Aquino's Defense Minister Fidel V. Ramos had a narrow victory in the presidential election. The administration of President Ramos has been very determined and successful in its activities to totally reconstruct the Philippines towards an open and competitive economy. In 1995 the Philippine population growth rate was one of the highest in Asia. The concept of birth control is very difficult to popularize, especially in the rural areas and among the lesser educated families, where the population growth rate is enormous. The population is considered to be the major resource of the Philippines.
People are relatively highly educated, with the highest literacy rate in South-East Asia.
The Philippine education system was developed under the US rule in the beginning of the century and the system is very similar to its American counterpart. The elementary school is compulsory and free of charge. Later, after a strong surge of patriotism in the late nineteenth century, the Philippines was declared independent on June 12, 1898. In the same year, the United States of America had declared war with Spain. After the war, the Philippines was colonized by the US troops in 1902.