Forty years ago, the Philippines was the most highly developed Southeast Asian country. It boasted the best-educated population in the region, and it seemed to be on the edge of sustained industrialization and economic development. By the late 1960s, however, Philippine development had been derailed. Through the 1980s and the 199s, the country's economy failed to outpace its population growth, resulting in declining living standards for the poor and the middle class. The country's educational and health system declined during the dismal decades of the 1980s and 1990s. The main reason of the depression was Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship. He wasted hundreds of millions of dollars, and his regime instituted a kind of crony capitalism. It means that the president's close friends are either legally or illegally given business advantages in return for their political support. It seemed that corrupt officials and well-connected businessman stole more money from the state. Marcos declared military law in 1972 and suspended Philippine democracy, revolutionary activity intensified and the country began to fall into a downward spiral. People lost their faith and they started to look for other opportunities outside from the country. People usually work overseas. Men typically work in the construction industry, women as nurses or domestic servants. One can usually see that teachers leave their profession because the salary is low and they cannot support their family anymore. They work as nannies, and maids in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. The educational standard is in trouble because of the loss of so many teachers. By the mid 1990s, the Philippines economy showed some signs of revival. The government tried to solve some problems in terms of infrastructure, electricity, and

Some topics in this essay:
Ferdinand Marcos', Howard Taft, Southeast Asian, Ferdinand Marcos, Bataan Corregidor, Republic Philippines, History Philippines, Arab Emirates, November December, Quezon Commonwealth, dry season, republic philippines, filipino people, rainy season, world war ii, independence spain, world war, tenant farmers, united spain, war ii, hostilities broke,