Insular Southeast Asia - Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia - page 485

It is the largest producer of tuna, most of which is ex-
ported to Japan as sashimi. The agricultural region sur-
rounding the city accounts for 30 percent of the nation' s
maize production, 10 percent of its coconuts and copra,
20 percent of its rice, 99 percent of its asparagus, and
40 percent of its pineapples. One of the largest employers
is the Dole Corporation, involved in everything from
pineapples and bananas to vegetables.
Another economic scheme links Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and the Philippines into an East Asian Growth
Area (BIMP-EAGA or EAGA). EAGA is developing agro-
industry focusing on products such as marine products,
coconuts, palm oil, poultry , and high-value tropical fruits
and vegetables. It also specializes in the production of halal
food for the region' is Muslim population. EAGA is a leading
eco-tourism destination. It has pristine rain forests, coral
reefs, and is ethnically and culturally diverse. Many World
Heritage Sites are in EAGA such as Mount Kinabalu and
the Mulu Caves in Sarawak. A new international airport,
expanded harbor facilities, and a new EPZ are part of the
future of this new economic growth triangle.

ment and private institutions as an organizing device
provides a gendered context in which migrants and their
households must subsequently operate.” Gendering of
jobs is also most pronounced in Japanese firms. Unfortu-
nately , many Filipino foreign workers find themselves
turning to prostitution to pay labor recruitment fees, and
otherwise suffer abuse, unable to save up enough money
to go home.

ONGOING PROBLEMS
The Philippines has many problems to overcome. Envi-
ronmental damage is severe, with diminishing forests
and damaged coral reefs. Little has changed for the poor
in either urban or rural areas. Manila is marred by vast
squatter settlements and lack of adequate housing.
Wealthy families still control the land and tenant farmers
remain impoverished. Income differentials are huge—
some of the largest in Asia—and the middle class re-
mains small. According to the WB, nearly 40 percent of
Filipinos still live in poverty .
Another pressing problem focuses on the Philip-
pines' small Muslim population that is concentrated in
the southeastern part of the archipelago. Muslims feel
that they are marginalized in this predominantly Christ-
ian country . Over the past three decades, several Muslim
organizations, including the Moro National Liberation
Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, have pro-
moted the Muslim cause with tactics ranging from peace-
ful negotiation to violence. Basilan Island has become the
base for the extreme Abu Sayyaf, which receives support
through al-Qaeda. The United States has sent troops to
help the Filipinos pursue these terrorists. Deadly bomb-
ings in southern towns and even in Manila have forced
the Philippine government to spend a large share of its
budget on crushing the insurrection. In addition, a com-
munist uprising in 2004 required a response in difficult,
remote mountain terrain where military operations are
very expensive.

OVERSEAS FILIPINOS
Foreign exchange revenue inflows are an important ele-
ment of Philippine earnings. With millions of workers
deployed in over 190 countries and territories, billions of
dollars come into the country in the form of remittances
every year.
The first significant outflow of Philippine workers
was to Hawaii to work on plantations. Others have
worked in U.S. defense industries in Guam and Vietnam.
These balikbayans (overseas Filipinos) remain important
sources of revenue for the Philippines. More than
90 percent (around 1.4 million) live in the United States,
Canada, and Australia. Many go to work in the Middle
Eastern oil fields of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United
Arab Emirates.
Adjacent Asian countries also offer opportunities for
employment, but these are for low-paid domestics and
“entertainers.” Geographer James A. T Tyner (1996) has
found that the marketing and recruiting strategies of the
Philippine government, especially in promotional litera-
ture, present Filipinos as loyal, disciplined, and obedient
and that promotional materials draw attention to gender-
associated roles and occupations. For example, women
are portrayed as nurses and men as construction work-
ers. T Tyner notes that, “Global marketing of workers is or-
ganized around specific gendered assumptions of male
versus female occupations. The use of gender by govern-

Conclusion

Clearly , the countries of insular Southeast Asia are mov-
ing along the path toward modernization. Singapore has
achieved this end and is well entrenched as a fully devel-
oped country in the world of transnationals and cyber-
space. However, it is now challenged to preserve its
historic landscapes. Malaysia is challenged by the prob-
lem of uneven development exacerbated by its fragmented