1 00:00:02,100 --> 00:00:06,299 [Music] 2 00:00:03,140 --> 00:00:08,670 I'm George Galloway and I'm Adam Geary 3 00:00:06,299 --> 00:00:11,690 and together we are the history boys 4 00:00:08,670 --> 00:00:14,519 every single week bringing you an 5 00:00:11,690 --> 00:00:17,940 episode from a different perspective 6 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:22,050 sometimes two different perspectives on 7 00:00:17,940 --> 00:00:25,410 great historical events great historical 8 00:00:22,050 --> 00:00:28,470 personalities the clash of ideas and 9 00:00:25,410 --> 00:00:31,679 events which brought us to the place we 10 00:00:28,470 --> 00:00:34,680 are know and as I always say if you 11 00:00:31,679 --> 00:00:37,170 don't understand how we got here you're 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:40,829 never gonna work out how we get out of 13 00:00:37,170 --> 00:00:43,050 the state we are in this week we're 14 00:00:40,829 --> 00:00:46,140 looking at the Philippines it's not an 15 00:00:43,050 --> 00:00:48,930 area of expertise of mine during the 16 00:00:46,140 --> 00:00:52,199 1980s I did make several visits there 17 00:00:48,930 --> 00:00:55,370 under the dictatorship and just on the 18 00:00:52,199 --> 00:00:59,489 cusp of the overthrow of President 19 00:00:55,370 --> 00:01:03,510 Ferdinand Marcos I did learn a thing or 20 00:00:59,489 --> 00:01:06,390 two but my fellow history boy knows a 21 00:01:03,510 --> 00:01:10,650 thing or two million and so it's over to 22 00:01:06,390 --> 00:01:14,159 you Adam tell us because we are looking 23 00:01:10,650 --> 00:01:19,110 of course always the colonialist roots 24 00:01:14,159 --> 00:01:21,270 of the state that countries are in in 25 00:01:19,110 --> 00:01:23,580 the global south but also in the 26 00:01:21,270 --> 00:01:27,030 imperialist countries themselves in this 27 00:01:23,580 --> 00:01:30,000 case the Philippines was colonized more 28 00:01:27,030 --> 00:01:32,460 than once more than twice tell us about 29 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,560 that well three is the magic number or 30 00:01:32,460 --> 00:01:37,829 the unfortunate number to use a more 31 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:40,500 specific term first there was Spain the 32 00:01:37,829 --> 00:01:42,689 great Spanish Empire the greatly brutal 33 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:44,579 Spanish Empire that is most well known 34 00:01:42,689 --> 00:01:47,670 for colonizing what is now known as 35 00:01:44,579 --> 00:01:50,460 Latin America but which also in 36 00:01:47,670 --> 00:01:52,649 Southeast Asia conquered the Philippine 37 00:01:50,460 --> 00:01:55,110 Islands then of course there was the 38 00:01:52,649 --> 00:01:57,810 United States then after that a 39 00:01:55,110 --> 00:01:59,969 particularly brutal Japanese occupation 40 00:01:57,810 --> 00:02:02,850 then the United States again but only 41 00:01:59,969 --> 00:02:05,310 briefly well we'll get into that and 42 00:02:02,850 --> 00:02:07,829 then the modern Republic of the 43 00:02:05,310 --> 00:02:10,770 Philippines as we kind of sort of know 44 00:02:07,829 --> 00:02:12,989 it today I think for the purposes of 45 00:02:10,770 --> 00:02:13,740 this discussion we should start in the 46 00:02:12,989 --> 00:02:16,950 year eighteen 47 00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:18,870 six because this was the year that one 48 00:02:16,950 --> 00:02:22,530 of the great leaders of the Philippine 49 00:02:18,870 --> 00:02:25,590 national awakening a scholar a poet a 50 00:02:22,530 --> 00:02:29,010 political warrior one of the great minds 51 00:02:25,590 --> 00:02:31,410 in Philippine history Jose Rizal was 52 00:02:29,010 --> 00:02:34,110 executed by the Spanish colonial 53 00:02:31,410 --> 00:02:36,270 authorities and a firing squad and a 54 00:02:34,110 --> 00:02:38,370 black-and-white photograph exists of 55 00:02:36,270 --> 00:02:40,890 this final moment where he uttered the 56 00:02:38,370 --> 00:02:44,430 words of Jesus Christ on the cross it is 57 00:02:40,890 --> 00:02:48,510 finished before the mortal bullets flew 58 00:02:44,430 --> 00:02:51,840 into his head now Rizal remains a figure 59 00:02:48,510 --> 00:02:54,630 of great national acclaim he's a hero in 60 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:57,150 the pantheon of great Filipino heroes 61 00:02:54,630 --> 00:02:59,690 but it wasn't under his watch that the 62 00:02:57,150 --> 00:03:02,610 first Philippine Republic was declared 63 00:02:59,690 --> 00:03:05,100 to get to that we have to go to the 64 00:03:02,610 --> 00:03:08,400 other side of the world or be it briefly 65 00:03:05,100 --> 00:03:10,950 to a time when a an American Navy ship 66 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:13,530 called the main sunk off the coast of 67 00:03:10,950 --> 00:03:15,000 Cuba if someone is wondering what on 68 00:03:13,530 --> 00:03:17,280 earth this has to do with the 69 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:20,760 Philippines well that's what maritime 70 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:23,460 colonial empires do they make one event 71 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,920 on one side of the world have a ricochet 72 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:29,970 in areas that are otherwise totally non 73 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:31,800 related so the Spanish island of Cuba 74 00:03:29,970 --> 00:03:34,170 because like the Philippines it was 75 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,170 still part of Spain in the late 19th 76 00:03:34,170 --> 00:03:39,690 century in the Year 1898 an American 77 00:03:37,170 --> 00:03:42,810 ship called the main sunk off the coast 78 00:03:39,690 --> 00:03:44,940 of Cuba experts at the time thought 79 00:03:42,810 --> 00:03:47,730 let's be cautious it's probably some 80 00:03:44,940 --> 00:03:50,670 internal malfunction within the hull of 81 00:03:47,730 --> 00:03:53,610 the ship but William Randolph Hearst who 82 00:03:50,670 --> 00:03:55,470 was made famous infamous in the Orson 83 00:03:53,610 --> 00:03:58,980 Welles film Citizen Kane which by the 84 00:03:55,470 --> 00:04:01,650 way I recommend he launched and added 85 00:03:58,980 --> 00:04:03,990 the anti Spanish campaign not that he 86 00:04:01,650 --> 00:04:06,690 was Pro Cuban but he was saying America 87 00:04:03,990 --> 00:04:09,000 as a young power that needs an empire 88 00:04:06,690 --> 00:04:11,340 should kick out Spain which was by then 89 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,470 a force sicker man in terms of being an 90 00:04:11,340 --> 00:04:15,959 empire than the Ottoman Empire at this 91 00:04:13,470 --> 00:04:18,959 same time kind of widely held or felt 92 00:04:15,959 --> 00:04:21,480 that this was the sinking of the main 93 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:23,690 wasn't was entirely manufactured in a 94 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:27,310 way it was a maritime 95 00:04:23,690 --> 00:04:29,570 made to look like a cause of war 96 00:04:27,310 --> 00:04:31,760 absolutely in William McKinley who was 97 00:04:29,570 --> 00:04:33,590 the American president at the time he 98 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:36,440 didn't want to go to war with Spain he 99 00:04:33,590 --> 00:04:38,300 was a traditional Republican before the 100 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,310 Republicans we know today where they 101 00:04:38,300 --> 00:04:44,150 thought let's be business minded let's 102 00:04:40,310 --> 00:04:46,130 keep to ourselves and let's not get 103 00:04:44,150 --> 00:04:50,360 involved in this Empire thing that all 104 00:04:46,130 --> 00:04:53,120 changed though after McKinley engendered 105 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:55,310 us we're still living we're still living 106 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,430 with these changes today some are living 107 00:04:55,310 --> 00:05:00,590 under them but so were reluctant 108 00:04:57,430 --> 00:05:02,810 McKinley was dragged by his feet by what 109 00:05:00,590 --> 00:05:04,550 they called the yellow press which means 110 00:05:02,810 --> 00:05:06,380 something different in the Philippines 111 00:05:04,550 --> 00:05:09,380 than it does in America but both are 112 00:05:06,380 --> 00:05:11,720 distinctly negative they were this 113 00:05:09,380 --> 00:05:15,110 expression of the day was remember the 114 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:16,940 Maine to hell with Spain and so America 115 00:05:15,110 --> 00:05:18,830 went to war with Spain and it was a very 116 00:05:16,940 --> 00:05:21,560 brief war the Spanish were vanquished 117 00:05:18,830 --> 00:05:23,540 quite quickly it was around this time 118 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,420 that the Philippines declared its 119 00:05:23,540 --> 00:05:28,610 independence they saw that Spain was 120 00:05:26,420 --> 00:05:32,390 losing on multiple fronts to the 121 00:05:28,610 --> 00:05:34,340 Americans and a great hero possibly the 122 00:05:32,390 --> 00:05:37,640 greatest ever Philippine hero Emilio 123 00:05:34,340 --> 00:05:41,120 Aguinaldo general Emilio Aguinaldo on 124 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,700 the 12th of June 1898 declared the 125 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:46,310 Philippines an independent republic our 126 00:05:43,700 --> 00:05:48,590 story would aim there but the Americans 127 00:05:46,310 --> 00:05:51,169 had something to say about that they 128 00:05:48,590 --> 00:05:53,390 stepped in where the Spanish left off 129 00:05:51,169 --> 00:05:55,520 they wouldn't let the Philippines have 130 00:05:53,390 --> 00:05:58,520 their independence even though they 131 00:05:55,520 --> 00:06:01,370 declared it and even though Spain was de 132 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,500 facto out of the picture what happened 133 00:06:01,370 --> 00:06:06,650 then was the philippine-american war 134 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:08,990 because the Filipinos resisted a new 135 00:06:06,650 --> 00:06:11,120 colonizer the lost one fell by the 136 00:06:08,990 --> 00:06:13,820 wayside and they'd be damned if they got 137 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,550 a new one but damned in many ways they 138 00:06:13,820 --> 00:06:21,169 were that war didn't lost all too long 139 00:06:16,550 --> 00:06:23,840 it ended in 1902 except for in Mindanao 140 00:06:21,169 --> 00:06:27,110 in the South were the Muslim Filipinos 141 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:31,610 the morals continued to fight and resist 142 00:06:27,110 --> 00:06:34,310 until 1913 and it was during this stage 143 00:06:31,610 --> 00:06:36,800 of the battle that some of the worst 144 00:06:34,310 --> 00:06:39,530 ever torture techniques 145 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,680 that were later implemented in other was 146 00:06:39,530 --> 00:06:45,080 were pioneered a General Pershing who 147 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:47,500 Donald Trump quite likes is one of the 148 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:51,889 men who oversaw a lot of this torture 149 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:53,750 yet in 1913 this stage of the rebellion 150 00:06:51,889 --> 00:06:56,240 ended and the Philippines officially 151 00:06:53,750 --> 00:06:58,490 became what was soon to be called the 152 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:02,770 insular government meaning an American 153 00:06:58,490 --> 00:07:05,949 colony so this war was a largely 154 00:07:02,770 --> 00:07:09,440 maritime Philippines collection of 155 00:07:05,949 --> 00:07:12,370 islands or that the u.s. actually 156 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:14,919 learned significant number of soldiers 157 00:07:12,370 --> 00:07:17,719 significant enough to inflict damage 158 00:07:14,919 --> 00:07:19,849 compared to the wars that we saw later 159 00:07:17,719 --> 00:07:22,190 the numbers weren't all that great we're 160 00:07:19,849 --> 00:07:24,909 not talking Vietnam no not at all but 161 00:07:22,190 --> 00:07:26,870 compared but where the Vietnamese in the 162 00:07:24,909 --> 00:07:29,030 1950s and they were fighting the French 163 00:07:26,870 --> 00:07:31,099 and in the 60s and the 70s and they were 164 00:07:29,030 --> 00:07:33,319 fighting the Americans they had the most 165 00:07:31,099 --> 00:07:36,050 modern rifles that the Soviet Union 166 00:07:33,319 --> 00:07:38,240 could give them the Filipinos in this 167 00:07:36,050 --> 00:07:41,150 era were alone they were alone totally 168 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,770 alone and the America and it was it's 169 00:07:41,150 --> 00:07:45,259 friendly to the credit of the morals 170 00:07:42,770 --> 00:07:47,509 that they were able to fight for so long 171 00:07:45,259 --> 00:07:49,550 and that fighting spirit of the morals 172 00:07:47,509 --> 00:07:52,039 is a theme that we're going to see 173 00:07:49,550 --> 00:07:55,340 throughout this discussion but indeed by 174 00:07:52,039 --> 00:07:58,310 1913 all of the Philippines was subdued 175 00:07:55,340 --> 00:08:00,830 and it was part of the American Empire 176 00:07:58,310 --> 00:08:03,349 so you never called them they still 177 00:08:00,830 --> 00:08:05,629 don't call themselves an empire so how 178 00:08:03,349 --> 00:08:07,310 did they exercise their colonial control 179 00:08:05,629 --> 00:08:09,469 over the Philippines well in much the 180 00:08:07,310 --> 00:08:12,229 same way that France exercised its 181 00:08:09,469 --> 00:08:14,150 control over places like Algeria and 182 00:08:12,229 --> 00:08:16,099 what was then called Indochina or what 183 00:08:14,150 --> 00:08:20,210 the British did - about a quarter of the 184 00:08:16,099 --> 00:08:21,620 world etc it was said by gore Vidal and 185 00:08:20,210 --> 00:08:24,020 we've mentioned this before that the 186 00:08:21,620 --> 00:08:26,300 only original art form America invented 187 00:08:24,020 --> 00:08:29,690 was marketing and in the American Empire 188 00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:32,029 we really get to see this they never 189 00:08:29,690 --> 00:08:34,669 called it an empire and to be fair there 190 00:08:32,029 --> 00:08:36,500 were many members of the US Congress who 191 00:08:34,669 --> 00:08:38,479 said what the hell are we doing we're a 192 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:41,269 nation out to make our own money not to 193 00:08:38,479 --> 00:08:44,779 steal other people's money but the 194 00:08:41,269 --> 00:08:48,020 confluence there quickly quickly led 195 00:08:44,779 --> 00:08:50,030 people to say ok let's embrace Empire 196 00:08:48,020 --> 00:08:52,160 it was managed from Washington and it 197 00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:54,350 was at this time when many Filipinos 198 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:57,230 started to come to the United States 199 00:08:54,350 --> 00:09:00,470 long before the more famous wave of what 200 00:08:57,230 --> 00:09:03,260 is now called OFWs overseas filipino 201 00:09:00,470 --> 00:09:06,230 workers in the 70s there's a catch 202 00:09:03,260 --> 00:09:08,840 though in nineteen thirty four decades 203 00:09:06,230 --> 00:09:11,600 after the overtly racist Chinese 204 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:13,250 Exclusion Act was passed the u.s. said 205 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,350 well we're eventually going to give the 206 00:09:13,250 --> 00:09:17,780 Philippines independence so we're going 207 00:09:15,350 --> 00:09:19,670 to make it that much harder for Filipino 208 00:09:17,780 --> 00:09:22,160 workers to come to the University 209 00:09:19,670 --> 00:09:25,100 there's always a catch in colonialism 210 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:27,290 always acknowledge so did it have the 211 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:30,380 same kind of status as Puerto Rico are 212 00:09:27,290 --> 00:09:33,440 more informal than that in a way more 213 00:09:30,380 --> 00:09:36,800 informal but compared to what let's say 214 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:40,130 Puerto Rico is today it was similar but 215 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:42,490 because times have moved on and Puerto 216 00:09:40,130 --> 00:09:44,360 Ricans can somewhat exercise the 217 00:09:42,490 --> 00:09:46,760 constitutional rights things weren't 218 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:49,100 quite as good in the Philippines even 219 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:52,220 though to be fair it was better than 220 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:55,040 let's say when the Japanese were to come 221 00:09:52,220 --> 00:09:58,730 that was true true absolute brutality 222 00:09:55,040 --> 00:10:01,340 this was perhaps the darkest night for 223 00:09:58,730 --> 00:10:03,650 the Philippines what happened it was 224 00:10:01,340 --> 00:10:05,990 possibly the darkest night for all of 225 00:10:03,650 --> 00:10:09,410 Southeast Asia certainly the darkest 226 00:10:05,990 --> 00:10:12,770 night for the Chinese in Northeast Asia 227 00:10:09,410 --> 00:10:15,260 the Japanese formed a brutal empire in a 228 00:10:12,770 --> 00:10:17,390 very short expanse of time and one of 229 00:10:15,260 --> 00:10:19,490 the rules with colonialism is the 230 00:10:17,390 --> 00:10:22,760 shorter a period of time in which an 231 00:10:19,490 --> 00:10:25,910 empire forms and asserts itself as an 232 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:28,580 empire the more dangerous it is Europe 233 00:10:25,910 --> 00:10:30,770 and Western Eurasia saw this with the 234 00:10:28,580 --> 00:10:33,500 hip the Reich of the 30s and 40s and 235 00:10:30,770 --> 00:10:36,500 South East and North East Asia saw this 236 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:39,920 with the rise of Tojo's Imperial Japan 237 00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:43,520 the Filipino systems should be saluted 238 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:46,550 by the world their bravery is frequently 239 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:49,070 in the textbooks a footnote under the 240 00:10:46,550 --> 00:10:51,380 American liberators who were more 241 00:10:49,070 --> 00:10:53,750 heavily armed because they could afford 242 00:10:51,380 --> 00:10:56,240 it the Philippine resistance was 243 00:10:53,750 --> 00:10:59,390 remarkable in their ability to hold 244 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:01,250 Faust in the case of brutality the likes 245 00:10:59,390 --> 00:11:07,120 of which frankly the world hadn't even 246 00:11:01,250 --> 00:11:11,240 known until that time so the US and the 247 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:13,880 resistance throw off Japanese 248 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,750 colonialism what happens next well in 249 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,460 that fight 250 00:11:14,750 --> 00:11:18,680 that's one of the reasons actually why 251 00:11:16,460 --> 00:11:20,750 to this day in spite of the brutality of 252 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:23,900 the earth late 19th and early 20th 253 00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:26,690 century many Filipinos to this day have 254 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:29,090 fond memories of MacArthur and the 255 00:11:26,690 --> 00:11:31,610 Americans because they helped throw off 256 00:11:29,090 --> 00:11:33,980 the Japanese and so here we see one of 257 00:11:31,610 --> 00:11:36,680 the interesting paradoxes were the same 258 00:11:33,980 --> 00:11:39,260 Filipinos who were bravely resisting the 259 00:11:36,680 --> 00:11:41,510 Americans several decades before in the 260 00:11:39,260 --> 00:11:43,760 40s and at UH prowling towards the 261 00:11:41,510 --> 00:11:49,010 Americans mainly because the Japanese 262 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:53,090 were that much worse yeah so the the new 263 00:11:49,010 --> 00:11:56,990 era opens nominal Philippines 264 00:11:53,090 --> 00:12:00,320 independence but to great as I recalled 265 00:11:56,990 --> 00:12:04,070 them a Subic naval base and Clark Air 266 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:06,530 Force Base probably the the biggest 267 00:12:04,070 --> 00:12:09,440 American military installations in the 268 00:12:06,530 --> 00:12:12,380 world at that time yes so America has 269 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:16,280 its forces in the Philippines and is 270 00:12:12,380 --> 00:12:18,620 still exercising its power from behind 271 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:21,200 the throne in the Philippines area so 272 00:12:18,620 --> 00:12:23,060 much so that even when the Philippines 273 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:26,510 became nominally technically and legally 274 00:12:23,060 --> 00:12:27,620 independent in 1946 the America wouldn't 275 00:12:26,510 --> 00:12:31,520 even let them have their own 276 00:12:27,620 --> 00:12:33,980 Independence Day by some stroke of 277 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,990 wonderful marketing the day that the 278 00:12:33,980 --> 00:12:38,720 Philippines was granted independence in 279 00:12:35,990 --> 00:12:40,790 46 happened to be the 4th of July 280 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:43,330 aha when the real Philippine 281 00:12:40,790 --> 00:12:46,760 Independence Day is the 12th of June 282 00:12:43,330 --> 00:12:49,580 1898 and it was only decades later when 283 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:52,100 the Philippine government said no we're 284 00:12:49,580 --> 00:12:54,410 going to celebrate the independence from 285 00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:57,589 the US but a real declared independence 286 00:12:54,410 --> 00:13:01,240 wasn't on the 4th of July it was on the 287 00:12:57,589 --> 00:13:03,800 12th of June so that was when 288 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:06,620 Independence happened and the next great 289 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:09,020 and controversial political figure to 290 00:13:06,620 --> 00:13:10,820 arise was the longest ever serving 291 00:13:09,020 --> 00:13:13,580 president of the modern Philippines and 292 00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:15,230 that was Ferdinand Marcos who first came 293 00:13:13,580 --> 00:13:19,640 to power in 64 294 00:13:15,230 --> 00:13:24,140 and Imelda Marcos unity for her wardrobe 295 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:28,700 her shoe collection as I recall it this 296 00:13:24,140 --> 00:13:32,530 was like mo Bhutto in in the Congo 297 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:36,880 formulas I here this was a period of 298 00:13:32,530 --> 00:13:40,070 massive looting of the Philippines 299 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:43,970 natural wealth national wealth I should 300 00:13:40,070 --> 00:13:47,180 say by by a ruling family a ruling elite 301 00:13:43,970 --> 00:13:49,700 well how you see it yes and no it's an 302 00:13:47,180 --> 00:13:52,250 incredibly controversial time not just 303 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:54,980 because of what was done and won and 304 00:13:52,250 --> 00:13:58,150 what wasn't done but because of how its 305 00:13:54,980 --> 00:14:01,190 his how the historical memory has been 306 00:13:58,150 --> 00:14:04,610 unobjective fide so that's not for in 307 00:14:01,190 --> 00:14:07,580 the 1960s when the Marcos government was 308 00:14:04,610 --> 00:14:10,510 actually seen generally University is 309 00:14:07,580 --> 00:14:12,560 positive the economy was doing very well 310 00:14:10,510 --> 00:14:14,990 compared to what the Americans were 311 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:17,150 doing to Vietnam and later to Cambodia 312 00:14:14,990 --> 00:14:18,380 and Laos things were peaceful the 313 00:14:17,150 --> 00:14:20,900 Philippines had one of the highest 314 00:14:18,380 --> 00:14:23,390 living standards in all of Southeast 315 00:14:20,900 --> 00:14:26,570 Asia this was before Maha tear in 316 00:14:23,390 --> 00:14:29,240 Malaysia long before a bit before Lee 317 00:14:26,570 --> 00:14:32,540 Kuan Yew really got going in Singapore 318 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:35,150 long before peace was brought to what 319 00:14:32,540 --> 00:14:38,120 was still referred to popularly as 320 00:14:35,150 --> 00:14:41,030 Indochina Vietnam Laos and Cambodia it 321 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:43,310 was more free than Suharto's Indonesia 322 00:14:41,030 --> 00:14:46,450 and politically more stable than 323 00:14:43,310 --> 00:14:49,310 Thailand things tended to change in the 324 00:14:46,450 --> 00:14:53,710 1970s for both internal factors and 325 00:14:49,310 --> 00:14:57,250 external factors the oil crisis of 1973 326 00:14:53,710 --> 00:15:01,130 did not treat the Philippines well the 327 00:14:57,250 --> 00:15:03,110 active participation albeit not so great 328 00:15:01,130 --> 00:15:05,960 in terms of numbers but in terms of 329 00:15:03,110 --> 00:15:09,530 prostration of the morgels government to 330 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:13,070 the US war on Vietnam that was Clark and 331 00:15:09,530 --> 00:15:15,140 Subic were important to the u.s. they 332 00:15:13,070 --> 00:15:17,450 were indispensable in many ways and 333 00:15:15,140 --> 00:15:19,910 something the Pinot's were actually sent 334 00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:22,970 to Vietnam and that was that was just a 335 00:15:19,910 --> 00:15:24,690 horrific mistake the spirit of RC in 336 00:15:22,970 --> 00:15:27,450 which now both Vietnam and the 337 00:15:24,690 --> 00:15:30,060 beans are in is all about non-aggression 338 00:15:27,450 --> 00:15:31,800 but in those days it was very much a 339 00:15:30,060 --> 00:15:34,500 Cold War mentality which pitted 340 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:36,960 Southeast Asian against Southeast Asian 341 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:39,420 we saw internally last week in Indonesia 342 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:42,330 we saw with the limited but still 343 00:15:39,420 --> 00:15:45,180 notable Filipino participation in 344 00:15:42,330 --> 00:15:47,490 America's Vietnam War it was also at 345 00:15:45,180 --> 00:15:50,850 this time that the NPA the New People's 346 00:15:47,490 --> 00:15:53,880 Army a Maoist group began in proper 347 00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:56,730 insurgency and a similar one from moral 348 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:58,920 nationalist upset with what many people 349 00:15:56,730 --> 00:16:02,250 outside of the song called the rule of 350 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:05,340 Imperial vanilla it was in the 70s when 351 00:16:02,250 --> 00:16:08,490 many of the worst aspects of this period 352 00:16:05,340 --> 00:16:11,250 of Marcos the martial law period came to 353 00:16:08,490 --> 00:16:14,130 the fore but not everything is as it 354 00:16:11,250 --> 00:16:17,820 seems because as we see in the late 355 00:16:14,130 --> 00:16:20,430 1980s while many Filipinos wanted change 356 00:16:17,820 --> 00:16:22,830 in the 80s from what was happening under 357 00:16:20,430 --> 00:16:25,500 Marcos just as they did in the Soviet 358 00:16:22,830 --> 00:16:28,290 Union what people tend to find is that 359 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:32,150 sometimes the change is worse than the 360 00:16:28,290 --> 00:16:39,890 situation they wanted to change it's 361 00:16:32,150 --> 00:16:45,240 portrayed as a turn to democracy Aquino 362 00:16:39,890 --> 00:16:48,890 the original leader Aquino assassinated 363 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:52,080 at the airport on his return his widow 364 00:16:48,890 --> 00:16:54,380 becoming the president even their son I 365 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:58,050 think became the president didn't indeed 366 00:16:54,380 --> 00:17:00,450 this is the crux that all modern 367 00:16:58,050 --> 00:17:03,450 Philippine history has been defined by 368 00:17:00,450 --> 00:17:05,579 and it's held historical memory captive 369 00:17:03,450 --> 00:17:07,829 we live in an age now where the 370 00:17:05,579 --> 00:17:10,230 mainstream media the mainstream schools 371 00:17:07,829 --> 00:17:12,600 and the mainstream narrative in 372 00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:15,660 Philippine history has been dictated by 373 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:18,360 the victors the akeno's were the victors 374 00:17:15,660 --> 00:17:21,360 in the eighties this isn't to excuse any 375 00:17:18,360 --> 00:17:23,699 of the unpleasantries and the frankly 376 00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:26,640 subservient attitude to the us of the 377 00:17:23,699 --> 00:17:29,760 Marcos period but when taken on the 378 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:32,630 whole the disaster of unstable 379 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:35,100 governments economic retardation 380 00:17:32,630 --> 00:17:38,060 Filipinos having to force themselves 381 00:17:35,100 --> 00:17:39,650 into migration there's an expression 382 00:17:38,060 --> 00:17:41,270 a man who I think is one of the great 383 00:17:39,650 --> 00:17:44,330 Philippine intellects of today 384 00:17:41,270 --> 00:17:47,480 Orion Perez says most countries export 385 00:17:44,330 --> 00:17:51,080 goods the Philippines exports people and 386 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:54,860 while that trend began in the mid-70s 387 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:57,770 nothing in the Akeno period after 1986 388 00:17:54,860 --> 00:18:00,530 reversed that so I think the key to 389 00:17:57,770 --> 00:18:02,900 understanding the 70s and the transition 390 00:18:00,530 --> 00:18:04,940 into the 80s is to understand the 391 00:18:02,900 --> 00:18:07,520 following points was the Marcos 392 00:18:04,940 --> 00:18:10,010 government regime we call it in the 393 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,530 military pier in the Marshall opiod was 394 00:18:10,010 --> 00:18:16,460 it imperfect incredibly imperfect but 395 00:18:12,530 --> 00:18:18,710 was in many ways the Aquino personality 396 00:18:16,460 --> 00:18:21,710 called that much more crooked that much 397 00:18:18,710 --> 00:18:23,600 more Pro / cog that much more tied in to 398 00:18:21,710 --> 00:18:25,700 the CIA because we can't forget well 399 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:29,030 Marcus was under the thumb of the United 400 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:31,280 States Ninoy Aquino who lived in exile 401 00:18:29,030 --> 00:18:33,980 in the u.s. in the late 70s in the early 402 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:36,470 80s had many high-level contacts of the 403 00:18:33,980 --> 00:18:38,810 CIA this wasn't known in the Philippines 404 00:18:36,470 --> 00:18:41,390 at the time it's known now for those who 405 00:18:38,810 --> 00:18:44,390 want to read what's being open from the 406 00:18:41,390 --> 00:18:46,490 archives and so we're the Revolutionists 407 00:18:44,390 --> 00:18:49,190 portrayed is going from dictator to 408 00:18:46,490 --> 00:18:52,130 democrat or Tokra see to an open society 409 00:18:49,190 --> 00:18:54,170 the economy got am i recalling this 410 00:18:52,130 --> 00:18:56,420 right there was one of the LS color 411 00:18:54,170 --> 00:19:00,110 revolutions yellow was their color 412 00:18:56,420 --> 00:19:02,360 absolutely right and everything that we 413 00:19:00,110 --> 00:19:04,850 now know about color revolutions the 414 00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:08,390 most famous being the Arab Spring that 415 00:19:04,850 --> 00:19:10,730 turned out to be the ISIS winter we 416 00:19:08,390 --> 00:19:13,190 really solve the template for this in 417 00:19:10,730 --> 00:19:15,620 the Philippines in the 1980s and the 418 00:19:13,190 --> 00:19:18,350 most tragic element is that so many 419 00:19:15,620 --> 00:19:20,420 Filipinos were let down they wanted 420 00:19:18,350 --> 00:19:22,850 something better they wanted to move on 421 00:19:20,420 --> 00:19:25,490 and all they got they traded one dynasty 422 00:19:22,850 --> 00:19:27,340 from another only the economy got even 423 00:19:25,490 --> 00:19:32,000 worse crime got even higher 424 00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:34,520 neoliberalism privatization it was the 425 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:37,070 cold bath for most Filipinos was that 426 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:39,770 absolutely and the class of oligarchs 427 00:19:37,070 --> 00:19:41,930 that arose under this period were some 428 00:19:39,770 --> 00:19:44,360 of the most dingy and corrupt in the 429 00:19:41,930 --> 00:19:47,060 world so what happened next 430 00:19:44,360 --> 00:19:49,710 well the story that began with 431 00:19:47,060 --> 00:19:52,559 difficulty whose middle period remains 432 00:19:49,710 --> 00:19:55,200 virtual and whose most recent years were 433 00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:58,020 difficult as for me what I think is not 434 00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:00,899 only a happy ending but possibly one of 435 00:19:58,020 --> 00:20:04,799 the most inspiring stories in all of 436 00:20:00,899 --> 00:20:07,260 modern 21st century Asia even though 437 00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:09,750 we're the history boys and the show is 438 00:20:07,260 --> 00:20:12,779 the history boys sometimes a leader 439 00:20:09,750 --> 00:20:16,169 comes along who's historic the moment he 440 00:20:12,779 --> 00:20:16,919 takes office such a leader was Rodrigo 441 00:20:16,169 --> 00:20:19,080 Duterte 442 00:20:16,919 --> 00:20:23,460 who became president of the Philippines 443 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:27,240 in and I was going to say 1916 note he 444 00:20:23,460 --> 00:20:29,940 became president in 2016 after being the 445 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:32,070 mayor of Davao in Mindanao for many 446 00:20:29,940 --> 00:20:34,559 years he's the first-ever president of 447 00:20:32,070 --> 00:20:37,470 the Philippines from Mindanao the only 448 00:20:34,559 --> 00:20:39,510 one with a Muslim family background he 449 00:20:37,470 --> 00:20:42,149 himself was raised a Catholic walked 450 00:20:39,510 --> 00:20:43,799 away from the church after tragically 451 00:20:42,149 --> 00:20:44,490 being molested by an american-born 452 00:20:43,799 --> 00:20:48,270 priest 453 00:20:44,490 --> 00:20:50,010 interesting factoid there and so he was 454 00:20:48,270 --> 00:20:52,799 unique for his background but he was 455 00:20:50,010 --> 00:20:55,020 even more unique for his policies one of 456 00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:57,659 the first statements he made when he 457 00:20:55,020 --> 00:21:00,809 became president was the following I am 458 00:20:57,659 --> 00:21:04,559 the president of a sovereign state that 459 00:21:00,809 --> 00:21:07,649 has long ceased to be a colony I have no 460 00:21:04,559 --> 00:21:09,149 master but the Philippine people nobody 461 00:21:07,649 --> 00:21:12,000 but nobody 462 00:21:09,149 --> 00:21:14,429 I think that's possibly one of the most 463 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:17,070 important statements from any great 464 00:21:14,429 --> 00:21:20,340 Philippine nationalists since Rizal 465 00:21:17,070 --> 00:21:23,429 because even though colony colonialism 466 00:21:20,340 --> 00:21:27,059 technically ended in 46 this colonial 467 00:21:23,429 --> 00:21:29,880 mentality in terms of geostrategy in 468 00:21:27,059 --> 00:21:33,090 foreign policy in terms of economics in 469 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:35,340 terms of social policy it remained tied 470 00:21:33,090 --> 00:21:37,500 into the colonial mentality whether 471 00:21:35,340 --> 00:21:40,080 under marcos whether under the yellows 472 00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:41,669 who the liberals with the yellows we 473 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,460 call them in philippine caught in the 474 00:21:41,669 --> 00:21:45,539 philippine context and Duterte turned 475 00:21:44,460 --> 00:21:48,510 all of this around 476 00:21:45,539 --> 00:21:50,820 he went to Beijing and he said to XI I 477 00:21:48,510 --> 00:21:53,100 want to work with you rather than 478 00:21:50,820 --> 00:21:54,929 against you he turned to Donald Trump 479 00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:56,539 and he said well the Congress hates me 480 00:21:54,929 --> 00:21:59,460 if we can develop a good relationship 481 00:21:56,539 --> 00:22:01,710 that's great he has good relations with 482 00:21:59,460 --> 00:22:02,860 Russia his storied history making 483 00:22:01,710 --> 00:22:05,260 relations because 484 00:22:02,860 --> 00:22:07,420 the Philippines had very few relations 485 00:22:05,260 --> 00:22:10,240 with Russia previously opening up to 486 00:22:07,420 --> 00:22:13,030 India to Japan making peace with 487 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:15,520 Malaysia over old colonial relic 488 00:22:13,030 --> 00:22:18,280 territorial disputes in North Borneo 489 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:20,380 he's really been a man that's changed 490 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,570 his country for the better and he's a 491 00:22:20,380 --> 00:22:25,660 man that realized that fighting 492 00:22:22,570 --> 00:22:28,299 terrorism isn't only about fighting the 493 00:22:25,660 --> 00:22:31,000 man who says Allahu Akbar it isn't only 494 00:22:28,299 --> 00:22:33,940 fighting the man with a foreign flag it 495 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:35,890 is about fighting the terror that is the 496 00:22:33,940 --> 00:22:38,049 plague of narcotics which in the 497 00:22:35,890 --> 00:22:42,100 Philippine context means something very 498 00:22:38,049 --> 00:22:45,460 this this has been of course the most 499 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:47,799 controversial aspect of the Duterte 500 00:22:45,460 --> 00:22:50,740 period and you remind us it's only 501 00:22:47,799 --> 00:22:56,410 actually two years though it feels much 502 00:22:50,740 --> 00:22:59,049 longer Dean he's basically declared a 503 00:22:56,410 --> 00:23:00,970 war on drugs like most of the world but 504 00:22:59,049 --> 00:23:03,790 he's actually fighting a war on drugs 505 00:23:00,970 --> 00:23:06,100 it's not just a paper declaration is it 506 00:23:03,790 --> 00:23:08,470 it's it's a real war and the war wasn't 507 00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:11,290 declared by duterte the war was declared 508 00:23:08,470 --> 00:23:13,480 by terrorist organizations who fund 509 00:23:11,290 --> 00:23:16,150 their mass murder their head shopping 510 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:19,450 their arson with the sale of drugs the 511 00:23:16,150 --> 00:23:21,010 war was declared by the people who and I 512 00:23:19,450 --> 00:23:23,350 don't even know if I wanted to name the 513 00:23:21,010 --> 00:23:25,299 crimes but let the burning down of 514 00:23:23,350 --> 00:23:29,140 people's homes offer you've tortured 515 00:23:25,299 --> 00:23:31,330 them the raping of infant's and parts of 516 00:23:29,140 --> 00:23:33,850 towns were young women and even young 517 00:23:31,330 --> 00:23:37,210 men can't walk alone without facing 518 00:23:33,850 --> 00:23:39,790 disaster a war was declared by the drug 519 00:23:37,210 --> 00:23:42,400 users the drug dealers and the drug 520 00:23:39,790 --> 00:23:44,919 traffickers long before anyone outside 521 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,580 of Mindanao knew the name Rodrigo 522 00:23:44,919 --> 00:23:49,150 Duterte 523 00:23:45,580 --> 00:23:51,549 Duterte has fought back and what he said 524 00:23:49,150 --> 00:23:55,000 is while my opponents clamor on about 525 00:23:51,549 --> 00:23:57,070 human rights I care about human life the 526 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:59,620 most important human right because 527 00:23:57,070 --> 00:24:02,169 without that no other human right would 528 00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:03,429 be possible and another rumor to quash 529 00:24:02,169 --> 00:24:06,040 while we're at it 530 00:24:03,429 --> 00:24:08,799 his opponents who become increasingly 531 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:10,840 hysterical have inflated the numbers of 532 00:24:08,799 --> 00:24:13,000 those who have killed who have who have 533 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:15,910 been killed they say it's 20,000 it's 534 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,180 4,000 they say that he gives shoot to 535 00:24:15,910 --> 00:24:18,400 kill 536 00:24:16,180 --> 00:24:21,400 orders he specifically told law 537 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:23,710 enforcement only use a lethal weapon 538 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:26,200 if your life or the life of a civilian 539 00:24:23,710 --> 00:24:28,930 is in danger he's offered medical 540 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:31,390 rehabilitation to all of those who have 541 00:24:28,930 --> 00:24:34,300 taken advantage of an amnesty and 542 00:24:31,390 --> 00:24:36,820 instead of pouring money into corrupt 543 00:24:34,300 --> 00:24:39,160 policing and corrupt politicians who for 544 00:24:36,820 --> 00:24:41,170 decades were on the take from the Norco 545 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,730 industry he's done something that the 546 00:24:41,170 --> 00:24:45,160 United States hasn't been able to 547 00:24:42,730 --> 00:24:47,620 achieve and offer a universal health 548 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:50,110 care package to all Filipinos which was 549 00:24:47,620 --> 00:24:54,580 signed very recently it's been a 550 00:24:50,110 --> 00:24:58,900 grueling two years and one regularly 551 00:24:54,580 --> 00:25:01,990 hears reports that President duterte may 552 00:24:58,900 --> 00:25:04,210 have had enough that he may not complete 553 00:25:01,990 --> 00:25:07,800 his term that he won't run for another 554 00:25:04,210 --> 00:25:11,370 term I'm one of the problems with such a 555 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:15,810 big figure a big personality as him is 556 00:25:11,370 --> 00:25:19,210 that there's not to deter T's it's not 557 00:25:15,810 --> 00:25:21,210 the kind of man who comes along three 558 00:25:19,210 --> 00:25:24,910 four or five at a time 559 00:25:21,210 --> 00:25:29,230 is everything dependent on him and if so 560 00:25:24,910 --> 00:25:30,910 is he prepared to go on well duterte is 561 00:25:29,230 --> 00:25:33,040 quite unique because while there are 562 00:25:30,910 --> 00:25:35,530 many ethical politicians and many 563 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:37,750 austere politicians in terms of their 564 00:25:35,530 --> 00:25:41,560 personal life I've never come across 565 00:25:37,750 --> 00:25:45,160 anyone as personally austere and sincere 566 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:46,900 as Duterte Lee Kuan Yew was a man from 567 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,300 an intellectual background who was 568 00:25:46,900 --> 00:25:51,850 nevertheless austere but duterte is a 569 00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:54,250 man whose philosophy which is an 570 00:25:51,850 --> 00:25:57,280 incredibly deep and wide philosophy it 571 00:25:54,250 --> 00:25:59,320 comes from his experiences do tell his 572 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,360 biggest challenge which could also be 573 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:03,520 his biggest success is bringing 574 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:06,100 constitutional reform to the country 575 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:09,490 right now there are ports of Manila that 576 00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:11,770 look as beautiful as Singapore but the 577 00:26:09,490 --> 00:26:14,680 rest of the country is working for what 578 00:26:11,770 --> 00:26:16,590 Filipinos today call Imperial Manila so 579 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:19,330 is this a fourth colonial power 580 00:26:16,590 --> 00:26:21,340 previously - do tell previous - duterte 581 00:26:19,330 --> 00:26:23,620 you could say so so he wants to 582 00:26:21,340 --> 00:26:25,990 federalize the country while many of his 583 00:26:23,620 --> 00:26:28,750 most ardent supporters both Filipinos 584 00:26:25,990 --> 00:26:29,770 and those who love the Philippines want 585 00:26:28,750 --> 00:26:32,650 to see a transition 586 00:26:29,770 --> 00:26:34,600 from a chaotic American presidential 587 00:26:32,650 --> 00:26:36,610 style system that frankly makes the 588 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:39,760 American system seem streamline and 589 00:26:36,610 --> 00:26:42,270 that's saying a Martin 2018 they want to 590 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:45,640 shift to a Singapore or Malaysia style 591 00:26:42,270 --> 00:26:47,770 parliamentary system which could be more 592 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:50,620 based on one's merit than on one's 593 00:26:47,770 --> 00:26:53,830 connections to various oligarchs or to 594 00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:56,500 various yellow barons and in this sense 595 00:26:53,830 --> 00:26:58,720 there could be the next Duterte in fact 596 00:26:56,500 --> 00:27:01,350 there is one and her name is Sarah 597 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:04,840 she is right now the mayor of Davao and 598 00:27:01,350 --> 00:27:07,420 she may well be the next Duterte both 599 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:10,600 literally and in other ways hopefully 600 00:27:07,420 --> 00:27:13,570 though as pricey daughter yes and she's 601 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:16,270 running and doing well in politics she's 602 00:27:13,570 --> 00:27:18,910 very popular as she stepped into her 603 00:27:16,270 --> 00:27:21,429 father's footsteps in Davao and many 604 00:27:18,910 --> 00:27:24,309 people are saying in the near future she 605 00:27:21,429 --> 00:27:27,070 may well become a leading figure whether 606 00:27:24,309 --> 00:27:29,830 under a presidential system or a pro or 607 00:27:27,070 --> 00:27:32,140 a possible parliamentary system but many 608 00:27:29,830 --> 00:27:33,850 people are saying that she will she's 609 00:27:32,140 --> 00:27:36,460 accompanied her father on some of this 610 00:27:33,850 --> 00:27:39,640 most important foreign trips she's very 611 00:27:36,460 --> 00:27:42,280 clever she's if anything even tougher 612 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:44,230 than her father's so she's a woman to 613 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:48,250 look out for she can really hold her own 614 00:27:44,230 --> 00:27:50,920 well you've surprised me with that but 615 00:27:48,250 --> 00:27:53,470 then the history boys usually it does 616 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:55,720 I'd been George Galloway and I'd been 617 00:27:53,470 --> 00:27:56,380 Adam Geary we have been the history of 618 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:07,279 boys 619 00:27:56,380 --> 00:28:07,279 [Music]