DELA CRUZ, MA. RACHELLE G.

2014-01643-MN-0

BPS 3-1 March 15, 2016

Our Mendicant Foreign Policy

For many years, the Philippines had become a nation with frail limbs and lethargic mind
that is unable to stand on its own feet and think of its own self. We had found complacent in the
attitude of dependency to our powerful friends without even realizing what their true aspirations
are. We had been corrupted with the "all is well mentality" which unwarily forsaken our own
national security and independence.

The author highlighted the importance of the complementing relationship of domestic

and foreign policy. Domestic policy must be dominant from the foreign policy since it should be
just an extension of its implementation. However, over the years, the Philippine domestic policy
which intends to be predicated upon the welfare, happiness and prosperity of the people has
been subordinated by a foreign policy, that is only a product of foreign interferences. This
tragedy of our foreign policy was caused by our sense of sentimentalism and emotionalism in
the matters affecting international relations. And this is explicitly seen in the Philippine-American
relations. We were blinded by the myth of "special relations" with the Americans and that we are
having a mutual gain in cooperating with each other. Though we were just fed upon the thought
that we are somehow the favorite children of America, in which she was driven by affection for
our people, and hence will never forsake us nor sacrifice our interests to her own or to those of
others for her own sake. And as we genuinely consider our sentimental attachment with them, it
obliges us to preserve the friendship that we have. Yet what is true on our foreign policy is that
we are subordinating our interests to those of America's to the point that we already devalued
our own freedom and sovereignty. Moreover, our foreign policy has failed to meet the minimum
requirement that it is a necessity to have a legitimate, efficient and an honest government that
will lead the nation along the course of self-help, self-reliance, withstanding the reality of our
independence. And for the late Sen. Claro M. Recto, he has longed believed that we shouldn't
isolate ourselves from our neighbors. We shall pursue a foreign policy that is oriented toward a
closer cooperation with our fellow Asians and established an Asian nationalism.

Examining the world during the 1950s, it could be seen that we were a victim of Cold
War. We were encouraged to oppose and fight the expansion of communism in Asia for the
promises of assistance and protection from our traditional ally, America. We were told to have a
faith in them, for they don't let us down in the past and will never let us down. We had allowed
them to establish foreign bases in our own territory to serve as protection but it turned out that
such "protection" is a myth. The agreements signed for the establishment of mutual bases only
impairs Philippine's sovereignty. Since, in reality, the true purpose of these bases was not a
two-way street, it only promotes and protects the interests of United States. Assessing the
errors of this unequal relationship between America and Philippines, late Sen. Claro M. Recto
had concluded that our foreign policy was mendicant. We were beggars for foreign favors
despite us being an independent nation. We tend to acquire the habits and mentality of colonials
despite us being citizens of a republic. Thus, late Sen. Recto propounded a realist foreign
policy. And to develop this policy, we must end our complacent mentality and start protecting
the fundamental and persistent interests of the state to safeguard our security as a nation.
Furthermore, we must look out for ourselves first because no one else will and in receiving
assistance, we should base our desires on self-help before outside help.
 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2014 under the Aquino
administration. This agreement between the United States and the Philippines envisioned
advancing the implementation of PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty in which intended to bolster the
US-PH alliance. Its purpose was for interoperability, capacity building towards AFP
modernization, strengthening AFP for external defense, maritime security, maritime domain
awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. However, it could be seen that its
purposes and the two major factors that lead to its establishment have leant again on the
interests of the United of States than our country's interests. First, the strategic pivot of Obama
administration in Asia which poised to ensure the stability in Asia by "protecting" its allies hid
their own aspiration of balancing China's unstoppable emergence. Second, EDCA also allows
United States to intervene on our territorial claims with China by training the PH troops on their
territorial defense capabilities in which in reality they just want to counter China's expansionism
in the South China Sea. EDCA, with its controversial nature, may bring instability in the region
since the United States is not really legally obligated to support and protect PH territorial claims.
It only proves us that until now, we continue to depend on and believe in the "protection myth" of
the United States to our country, by granting US troop special rights and privileges that could be
a threat and hampered the country's sovereignty. Also it shows that our foreign policy wasn't
able to cope up with the changes and evolve even after this speech of Recto in 1951.