Determinism is the view that all events/situations at a given point in time are determined completely by previously existing causes. Colonial determinism refers to the notion that conditions within postcolonial countries are entirely determined by their colonial past.

In the Philippines, the phrase “Imperial Manila” is often used by people from regions outside the capital, especially from the South such as Mindanao, to describe how the national government and elites in Manila centralize resources and development in the capital. This narrative was largely used by populist Rodrigo Duterte to secure his presidency in 2016.

Overseas Flipino Workers (OFWs) remit around USD $36 billion annually (2024), making the Philippines one of the world's top remittance- receiving countries.