In 1959, the year I was born, Carlos P. Garcia was the president of the Philippines. Garcia was anti-communist, which the Americans liked, but nevertheless he was strongly devoted to the nationalist cause. Another key way the United States influenced Philippine culture was through arts, literature, and entertainment. American television shows such as "Perry Mason" and "Rawhide" were being broadcast in the country. Popular American songs from 1959 such as those by Buddy Holly and Marty Robbins would be heard on Philippine radio. The Philippine people inherited many American army surplus vehicles, changing the character of Philippine roads and cities. The Americans influenced the ways Philippine people went shopping, how they ate, and what they spoke: English is now the official second language of the Philippines. Moreover, although Catholicism had already firmly taken root in the country due to the Spanish influence, American protestant religions made their mark around the time I was born. In fact, in 1959, the Universalist Church of the Philippines (UCP) was created by indigenous Philippine people. The Church was heavily influenced by the American Universalist Church and was therefore initially officially recognized by it.

However, the indigenous Philippine people strongly struggled to retain and assert their national, ethnic and cultural identities in 1959. In 1959, an English-language book by indigenous Philippine author N.V.M Gonzalez called the Bamboo Dancers came out. The book was critically acclaimed and was also a powerful work of social commentary and protest against oppression. The book championed indigenous cultural values and reflected a strong nationalistic trend in the Philippines. The trend was in large part a reaction against continued American presence in the nation, visible in the many military bases there like the one in which I grew up. An indigenous Philippine film star named Fernando "da King" Poe landed his first starring role in 1959, in a film called Markado. "da King" was so popular because he championed...

In 1959, under President Garcia, the Philippines reduced the 99-year leases granted to the United States government on their military bases there. The Philippine government also shut down many bases.
Tension between the two cultures was alleviated through a synthesis of many political, cultural, religious, and linguistic elements. For example, in 1959, director Gerardo de Leon made a film called Terror is a Man. The film was a co-production with American filmmakers and producers, and sparked a revolution in the film industries in both these nations. In 1959, Philippine roads were peppered with a curious mixture of American army jeeps, horse-drawn carriages, and rickshaw bicycles. Philippine composer Angel Pena synthesized Western and indigenous musical traditions with his novel compositions. Giant sporting arenas like the Araneta Coliseum were built in 1959 in the Philippines, reflecting growing interest in Western-style spectator sports.

In 1959, the Philippines was growing into an increasingly complex nation. Its language, culture, politics, and arts remained strongly tied to tradition and yet increasingly drew from American influences. Nationalistic tendencies and increased cultural pride led to a strong movement in the arts and politics of 1959 that emphasized indigenous traditions. On the other hand, the Philippines heartily embraced some elements of American popular culture and infused those elements into a synergistic whole. Because I was born in the Philippines in 1959, I am lucky enough to be a product of true cultural synthesis and of cross-cultural communication.

Works Cited

Ballard, Ted. "Clark Field Memories." TerryBallard.org. http://www.terryballard.org/clark.htm.

Caruncho, Eric S. "The Jazzman Comes Home." Global Nation. 2003. Online at http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_fea/2003/jan/30-01.htm.

The Philippines." Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th edition, 2001. Online at http://www.bartleby.com/65/ph/PhilipRep.html.