The Philippines and Indonesia, forging a stronger partnership

A year before the new millennium, the Philippines, under the leadership of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, has succeeded in revitalizing the economy and forging partnerships with its neighbors. One of President Estrada's first overseas trips was to Indonesia on Oct. 13, 1998, where he met President B.J. Habibie for the first time and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Because of Indonesia's importance to the Philippines, the trip was undertaken despite President Estrada's policy to limit presidential trips overseas.

The Philippines and Indonesia are the two largest archipelagos in the world, and share many similarities in geography, climate, environmental features and the diversity of its peoples.

A deep sense of fraternity animates the bonds between Filipinos and Indonesians. Our relations antedate our colonial histories. Before colonial history and the existence of the nation-state, trade, commerce and transmigration flourished between our peoples during the Sri Vijayan and Madjapahit empires. Intermarriages and alliances solidified these cross- cultural and economic links. Present-day borders separating our two countries belie how deeply rooted our cultural likeness is. The proof is in our languages.

Bahasa Indonesia and Filipino, the Philippine national language, come from the Malayo-Polynesian language tree and have similarities in orthography, vocabulary and even structure. When one compares the major regional language of the Philippines with Indonesia's, one will discover the similarities in vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation are countless. It is no wonder that, cognitively and in our most natural state, we are at ease and predisposed toward one another.

In terms of values, both Indonesians and Filipinos give very high importance to family, honor and respect for seniority, folk traditions, communitarian values and a life of prayer and religious devotion that is moderate and flexible.

Economic cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia had been on an uptrend for many years prior to the regional economic crisis. Bilateral trade between our two countries remains robust, reaching almost US$1 billion in 1998. The establishment of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area in 1994 is a milestone in formalizing and enhancing the informal economic links and exchanges that have been taking place unimpeded in this part of the world for hundreds of years.

Indonesia is home to 2,500 to 3,000 Filipino expatriates working mostly as managers and technical consultants in major local and transnational companies in Indonesia. They are our contribution to Indonesia's modernization and rapid growth. The Philippines, on the other hand, plays host to more than 10,000 Indonesians who reside and work in industrial and agricultural industries in Mindanao, contributing to economic development.

Historically, the Philippines and Indonesia have been supportive of each other's interests and national goals. More than 26 bilateral agreements between our two countries ranging from economic to political and to cultural cooperation attest to this relationship.

During Indonesian's war of independence against the Dutch, Filipinos, sympathizing with anticolonial struggles in Asia, provided moral support to Indonesian freedom fighters. From 1947 to 1949, the Philippines championed the cause of Indonesian independence at the United Nations until it was given de jure recognition.

In its own time of need, the Philippines was given assistance by Indonesia in the purchase of crude oil during the oil crisis in the 1970s. In 1987, Indonesia supported the Philippines' newly established democracy by pushing for the ASEAN Summit to be held in Manila amid threats of coups from Marcos loyalists and renegade soldiers. Perhaps the most important support given by Indonesia to the Philippines was when it brokered the peace agreement between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Philippine Government, helping end more than two decades of armed confrontation. The ensuing peace has helped restore law and order and revive the economic development of Southern Philippines.

This year, during Indonesia's own fragile transition to a more open, participative and accountable political system, the Philippines stands ready to assist and respond, to help ensure that the process is in accordance with Indonesia's vision of change and genuine reforms.

Democratization will strengthen rather than weaken Indonesia's ability to recover economically and strengthen its voice in regional and world politics.

As the political values of our two countries converge, and as our political systems become more compatible as a result of reforms, the partnership between our two countries can only grow stronger and closer.