5.2

In this learning guide, we have seen how our lives have always been tied to global processes. Hopefully by now, we have an answer to the question: Is the world really small? As we look at our world today, it is discernible that what poses a problem in the Philippines today has also been a problem in another country. Simultaneously, our connections with the rest of the world have been more complicated than it was centuries ago. Today, we have been deeply interconnected economically, politically, and culturally on a much global scale.

As we reflect on our economy today, the Philippines has mostly been dependent on incomes with global connections. From remittances that we receive from Filipinos working as migrant laborers (OFWs) to the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry that the Philippines provide to foreign clients, our economic activities have been primarily influenced by our connections with the rest of the world. Moreover, other than the human capital that we have provided, the Philippines remain an exporter of machinery, woods, minerals like gold and copper,crops, fruits, and other agricultural products to other Asian countries, in many parts of Europe, and North America. In addition, we cannot deny how our tourism industry has also been a primary source of income for many of our fellow Filipinos. With our signing of treaties and membership to many economic organizatitons, we have become importers of other products from other states we do business with. Thus, we can say that our economy has always been intertwined with the other economies of other states.

Politically, we have a long history of interconnection with our Asian neighbors and even with the colonizers of the west. In our history, we have learned how the communities in our archipelago during the pre-colonial period were engaged in trades with China and many communities in Southeast Asia. When the long-distance trade routes were discovered, we learned how the Philippine shore had played a critical role in the development of many developed states in the West. As a colonized state by three powers, these connections have not been removed, more so they remain to be deeply rooted in our system of government, education, economy, culture, and etc. As an independent state now, our membership with many political organizations such as ASEAN, UN, WTO, World Bank, and others proves how these connections have been formalized today.

Finally, despite passionate nationalist writings about the influence of Western culture, we continue to hold the West in high regard. English now is the primary medium of instruction and has become one of the country's lingua franca. Through media, we learn to imagine a world of ideas and culture that depicts American culture and modernization. With the recent cultural trends, there has been an addition to the influences we adopt from beyond our shores. This is evident as many of our younger generation today consume many Japanese, Korean, and even Mexican popular culture such as anime, Kdrama, Kpop, etc. Also, with easier access to travel and communication, many of us have been immersed in the global culture beyond the boundaries of the Philippine shore. The increased migration has given rise to demographic shifts that have affected national policies. Globalization has also given rise to the spread of post-material values that emphasized self-expression and choice rather than conformity.

With lesser restrictions in travel and the opening of borders, we cannot deny the fact that globalization is here and has been affecting us in many different ways. We are left with no choice but to accept that the Filipino society has been globalized as a country and as a people. The increasing interconnectivity between individuals means that we are no longer strangers to one another. When our leaders decided to open our borders, we understand that the problems of one society are often problems shared by all humanity and require a collective response. This is clear especially in the issues of climate change, the plight of refugees and internally displaced people, pandemics and natural disasters. With the threat of climate change and many other man-made disasters, it is still clear that globalization remains to be uneven process and as s a nation, globalization's impact to the lives of the Filipinos remain to be a subjective experience.