparkles like crystal and the water calls you to come, relax and unwind from that busy urban lifestyle.

Puka Shell Beach is the second longest beach on the island and covers half of the northern tip of the island. Its gentle surf is typical of an island surrounded by fringing reefs. At 800 metres long the beach is an abundant source of small shells and tiny white pieces of coral that are perfect for necklaces or other pendant jewellery. The beach is named after the Puka Shell, which many people regard as the finest shell in the world. One of the beauties of Puka Shell Beach is its peacefulness and seclusion, which makes it extremely popular for those who really need to unwind. Visitors to Puka Shell Beach feel a real exclusivity that is not always available at the more popular beaches. The sheer magnificence of Puka Shell Beach lends itself to professional photo shoots as well as being a venue for weddings, private beach parties and other special occasions.

Balinghai Beach, Boracay

Balinghai Beach just calls to the romantic in us all. A tiny beach enclosed by craggy walls of rock it is a most romantic hideaway for couples, young and old, who value privacy and solitude. The cottages of the Baling-Hai resort are scattered on the rock cliff as well as at the top of the cliff above the beach. The beach offers possibly the best snorkelling opportunities on Boracay, with a magnificent coral garden not too far from the shore. The meals and refreshments are transported to guests with a basket, rope and pulley system, further adding to the uniqueness of the site. The accommodation at Balinghai is equally unique. Among the choices the traveller can opt for are: The Balinghai Beach Boracay Rock House, the Balinghai Beach Boracay Tree House and the Balinghai Beach Boracay Bat House. It is a unique resort, in a unique island, in a unique country.

Boracay may well be the jewel in the Philippine tourism crown, but there are so many more, wonderful places to visit here in The Philippines that I will explore in future articles.

This is The Philippines; the land I love and the land I call home. The current slogan of the Department of Tourism sums it up: “It’s more fun in the Philippines”.

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

The Philippine Islands 

The Philippine Islands!

What are your first thoughts when you see those three words? What do we associate with the beautiful islands of The Philippines?

If like me, you are from New Zealand or elsewhere in the Western World, your view of The Philippines, as a country, has been shaped by what you’ve ever read about the place; possibly what people have told you about the place; but probably most importantly what you’ve seen on television or read in the newspapers. Our perceptions, these days, of anything are moulded more by the brief sound bites on television than by anything more substantial.

Before I first visited this beautiful country in 1993, my perception of The Philippines was certainly coloured or distorted by what I read and saw in the popular media of the day. What was The Philippines to me then? Simply put, what I knew about this country could probably be written on the back of a postcard: I knew about Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection; I knew about Martial Law; Of course, I knew about the “Thriller in Manila” in 1972, between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frasier; I knew, like New Zealand, the country sat on the Pacific Rim of Fire and was subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; Naturally I’d heard of Mount Pinatubo; I’d heard of the infamous rubbish tip known as “Smokey Mountain”; I also knew that from time to time ferries sank killing thousands, and typhoons ravaged the country on a regular basis also killing many. To top it all off everyone knew that The Philippines was the centre of the world’s “mail-order bride” business at that time. Filipinas, we were told, were so desperate to leave the country they would marry just about anyone so they could get out. So, put bluntly, it seemed a pretty damn awful place to live and certainly not one I’d ever want to visit. Such is the power of the media’s portrayal of negative information. Of course, we also did hear about the “People Power Revolution” of 1986, but that could best be described as just a small blip of positivity in a sea of negativity.

Despite 20 years having elapsed since I first came here I suspect the view of The Philippines, to the average New Zealander has not changed much. The events may have changed, but I imagine the perceptions have stayed pretty much the same. The country is still ravaged by typhoons every year. The last typhoon, Haiyan (Yolanda to us locals), struck in early November 2013, and was the most powerful typhoon to ever make landfall. It devastated large swathes of the Central Philippines (The Visayas). The iron rule of the Marcos’ has been replaced by a procession of self-serving, thieving, corrupt politicians who have tried their hardest to bankrupt the country just to line their own pockets. In this Century alone, we have impeached one President, one Chief Justice and are in the middle of prosecuting another former President, as well as a number of Senators and Congressmen for corruption. Yes, politically not a lot has improved in twenty years, but the truth is “times they are a-changing”. Finally the country has some political backbone. It has a President who is dedicated to ending the era of self-serving politicians; to root out corruption wherever it lies and to utilise the immense resources of this incredibly wealthy country, for the benefit of all Filipinos, not just the elite few. The “mail-order bride” business has I guess been replaced by the cybersex industry with many suggesting that The Philippines is the centre of the world-wide cybersex industry.

So, not a lot has changed in our perception of The Philippines. Very few New Zealanders seem to be encouraged to visit this country. Of the roughly 4M tourists that visited the country in 2011, only around 13,000 came from New Zealand. By comparison, if we look at three popular Asian destinations for New Zealanders the figures tell the story: Thailand – 114,000; Malaysia – 81,000; Indonesia – 37,000. Clearly for some reason The Philippines is not a desired tourist destination for New Zealanders. Over this series of articles I will show you why The Philippines should be at the top of your list for your “truly Asian experience” as well as bringing you some humorous and interesting insights into the life of the expatriate.

Firstly, let me declare my bias. I love The Philippines, I came here to live permanently three years ago and I have absolutely no desire to leave. I live here, I love here, and I’ll happily die here, one day. That having been said, I want to share with you some of the wonder and beauty that makes this country unique in Asia and in the world.

To understand The Philippines and the Filipino people, it always helps to have a brief understanding of the development of this nation over the years. The Philippine Islands are an archipelago of 7,107 islands in the South China Sea (known locally as The West Philippine Sea), straddling the equator. To its north lies Taiwan and to its west and southwest are Vietnam and Indonesia. History books will tell you that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the islands of The Philippines in 1521 on his epic around the world voyage. Of course, Magellan and the Spanish were just the forerunners of European conquest of most of the known world. Before Magellan there were a number of proud indigenous peoples already populating these islands.

After 333 years of Spanish rule, with the local Filipinos seeking independence and following years of sporadic fighting against the colonial masters; finally on May 1, 1898, the American fleet under Commodore George Dewey sailed into Manila Bay, and defeated the Spanish colonialists. On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo led the Declaration of Independence from Spanish rule and the first republic of The Philippines was born. It soon became clear however that America had no intention of allowing Filipino Independence and had decided it was just going to replace the Spanish as colonial masters. The Philippine Revolutionary Government then turned its attention to fighting its American liberators in the Philippine – American War. The war ended with the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo, and the acceptance by the revolutionary government, of US sovereignty. It would not be until the end of the Second World War, following a brutal occupation by the Japanese and liberation, yet again, by the allied forces, led by the United States, that The Philippines would finally be granted its independence.

On July 4, 1946, after almost 400 years of colonial servitude, the proud people of these islands finally stood tall and independent in the circle of nations; commanders of their own destiny at long last.