(Editor’s note: Nations making good use of opportunities were the first to leap forward as noted by the author.)

We were a proud race against Spain in 1896, against America in 1899, and against Japan in 1941.

After Independence ’46 some 20 M of us received all forms of assistance from the US like cash for “war damage” to our homes, mountains of surplus items in Manila, Mindoro, and Samar, rehabilitation of infrastructures by the US (including ukay-ukay) UNICEF assistance, etc.

First, buy a yacht

In the late 1950s, Japan was generous enough to extend reparation assistance of US$800 M, one of the biggest packages ever given to a devastated US ally. The first item our government bought was a luxury yacht named “Pangulo” (and renamed “Pag-asa” now at permanent dock at the South Harbor overlooking Manila Hotel).

Election issue

The yacht was a popular election issue in November, 1961, and led to the defeat of the incumbent NP administration.

The pledge then was to sell it but remains unsold after 48 years and a succession of administrations.
Most of our economic planners then, as now, have no idea if the huge US$800-M reparation ever contributed to the smallest degree in blessing the national economy.

Dependence

The economy of RP continued to be dependent on US and international assistance. But there was also a strong sentiment against the continued presence of US military bases.

Ironically, Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in June, 1991 caused massive devastation in Luzon and destroyed Clark Air Base. In the ensuing months, Congress voted not to renew leases on US military bases.

Last month, US soldiers participated in joint exercises under the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement). Politicians protested US military presence. This week, we saw on TV the GIs in action, especially in giving relief and assistance to Talim Island on Laguna de Bay using helicopters.

No Navy and Air Force

There are veteran café critics who are familiar with the AFP’s strength and capacity. They cannot be contradicted in saying we have no true Navy and Air Force like Thailand and Malaysia. We have no shiny and fast rescue boats for an archipelago visited regularly by 20 to 25 typhoons yearly – and without fail. We have old rescue helicopters. Our Army of 115,000 needs new weapons for defense or offense.

Reliable sidearms

The PNP of 120,000 men are not fully provided even with new sidearms to chase criminal elements. Such standard police sidearms as Colt, Smith and Wesson, and Beretta can be given only to ranking officers. Locally made pistols and revolvers, if available, are not as reliable as sidearms made in the US, Belguin, Italy, Israel, Brazil, Austria, Germany, etc.

Target shooting

For ammo our policemen have rations of reloads which may not fire accurately. Their ammo rations cannot bring them regularly to practice target shooting. One reliable bullet for a Cal. 38 revolver, Cal. 45 pistol  or 9mm costs between P18 and P24 each.

A police officer would need 150 to 200 bullets for target shooting for 10 days and for about 200 days in one year. This is clearly beyond the meager means of the PNP, which needs a special budget.

All of the above can be acquired from the US or rich countries at very low cost or free. But the general idea requires good relations with countries that can afford to provide assistance to Third World nations like RP.

Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan

We start to envy Taiwan and South Korea that rose from ruins to fast economic recovery, affluence, and success.

Taiwan’s successful land reform in early 1950s led to the creation of surplus capital which caused the development of an industrial base. American military and economic aid hastened economic development. By the early 1970, the island had developed an export-oriented economy.

Postwar reconstruction in South Korea had been assisted by significant US aid. Japan served as a base for American forces during the Korean War, 1950-53, greatly accelerating postwar economic recovery. In March, 1954, the US and Japan signed a mutual defense assistance pact. Japan was admitted to the UN in 1956, 11 years younger than RP. The success of Japan’s postwar recovery was symbolized by the Tokyo Olympic Games of 1964 and Expo ’74 at Osaka.

We blew it

All the opportunities for success were extended to RP by the US and Japan’s $800 M war reparation. Taiwan and South Korea probably received much less.

Economic success was achieved by Taiwan in less than 10 years from its occupation by evacuees from the mainland numbering about two million Nationalist soldiers, government officials, and civilian sympathizers.

There’s an American idiom applicable to us all: We blew it! (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com)