On the Quest for Freedom and Independence

The Philippine quest for freedom and independence, first emphasized in the waging of wars on many fronts still continues its zeal in many forms. The quest for freedom does not end with a great victory in war. Freedom is likewise secured through countless efforts of individuals who seek to constantly empower themselves and their communities.

In the case of the Philippines in the 21st Century, the freedom to achieve genuine and sustainable progress for its people is the utmost goal. It is a goal which the Philippine Government believes is now achievable.

The strides the Philippine Government has made in governance, in the economy, in fighting poverty, in improving the general well-being of the citizenry and in the Philippine standing in the global community are but a few approaches to achieve the nation's objectives.

Freedom and independence go hand in hand. One cannot be free if he is not independent. A child cannot be considered free if he still depends on his parents for everything. In the same way that a nation cannot be acknowledged as free if it is not independent of its colonizers.

Although it is by popular belief the Philippines is free, I tend to think otherwise. The Philippines may be rid of the presence of conquerors but the country has, nonetheless, never ceased to be a political vassal of the United States. The Philippines is not entirely independent of foreign aid, most especially the United States. The United States is considered the powerhouse of the world, financially and militarily,or so we thought. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are both based in Washington which is minutes away from the White House. So if a country should apply for financial aid, representatives of these applicant countries would have to present themselves to the United States Government. Much opinion has been reserved considering the 2007 World Financial Crisis that have spiraled from the deterioration of the U.S. Labor Market, the rise of oil prices, collapse of mortgage -backed securities, emigration, and overproduction of goods. Effects of this financial catastrophe caused the interbank market to freeze completely largely due to prevailing fear of the unknown amidst banks.Central banks purchased US$2.5 trillion of government debt and troubled private assets from banks. Central banks in England, China, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland,and the European Central Bank also resorted to rate cuts to aid the world economy. As such, if the United States' Economy should be in a shambles, financially dependent countries are in a dangerous position of losing their economies as well. In the case of the Philippines during this World Financial Meltdown, the Philippines miraculously survived the tragedy considering that our economy was expedited by Overseas Filipino Workers whose remittances became one of the key components of the Philippine Economy. The Philippines, during the 2007 World