What if Philippines became a state of the United States?

@JBrulez (663)
Philippines
July 13, 2007 4:15am CST
In the history of the Philippines we were colonized by foreigners. One of them is the United State, and at one point their was an issue that the US was interested of making Philippines as one of their outside states. If that had happened, what do you think would be the lifestyle of the Filipinos now? Is poverty still present? Imagine not too apply of any visa anymore just to go to the States? The Philippines could also serve as a military base for the US in the Pacific like the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii? No more peso but dollar? Is it an advantage or what?
2 people like this
17 responses
@AmbiePam (84630)
• United States
13 Jul 07
The U.S. has poverty and crime, so why would joining the United States make poverty go away? But if any place was going to be part of the U.S. as a state, it would be Puerto Rico since it is a U.S. territory. I don't think that will happen either, nor do I want it to happen.
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
14 Jul 07
you have a point..tnx for the response.
1 person likes this
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
25 Jul 07
That's a nice history trivia you got there Ipe.. I envy your knowledge on history..(:
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 Jul 07
Actually the Philippines was a commonwealth of the US from November 15, 1935 to July 4, 1946 when the US recognized the independence of the Philippines. Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth in 1952. The other current commonwealth of the US aside from Puerto Rico is the Northern Mariana Islands.
@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
If the Philippines was colonized by the US during that time, our country might still be the same wherein poverty is still present, though there would be more presence of American military amongst us. It may be safer, since the laws may be more reinforced. The Philippines is too far off from the US that it can be taken cared of 24/7. Visas being open to the US may also be conditional, as there might be people from other countries to try to flock to our country just to get that visa. The biggest thing that would be lost, is the loss of our Heritage. This is the one thing that our people have fought for.
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@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
i am proud of our heroes and will praise our heritage whereever i go. but as i pass on the streets of the urban cities i cannot stomach the life of those people living below the poverty line. those without food, streetchildrens who reminds me that there is no more hope left of this country. the point is, does heritage be the priority if this is the case. i believe uplifting the lives of our fellow countrymen is the most important at this point. and come to think about it, what kind of freedom did our heroes fought for if we are not yet socially,economically and politically independent?
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@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
You might be correct on that point, right now that there are a lot of individuals here that drive our country into ruins, only thinking about themselves. And due to lack of education, more people suffer from poverty and are deprived of knowledge on how to help themselves without stepping on other people to get what they want... However, the US did not come to be what it is now because of pure luck.... they valued their heritage, and their people's education. We need to change of viewpoint on how to be successful, prioritize on education, ask people to join hands and work together. However the current problem that we have on hand, is that our people does not trust the leaders, which you could not help it, right?
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@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
14 Jul 07
It is the best thing to do for now, we should trust our government stop any kind of oppositions that prolongs government programs from working its way and achieving its supposed goal. but sometimes we can't blame our people who don't trust the government, because the government themselves doesn't trust each other or not united.they point fingers at each at their consuming all the time supposed to be alloted for them to work on how to solve our country's problems. well ,all we can do is to hope for the best and pray for the progress of our beloved country.
1 person likes this
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
14 Jul 07
Trying to want to be re-colonized by America or ceded as the 53rd state of america is probably not the best thing for the nationalism of the proud Philipino! They love their svereignty and independence, they only need to manage their politics, create wealth and kick poverty out of their country and there will be asolutely no reason to want an imperialist power to take over their independence! Instead of recolonization, let the Philipino leaders invite American Investors to help them create wealth for the people in the Philipines as n Indpendent country.
1 person likes this
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
14 Jul 07
i just wish thats as easy you think. but with the way our polliticians our running our country right now,well i doubt it..and its remote from happening.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
I think there would be a lot of pinoys that will be happy since there are many pinoys abroad that will be able to freely travel to mainland US without the hassle of going to the embassy just to be able to work and travel to us. But I think there will be lots also who will oppose especially those that are very anti american. So i guess US will not be interested in annexing us to be the next state of their country. There is too much problem to solve in here that will become more of a liability to them than an asset.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
25 Jul 07
Its true what you're saying about our situation but I would say again that I don't think Americans would be interested in taking us in anymore becuase of the situation we are in. We would likely be more a liability to them than an asset. I think if I am an American I wouldn't adopt a country as chaotic as ours. They might choose us as an ally but in mananging our affairs they are happy just overlooking and manipulating our political system rather than taking full control of our country. They have plenty of problems they are holding that is more of their interest like the Oil in Iraq and controlling their price vs. the oil in the middle east.
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@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
24 Jul 07
The aituation of many many Filipinos right now is very pittyful.. They can't have their own house to shelter them,they don't get to eat three times in one day and worst is that they can't have something to buy for medicines in case they are sick.. Its really heart-breaking to see our fellow kababayans at this kind of condition. That is why if you ask these poor guys they would definetly answer yes because they know that Amerika is ahuge country of opportunity and they can at some way find a solution to their hellish life right now.. Look at those Mexicans who goes accross the border and they suddenly find jobs and even become rich.. It's really a big opportunity not for all those anti-americans but to those who are in poverty..
2 people like this
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
i will go for the philippine to become a US state than for it to be run by corrupt filipino politicians. with our politicians right now, poverty will still exist in the philippines for so many years. with our present politicians in the philippines today, we will never escape poverty.
1 person likes this
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
you have a point my friend. as much as you do, i really hate and disgust Filipino politicians because they are nothing but opportunists. i just wish for the best of this country and i hope our politics will become mature enough to level with that of the great and progressive countries..
1 person likes this
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
I guess it would be much better if it would happen. It would be a very great help for us. It might sound bad for our reputation but speaking of poverty, the Philippine government really has no ability to avoid it. We are a third-world country. Without the OFWs our economy might have fallen so much that we would be like African countries. But if will be under US, many privileges would be available for us. I myself am a very poor man and I am hoping for some kind of job. Here in the Philippines it is so hard to be employed. But in the US it is not the case. A friend of mine is now working in US and he told me that he really had a good pay there. It would really be an advantage for us to be under US. But I know that pride is the essence of a Filipino. So i guess it is so impossible for us to be a state of US.
1 person likes this
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
so much for pride when the source of livinghood for our countrymen is at stake. pride will not do us any better. we cannot convert it to food to feed our starving families. US is the land for opportunity for us unemployed. but i agree it is remote that we will become a state of the US.
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@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
13 Jul 07
There would still be poverty but you would get food stamps and welfare checks so people can be lazy and not work.
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@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
i agree my friend
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@vonn1378 (706)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
For sure there will be pros and cons. And to think that our heroes fought for our independence and suddenly we are under them again. If you were one of those, what would you feel?
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
i think it's impractical nowadays because there is the united nations that serves as a watch dog for colonizers. what im saying is that, would the lives of Filipinos be better if we are citizens of America..i think itss cool.
2 people like this
@pascard (20)
• United States
14 Jul 07
that would be nice but i dont thinks that gonna happen. With the present economic condition of our country i dont think US would welcome that idea. especially that we have here the abu sayaff group which we all know have links to al-qaida, that idea is next to impossible. The problem with us filipinos is that we cant get rid of the crab mentality, the manana habit and all the bad influences from our colonizers. I just wonder why we cant do what vietnam, and other south east asian countries did to improve their country. If you would just compare our country with the rest of the asean countries, they made a lot of improvement, what about us? . . . . becoming worst. What we need to do is . . . . we have to make a lot of changes . . . we have to make a lot of improvements. Kung talagang gusto nating umangat dapat tayong magbago. . . . .
• United States
14 Jul 07
hindi lang ako, hindi lang ikaw, dapat lahat sabay sabay. Isa lang ang dapat nating isipin, and isang bagay kung gusto nating gawin maraming paraan, kung ayaw nating gawin maraming dahilan. . . . .
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
14 Jul 07
ang pagbabago ay magsisimula sa sarili mo. lalong lalo na ung mga nakaupo. because nothing will really happen to our country if the ones we expect to make a change are the ones who are making it worst. im pointing on our politicians.they will surely go to hell for what they are doinh with our country.hehe
@tweener (26)
• Philippines
20 Jul 07
I personally think that its gud for the Philippines to be part of the United States.. I heeard that your having problem with some of your terrorist there in your country, and your enot economic and politically stable.. would you tell me more about this..
@vlq2n22 (27)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
I agree. What did our heroes really fought for? Freedom from what? The greatest freesom we can have is from our PRIDE. WE are still living in a country "run like hell by Filipinos" as Quezon wanted it to be because of pride. I am imagining a country run like heaven by the Americans. Thre are American Indians, African Americans, Spanish Americans. Fil-Americans sounds good I am too old to go to mainland for good- it is not in my agenda though. This is a beautiful country if only it could be run like heaven!!
1 person likes this
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
your right my friend. America is the land opportunity for every citizen of the world.. its a dream for us people living in the third world countries to step into this world. just think about hawaii.we almost and almost became similar with it...
2 people like this
@nahtan (150)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I don't think it would be such a good idea. Just imagine the cultural differences. Not all US policies would work in the Philippines. We would also be more caught up with the messy state of US-Asia politics. Sure, we would have increased wealth and infrastructure, but at what cost?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Jul 07
Most filipinos are dreamers, but they are not doing anything about it to reach for their dreams. as for me, i would not want my country to be under another state because i still hold on to my belief that if only filipinos will cooperate in achieving an economic improvement then we can stand on our own. just like into an employer-employee rel'p, the boss would take control everything into it's hands so the latter has no option to resist. the US have already gained from our resources and take advantage to our former leaders stupidity, they can do that again bcoz they are powerful. Singapore and Japan have struggled so hard to be on her solid ground today, can't we also do that? it's not yet late. if only, the essence of Rizal's 'nationality' is alive in being valued nowadays then there should be no corruption, resisting militant groups, poverty, and every root of all problems. how i wish all of us should have only one heart to prevail for the purpose of making philippines a better place to live in then wooh.. i'L die happy. in the first place, we're agriculturally & nat'lly rich. it takes a partnership effort!
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
22 Jul 07
You have brilliant thoughts my friend.. I also would like the same thing to happen. Your absolutely right we are rich in agriculture and natural resources.. My only question is would these resouces be enough to supply our big population.. The scary part is our resouces are depleting or deterioarating while our population is blooming..
@nofear07 (48)
• Philippines
9 Aug 07
For us Filipinos, we have different opinions. There are some who don't agree and some are agree. Yes, considering that Philippines is one of the state of America I can say that our country will not suffer no more, their is progress and peacefulness. If we will become a state of U.S. I think there are atleast few terrorist here in our country right now because of such military bases. But the case is how about those Filipino people who are against the America?..I think the tendency is they'll ruin the plans of U.S.. Considering the Filipinos who fight for our freedom especially our National Heroes, I believe that their hopes and dreams about our country will not became a province or maybe state of any powerful country like U.S...How is that?
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
10 Aug 07
Yap your right. Some of us will be pleased and excited if we become a state of the most powerful nation. i am pertaining to those living below the poverty line. These poor people are more than happy that finally they will an opportunity to grab. Their problems will be addressed by the American Government and so they will have a prosperous life.. But as you have said there will be people who will contradict this idea of merging. I don't blame them because aour country will be at risk to foreign attacks from the enemy of the US. We can be the target spot of North Korea because we are the closest stae to them. I believe your from the Philippines so I ask you where what will you gonna do if our country becomes a battleground for US and its enemies? Are you gonna fight or are you gonna run?
@erikbench (169)
• Philippines
9 Aug 07
no prob wd me hehe..
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
I believe the Philippines would be better off it were one of the states of the U.S.A. Life wouldn't be perfect but it sure would be better than the current rut the country is in.
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
14 Jul 07
you have a point my friend. lot of Filipinos really need help, and only a foreign country can save them. there is a very little glimpse of hope left in this country but i think it won't be enough.
• Saudi Arabia
27 Aug 07
hello mr.JBrulez, in history many other contries are colonized by foreigners, so its not that philippines again want to be colonized, my friend ferdom is most importent thing of life, i don't know the history of philippines but i know your elder give too many secrifices to get ferdom, but in my opinion one should dont lose his ferdom, and big country like philippine no way, the life after become a stat of usa is worse, thou iraq and afan is not state but controled by usa, you can observe there......,