It is the purpose of this paper to highlight the efforts and objectives of the Philippines with regard to its involvement in APEC, in light of its historical, cultural, economic, political, and security antecedents. Since 1992, under the directorship of President Fidel Ramos, the country has embarked upon a productive economic path by implementing a series of economic reforms collectively known as the 'Philippines 2000' program, under which the country's APEC efforts have fallen. However, while the unprecedented growth of the Filipino economy unmistakably expounds the great success of these efforts, it cannot be ignored that the country fails to enjoy a stable economic or political foundation, and the economy remains in a transitory period of extremely volatile growth. 16 pgs. 48 f/c. 8b.
