Improving the conditions of the entire world may seem like a daunting task. It may be more useful to look at a single piece of the puzzle and its track record in improving conditions. Restricting the field of study to a single country allows for a more detailed analysis of the path taken to achieve better conditions for the individual country. Improving the conditions of a country through a process of change is called development. Measuring development in an individual country allows us to understand some of the policies, historical trends, and natural conditions that are best for development. By looking at the Philippine context, recent political and economic issues, past economic performance, and future prospects, you will gain a better understanding of the development. The Philippines became known to the Western world in the early 1500s with the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan. In 1565 Spain officially colonized the area under Miguel Lopez. Spain controlled the area for over 300 years before, with America's help, Spanish control was lost and joint American-Philippine rule occurred. The colonial system had two major influences on the development path taken by the Philippines. The seigneurial system established by the Spanish colonialists brought a strong divide in the country's wealth that is still visible today, and the religious influence of the Roman Catholic Church makes the Philippines the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. Over ninety percent of the population is Roman Catholic or Protestant (ACTD Berkly). These influences took the path of development through a constant struggle against poverty and Western ideas. The isolation provided by mountainous terrain and an island country was exploited by the United States to maintain influence over the area until occupation during World War II. After the defeat of Japan, the Philippines gained independence on July 4, 1946. The country experienced dictatorial rule until President Marcos was ousted in early elections held in early 1987. Shortly thereafter, the Constitution was written and ratified on February 11th. , 1987 (CIA Philippines). This point marks the beginning of an important institutional force in the form of democratic government. Freedom House measures political rights and civil liberty... center of paper... escape. The future of development for the Philippines would be more effective if it focused on reducing poverty and income inequality. Bibliography 2002 World Fact Book: Philippines, updated March 19, 2003: Central Intelligence Agency, [April 1, 2003]. Available from the World Wide Web: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html.Academic Talent Development Program, UC Berkley, 1996-2003, [1 April 2003].Available via World Wide Web net. http://www-atdp.berkeley.edu/9931/jvillatl/history.html.The Philippine Economy, The Economist, 10 August 2003: The Economist Print Group, [1 April 2003]. Available from the World Wide Web. http://www.economist.com/countries/Philippines/.World Development Report 2000/01: Attacking Poverty, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2000: Oxford University Press, [1 April 2003 ]. Available through Lexus-Nexus.A World Free of Poverty, World Bank Report, 2002: The World Bank Group, [1 April 2003]. Available from the World Wide Web: http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/eap/eap.nsf/87d06ef07cb6cd69852567c90077a6de/d18a645fa0f6e39b852567cb000e55e2?OpenDocument.