Question

What are some of the challenges the Philippines has faced since gaining its independence? Select all that apply.

Answer 1

The correct options are:

• military dictatorships
• rebellions and insurgencies
• high rates of poverty

After gaining its independence, the young nation faced several problems: the country had to be rebuilt from the ravages of war and reach an agreement with several Japanese collaborators and entrepreneurs to begin their economic development. Meanwhile, the Hukbalahap, a rebel communist army that previously fought against the Japanese, remained active in rural areas. Finally, this threat was addressed by the Secretary of National Defense and later president Ramón Magsaysay, although some sporadic cases of communist insurgency continued to be presented. In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president, with his wife Imelda Marcos at his side. As the Constitution forbade being re-elected more than twice for the presidential office, at the end of his second term he declared martial law on September 21, 1972. To continue governing by decree, he used as arguments the political division, the tension of the War Cold and the specter of the communist rebellion and the Islamic insurgency in the country. Thus began a dictatorship that lasted more than ten years and was characterized by strict control of the economy and political repression.

The return of democracy and reforms to the government after the events of 1986 were hampered by the national debt, corruption, coup attempts, a persistent Communist insurgency and Islamic separatist movements. Although the economy improved during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected president in 1992, the start of the 1997 Asian financial crisis halted these advances.

Answer 2

One (military dictatorships) 
Two (rebellions and insurgencies)
Four (high rates of poverty)