brutal, the most remorseless defense systems going. it was developed to deal with some very harsh realities and a very tough, very bloody history. three centuries of brutal spanish colonial rule. invasion by the japanese. near the end of world war ii, the usa bombed manila, pretty much leveling the city. ferdinand and imelda marcos's extravagantly corrupt regime. martial law. although the philippines has remained a democracy since then, it seems, at times, fragile.