Where is a united Philippines?

After the class discussion, I realized greatly the diversity in the country and that the geographical division continues to be a hindrance to development and growth. The main lesson that stayed in my mind after the lecture was that the problem in Mindanao is not only a domestic problem. It affects our relationship with other countries around the world. Mindanao is an area rich with natural resources and in cultural diversity. But, the region has not developed much. The Mindanao region ranked lowest in Human Development Index and highest in Poverty Rates. In addition, back door exits are alo rampant in the area and the country is still in a Tierra 2 rating in decreasing Human Trafficking acts in the region. Therefore, the quest for growth and development remains a major area of concern and debate. If the region could only be developed, the Philippines would be able to develop fully especially Mindanao itself. There are a lot of factors to consider. The history of the country is one. The Spanish sold the Philippines to the Americans. The agreement included the area of Mindanao but actually, the area was not conquered by the Spaniards. Therefore, from the start, Mindanao was not really part of the country if we will base everything on a historical analysis. But ofcourse, the government would not allow them to separate. Again, it’s because of the region’s resources. I was disappointed that PGMA was not able to address the issues fully. It was stagnant. It was purely a waste of time. It hindered the growth of the country. To add, the Maguindanao massacre is also a major concern and the country’s reputation in the international community. The people need to be one. Therefore the government must help them be one. But the question still unfolds. When will we, as a country, unite?