For the next 10 weeks I will be moving around as Leana Lakwatsera (a nickname given to me in Tagalog—“someone who keeps on moving and traveling around”) in the Philippines as a fellow for the NGO Beyond Good Intentions (visit BeyondGoodIntentions.com). My goal is to look at international aid initiatives here and see what seems to be working. The organizations I will look at will focus primarily on humanitarian efforts, and I will look at donor structures, accountability, community participation, whether there are innovative ideas, timelines, whether the root causes of the problems are being addressed, and how impact is being evaluated. With these ideas in mind, hopefully I will end up with a better understanding of international aid in the Philippines, and in the meantime get a taste of Philippino culture!
A little background on the Philippines:
The Philippines is the largest archipelago in the world, made up of over 7,000 islands, it’s broken into three distinct regions—Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. As the world’s 12th most populous country, the Philippines is a melting pot of cultures and race, with over 180 languages. A former colony of Spain and the United States, and shortly ruled by the Japanese, the Philippines has a long history of foreign control and because of this has remnants of each country it was ruled by. Because of Spanish influence, over 80% of Filippinos are Roman Catholic—making it the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. The education system is westernized, and based off of the American education system. Tagalog is the major language taught in school, as well as English.
Major issues in the Philippines include the economy, education, prostitution, and corruption. The economy of the Philippines has improved significantly in recent years, but faces many challenges. The economy is heavily reliant on remittances from workers abroad mostly as nurses and domestic helpers. There are more than 1 million Filippino workers living abroad at any moment. Official figures indicate that they send about $16 billion per year back home, about 10% of GDP.Regional competition poses a major threat to economic development, and an improvement in employment opportunities will be necessary to alleviate poverty. Overall, there is an unequal distribution of wealth in the Philippines, with more than one out of three people living in poverty.
Education is another major issue in the Philippines due to lack of funding for teachers and school supplies. Prostitution, including child prostitution is a major social issue in the Philippines. Stemming from the American military bases, the sex business has become a major economic niche for some, and in some countries, the Philippines is actively promoted as a sex-tourism destination. The political history of the Philippines is marred by scandals and corruption, and to this day, many view the government as staging flawed elections and laundering money. The Philippines has a travel warning from the Department of State due to Muslim dissent in Mindanoa in which different various religious groups, including the Abu Sayyaf, call for a separate Islamic state in the South. Apart from these dangerous areas, the Philippines is known as a travel destination for its natural beauty and welcoming people.
