Transcript Document
Philippines A Brief History MIDN 1/C Connor MIDN 1/C Teal Origins of the Philippines • Inhabited for more than 30,000 years • Chinese settle islands in the 10th Century • 14th Century Muslim traders bring their religion • • and culture to the islands Portuguese Explore Ferdinand Magellan arrives March 15, 1521 and brings the first exposure to Western culture Magellan killed one month after arriving in a dispute with a local tribe Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): • Army • Navy: –Coast Guard –Marine Corps • Air Force Military Power Today • Military branches: Army: 73,000 Navy (includes Marine Corps) 24,000 Air Force: 16,500 Paramilitary: 44,000 active • Primary military equipment 65 tanks 42 combat aircraft 97 armed helicopters Military Power Today • Military expenditures: $995 million • Military manpower Age of service: 20 Military manpower, availability: – Males ages 15-49 – 21,220,191 Philippines Today: • Population: 87,857,473 (July 2005 est.) • GDP: $451.3 billion (2005 est.) • Industries: – electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing • Naural Resources: – timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper Religion (2000 census) • Roman Catholic 80.9% • Evangelical 2.8% • Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3% • Aglipayan 2% • Other Christian 4.5% • Muslim 5%, other 1.8% • Unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% : Languages: • Two Official Languages: • Filipino: eight major dialects – Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan • English Terrain of the Philippines • mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands • The Climate is: – tropical marine – northeast monsoon (Nov to Apr) – southwest monsoon (May to October) Major Cities of Philippines History • The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century • Given to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War Unrest among the Filipinos • Revolutionary Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo takes steps for independence • June 12, 1898 Declaration of Independence • September 15, 1898 convening of a revolutionary congress and proposal for a new constitution America takes control • December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris is signed • Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico are given over to the United States • Cuba was granted independence • February 4, 1899 hostilities breakout as a result of the actions of two American privates War • Fighting broke out for more than 2 years • Around 125,000 American soldiers committed to the effort • Estimated 16,000 Filipino casualties • 4,234 American casualties End of War • Aguinaldo captured on March 23, 1901 • Forced to swear allegiance to the United States • Insurgent activities continued until 1903 • Replacement of the Sharia or Islamic law with United States rule • Non-Muslim curriculum schools established th 20 Century • In 1934, United States Congress passed a law granting Philippine Independence • In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. – Manuel QUEZON was elected President th 20 Century • In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII • US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control The Battle of Leyte Gulf • October 23-26 1944 • Largest naval battle in history • Last use of “ship of the line” tactics • First appearance of kamikaze attacks • Philippines a vital island chain maintaining the supply line for the Japanese The Battle of Leyte Gulf • 4 Distinct engagements • Battle of the Sibuyan Sea- carrier air attack • Battle of Surigao Strait- Japanese Battleships • • meet with American battlegroup Battle off Cape Engaño- Carrier battle, Japan loses 4 carriers Battle off Samar- American destroyers used torpedo and air attacks to run off the Japanese World War II: Fledgling Filipino Navy • It consisted highly maneuverable motor torpedo boats known as Q-boats • The squadron was nicknamed the “Mosquito Fleet” • 65% of its men were awarded the Silver Star Medal and other awards 20th Century • On 4 July 1946 the Philippines attained their independence • Newly elected President Quezon hired retired US Army Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur to prepare the Philippines’ Defense System • The defense system was patterned so that there would be: – 200,000 citizen army – 250 planes of the Philippine Army Air Corps – 50 Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB) International security issues: • The Philippines is involved in a dispute over the Spratly Islands with: – China – Malaysia – Taiwan – Vietnam – possibly Brunei Sources of Instability: • Separatist activities • Moro Islamic Liberation Front • Abu Sayyaf • Moro National Liberation Front • Human Rights Current Status • Democracy led by their 14th elected president • Constitution and government similar to our own • Muslim Separtist group, Abu Sayyaf, operating out of the Southern Philippines • American forces supporting the search and capture of Abu Sayyaf members So What? • Vital shipping lanes • Chain of Islands • Exposed coast with mountainous interior • Basis for Muslim extremist groups • Unconstitutional for foreign militaries to conduct operations on the islands References • http://www.msnbc.com/modules/new_battlefield/phi • • • • • • lippines.asp?cp1=1 http://www.navy.mil.ph/gallery/ships/index5.html http://www.gov.ph/ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/r p.html#Military http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/philippine s.htm http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2002/02021 0-attack01.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf