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Despite social
fragmentation and political corruption, a deep-felt commitment to
democratic institution has survived. After the Philippine independence
in July 4, 1946, President Manuel Roxas tackled the devastation left by
World War II. After the war, landlords demanded back rents which pushed
the tenant farmers to rebellion. President Ramon Magsaysay started rural
reform which was defeated by the landlords.
During the reign of Ferdinand Marcos, inequities,
corruption, and social injustice were widespread. Marcos had refurbished
public works but failed to reconstruct the economy. There was the
forming of left-wing student groups and guerrillas which was growing out
of hand. This led Marcos to suspend the rights of the habeas corpus and
freedom of press, speech and assembly.
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The nation's domestic economy and international debt
payments faced collapse while the elite were getting richer. Aquino,
Marcos' rival, led public protest for reform. The Filipino people were
convinced by Aquino that there was hope for the poor economic situation
in the Philippines. But Aquino was assassinated in 1983 which outraged
the Filipino people. Public pressure compelled Marcos to hold an
election in 1986. He claimed victory but was forced into exile by his
people. Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino was elected president of the
Philippines: the first female president of the Philippines. |
