Do you ever recall a time when the Philippines was a great nation?

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: The time of Pres. Magsaysay was the most peaceful and prosperous era of our nation. But he didn’t live long enough to lead our country to greater heights.  

Yes, everytime gritty Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao wins, we become a great nation, but after a while balik sa dating gawi.  

Were we ever?

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: I’m already in my ’30s but I do not recall a time when the Philippines was a great nation or maybe I’m just too cynical to remember.  Maricel Maralit, Naga City

No, our country has always been stagnant.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Sadly, in all the years of my consciousness, I have never felt our nation to be great, though we used to have great statesmen like Recto, Diokno, Tanada and Salonga. Manuel Quezon’s “I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a country run like heaven by Americans” must have given our presidents the license to run our country like hell.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: I’m trying real hard to recall but it’s all for naught. It’s always been this way and probably will be even far beyond my lifetime.  

I don’t think we’ve ever really been a great nation; it annoys me even when people say “We could have been a great nation if not for (whoever) ruining it all.” The term “could have been” refers to the past, and we can never change that. We can also never see where our paths will take us. We simply have to keep building amidst all the obstacles that our global society throws at us, and greatness will never be out of reach.  

June Deoferio, Cavite: Since I was born in 1960 and until now, I could not recall a time that our country was a great nation. Most corrupt nation, maybe?  

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: I was born in the late ’60s. I don’t recall that we were ever a great nation. I don’t know what P-noy means about bringing back our greatness.  

People Power I made us great

Yes, during the first Edsa ‘People Power’ Revolution when all people regardless of creed, color, status and affiliation, joined hands to topple a dictator, without bloodshed. People all over the world looked up to us with awe and respect, making us very proud to be Filipinos. Prior to that, we were looked down on, with ridicule. As an ex-OFW, I am living witness to these events.  Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City

After we toppled Marcos during the bloodless Edsa 1 revolution, our country became great and famous worldwide. It’s a pity we failed to nurture its gains.  Ruel Bautista, Laguna

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Yes, the Philippines became great during and after the first Edsa Revolution wherein Filipino people power toppled a corrupt, immoral and dictatorial government.  

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: That we toppled a dictator through a bloodless revolution makes our nation great. Our Edsa 1 gained the respect of millions and the envy of many countries.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: That was February 1986. The world watched in disbelief the unfolding of a crucial event in the Philippines’ short-lived Edsa 1 People Power.  

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: I really can’t recall a time when the Philippines was a great nation. The closest that we ever reached that point was during the 1986 Edsa Revolution. We were then the center of admiration in the entire world for toppling a dictator through a peaceful and bloodless revolution. The late President Cory Aquino was hailed as a hero. Unfortunately, this admiration was dampened by succeeding coups mounted by some ambitious members of the military with the backing of wayward politicians. Our country’s economy never had a chance to get off the ground.  

Eric Gopilan, Quezon City: Yes, during the Edsa people power of 1986. It was a momentous time. We show the world that we can all be united for a common goal.  

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: The people’s jubilation and rekindled hope made the Philippines a great nation during the 1986 People Power Revolution at Edsa. This is a singular event that touched Filipinos and the whole world.  

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: Yes, we have been a great nation two times and the whole world was amazed by our phenomenal greatness. Unfortunately, those two times of our greatness were both short-lived. The first was when we mounted a bloodless revolution in 1986 to successfully oust the dictator. The second was in 2001 when we forced the plunderer to give up his presidency. Let us hope that the forthcoming Noynoy Aquino administration will be a new dawn of greatness for our nation.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Almost all past presidents have tried to make the Philippines a great nation, but all of them miserably failed.  

Yes, during Pres. Macapagal’s time

As far as I can recall, the Philippines during the time of President Macapagal was considered a promising economy next to Japan. Though an American ally, we gained political prominence in the international scene with the ascension of our Carlos P. Romulo to the presidency of the United Nations’ General Assembly. Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia had yet to rise economically while Communist China was still embroiled in its internal problems. Sadly, the Marcos-Erap-Arroyo Trio Los Malos brought our country to misery and deprivation capped by our present appelation as Asia’s most corrupt and as the world’s supplier of cheap labor and domestic helpers. What a letdown.  

During Magsaysay’s presidency

Lucas Madamba III, USA: The Philippines was a great nation during the presidency of Ramon Magsaysay, who was most loved and revered by the Filipino people. Magsaysay opened Malacañang to the people, making it a “house of the people.” He also exhibited simplicity, humility, hard work, patriotic and democratic dedication with God-centered qualities. His leadership marked the golden years of the Philippines.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: The Philippines was a great nation during the presidency of Ramon Magsaysay and the Edsa 1 revolution.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: My parents say it was during the time of the late Pres. Ramon Magsaysay.  

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Pres. Marcos once declared that he would make our nation great again. I doubt if that great nation he referred to was during the Magsaysay regime, when peace and order were in place and prices of prime commodities were low. He could have likely referred to the Philippines under American rule when the words “graft” and “corruption” were alien to most people. Public service was reliable despite being antiquated compared to today’s bureaucracy.  

When RP was second to Japan economically

Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: We could still remember when our country was second to Japan in everything, but because of greed, graft and corruption, we lost our way.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Yes, the years before Marcos rigged the ’69 elections for his second term, foreign students were studying in RP. We were next to Japan in progress then after FM was sworn in. The peso floated from P4=$1 to P7=$1. The Marcos administration was all sham and glitter, until Edsa 1 kicked the conjugal dictatorship out, but RP has never recovered since.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: It was during the ’50s and the ’60s. Our Blue Diamonds flew unchallenged over any part of sea, we were second to Japan economically and militarily, and the exchange rate was $1:P2. We had Peftok and the Philcag sent to Korea and Vietnam. Now, we send our daughters and sisters as DHs and caregivers.  

The Marcos era was a period of greatness

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: During the Marcos era, we had discipline, a high standard of living, a strong economy, the US bases, a fair peso/dollar exchange rate and a lower crime rate.  Rey Onate, Palayan City: Yes, in the early years of the Marcos regime. Natural food sources were in abundance then while prices of basic commodities were stable.  

Yes, in the first five years of the ’70s. It was the time when the whole country was connected by the Maharlika highway and the statesmanship of the of the President is regionally known and the arrogance of an oligarch clan was well-subdued and curtailed.  

Right after World War II

Loi Castillo, Davao City: Well, according to history books, the Philippines was a great nation right after WWII because we had the most advanced armed forces then. Our country was high in morale when we participated in the Korean War fighting communists side by side with other UN forces. I could feel the intensity of our greatness even when I was not born yet at that time. What is left of us now is politics, politics and politics!  

Before WWII

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: I was born years before WWII and I can recall that life then was peaceful and orderly. Even petty crime that happened would be the talk of the town for weeks that many were ashamed even to engage in a fistfight. There was no college in Nueva Ecija then and only a few pursued their tertiary education in Manila. Despite limited formal education, people were courteous, helpful, reliable and responsible. People were religious and had word of honor. Though our life then was simple sans the amenities of today’s lifestyle, I cherish that time when we were a great nation.  

We survived the global financial crisis

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Three years ago, almost all countries suffered due to the global recession but our country maintained its growth despite deficits and distractions.  

When the US gave its nod for RP Independence

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: In my lifetime, there were brief momentary periods of greatness for our nation. The first was when Quezon, et al. got the nod of America for Philippine Independence. We were euphoric! Second, it was when our fighting men in Bataan and Corregidor fought valiantly side by side with Americans. Then we had the promise of a new day during those momentous days at Edsa known as Edsa I for a short-lived greatness only to crumble soon after, alas.  

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: When we reclaimed our independence from foreign invaders, I think these were times when we were great, proud and unified.  Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The Philippines was great in the early 1900s when it was a colony of America. The Paris of Asia was not located in Japan or Hong Kong but right here in Escolta, Manila. Tranvia crossed the streets of Manila. The US dollar was at par with the Philippine peso. Elementary pupils were fluent in English. Even immediately after WWII, the Philippines was still number two in Asia for quite a while. But those were the days.  

When we were struggling for freedom

Nony de Leon, Malolos City: From 1896 to 1945, when we were still struggling to be free, we were on track for greatness. When we became free, we slowed down while other nations who became free later overtook us. There have been great Filipinos but we have never as yet achieved greatness as a nation.  

Tony Gomez, Parañaque City: The pre-war era was a time when the Philippines was a great nation. No squatters, people were polite and honest, and the President was respectable.  

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: During the time of Dr. Jose Rizal, our forebears fought with arrows and bolos against guns and cannons. Our ancestors were armed with one common goal, that is, to stand up for our liberty.  

Episodes of heroism

Felix Ramento, USA: No, I have no recollection except from history particularly of the heroism of Lapu-lapu and our forebears during the 1898 revolution and WWII. Looking back, all other struggles have since been petty and selfishly motivated, including Edsa I.  

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., _Cabanatuan City: From what I have read, the greatness of the Philippines peaked during the time of Rizal and Bonifacio, our two greatest heroes. It started to fall apart when an envious Aguinaldo snatched the presidency in a very treacherous manner from its rightful owner Bonifacio. After that ugly incident in our history, the Philippines has never been great again.  

RP was once regarded as the new Asian tiger

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: During the ’90s, I recall RP being regarded as the new tiger of Asia. This meant that the prospects of the country, in comparison to most of Southeast Asia, were very bright and the country received great attention from global businesses. Unfortunately, the “boom” never came to be because we Pinoys have this horrible habit of gleefully indulging in self-destruction.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: In the ‘60s, the country was touted as next Tiger of Asia. Suddenly it went pfft in the ‘70s. Until other Asean neighbors overtook us.  

We pulled off a successful automated election

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: On May 10, 2010, we became a great nation through a successful first automated election, and overwhelmingly electing Noynoy on a promise of change.  

A figment of Marcos’ and Arroyo’s imagination

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: I do recall a time when the Philippines was a great nation, but it was only in the minds of Marcos and Arroyo during their respective regimes.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: No, but I now recall what Marcos said: “This nation can be great again”. The word ‘again’ will tell us it happened. As to when it happened, he did not elaborate.  

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