Commentary

D. National Defense Act of 1935

Also known as the commonwealth act, this act’s purpose was to create an independent
Philippine Military. It was passed by the Philippine National Assembly on December 21, 1935
after being signed by then President Manuel. L. Quezon. This would also have the civilian having
supreme authority over the military. It never really got to serve its purpose because World War
2 broke out and the country was occupied by the Japanese in 1941.

In recent times, experts say the National Defense Act of 1935 must be updated or
amended. As it is based on the 1935 constitution, it may no longer be applicable to our current
situation. With the present external and internal threats aimed at our country, the old National
Defense Act is considered antiquated or old by our current political climate.

Explanation: Ang purpose ng act na ito na ipinasa at pinirmahan ni President Manuel L,

Quezon ay para magkaroon ng sariling militar ang ating bansa. Sa ilalim din nito ay magiging
mas mataas pa din ang sibilyan kesa military. Hindi nga lang nagtuloy tuloy ito kasi nga
sumiklab ang World War 2 at sinakpo ang bansa natin ng mga hapon.

Ang batikos sa National Defense Act ay masyado na itong luma at posibleng hindi na
bumagay sa sitwasyon natin ngayon tulad ng panghihimasok ng China sa ating teritoryo sa
South China Sea. Tsaka iba at modernisado na ang sandatahang lakas natin ngayon ay
pinupush na baguhin na ang act na ito.

E. Joining United Nations Organization

The Philippines formally joined the United Nations in 1945 during the time of President
Sergio Osmeña. The Philippines was among the 51 original Member States, and one of only four
Asian nations, that signed the UN Charter. While the Philippines did benefit from joining the
UN, it also had some disadvantages. Critics feel that that the UN sometimes meddle in
Philippine affairs and that joining it has done little to uplift our economic status as it always
seemed to favor or have developed a bias stance towards major powers such as the United
States, United Kingdom, and France.

Explanation: Sumali ang Pilipinas sa UN noong 1945 noong Panahon ni President

Osmeña. Sa 61 na original member states, apat lang ang lumagda sa UN chapter
at isa tayo doon. Bagama’t nakinabang tayo sa pagpasok natin sa UN ay may
ilang pambabatikos din. Sabi ng mga kritiko, wala naman daw halos nagawa ang
UN sa pagtaas ng ating ekonomiya bukod sa nangingialam din ito sa mga
nangyayari dito sa bansa. Pumapabor din daw ito sa mga mayayamang bansa
tulad ng US, UK, at France.
F. Office of Foreign Relation

On September 23, 1945; then President Sergio Osmeña created the Office of Foreign
Relations. This office sought to have the Philippines contribute to the maintenance of world
peace and stability. As a result, the country has sent its troops to ensuing conflicts such as the
Korean War and the Vietnam War --- a move that was met with harsh opposition particularly by
anti-war activists. They felt that Korea and Vietnam, though emerging communist countries,
should left to fend off by themselves and we are being used as puppets by the west to pursue
its own vested interests.

Explanation: Nilikha ni President Sergio Osmeña para makatulong ang Pilipinas sa

pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan sa mundo. Dahil dito, nagpadala tayo ng mga sundalo natin sa
mga sumunod na digmaan tulad ng Korean at Vietnam War. Ang problema dito ay maraming
umalma sa mga kababayan natin dahil hindi dapt tayo nakikialam sa ibang bansa kahit
komunista pa ito. Dahil din sa foreign relations na iyan ay pakiramdam ng ialn ay
nagpapagamit lang tayo sa Amerika para sa sarili nilang interes.

Part 5. Group’s prospects and foreign policy strategy for the sister cities or town twinning
(Citizen’s diplomacy):

A. The benefits of the sister’s cities:

 Encourages people from different countries to meet.

 Helps promote peace through people-to-people relationships.
 Increased city-wide cultural awareness
 An influx of business, tourism & trade
 Raising the international profile of cities
 More investment in the local economy.

B. Foreign Policy Strategy for Town Twinning

An example of Foreign Strategy for Town Twinning is when Local Government Units
(LGUs) act out as international players. When this happens, they forge enhanced bilateral
cooperations between towns and cities in their respective region. This strategy often referred
to as town twinning is done through business, trade, technical, cultural, and educational
exchanges between local governments in different countries resulting to stronger ties among
twin cities.
C. Rome-Paris Town Twinning

Rome and Paris are sister cities. Not only that, they are also twin cities. This means that
while other major world capitals are twinned with several cities, Rome and Paris are not paired
or twinned with any other city except each other.

The town twinning of both Rome and Paris have resulted to cultural and geographical
exchanges to both cities. Several landmarks in Paris are Roman themed while several streets in
Rome are named after some places in France. This partnership also allowed Parisians to enter
free of charge in many museums in Rome and vice versa

Part 6. Group’s prospects and foreign policy strategies on the emergence of non-state actors:

A. History of Non-State Actors

Non-State Actors (NSAs) can be defined as organizations or individuals that have

significant political clout but are not legally associated with a state. To make it simple, NSAs are
organizations and/or individuals that are not affiliated with, directed by, or funded by any
government but has a large influence on it.

B. Definition of different Non-State Actors

Here are several examples of Non-State Actors:

 Business Magnates - individuals who command large wealth, and who often seek
to influence national and international affairs
 Multinational Corporations - companies authorized to act as single entities
(legally as persons) and are recognized as such in law.
 International Media Agencies - usually corporations reporting on the social and
political situation in countries worldwide, and may therefore be highly influential
as NSA
 Non-governmental Organizations - usually nonprofit organizations seeking to
effect change in humanitarian, educational, ecological, healthcare, public policy,
social, human rights, environmental, and other areas.
 People’s movements - mass movements which become influential with size and
longevity.
 Violent non-state actors – terrorist organizations such as Isis or Mexican Drug
Cartels.

Part 7: Group’s prospects and foreign policy strategies on the emergence of the World Trade
Organization and Regional Economic Integration (Trade Blocs)
a. World Trade Organization and Regional Economic Integration

- Description

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a global international organization that deals
with the rules of trade between nations. It aims to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, freely
and predictably as much as possible. The WTO operates a global system of trade rules, it acts
as a forum for negotiating trade agreements, it settles trade disputes between its members and
it supports the needs of developing countries.

- History

Although the WTO officially started to function on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakesh
Agreement, its trading system dates back in 1948 with the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT) providing rules for the system. GATT was founded in 1948 with 23 nations as the
global (international) trade organization to serve all multilateral trade agreements by giving fair
chances to all nations in the international exchange for trading prospects. WTO is required to
build a rule-based trading government in which countries cannot place unreasonable
constraints on trade.

- Functions

The functions of the WTO are as follows:

 To set and execute rules for international trade

 To present a panel for negotiating and controlling additional trade liberalization
 To solve trade conflicts
 To improve the clarity of decision-making methods