Nowadays, only a few barangay (the smallest Philippine administrative unit, something along the lines of a district or village) engage in the laborious and time-consuming production process.

A visit to any Philippine military unit also reveals a severe shortage of equipment and supplies of every category except ammunition.

The American contingent includes 160 Special Forces commandos who have been placed with Philippine units on Basilan Island.

Although the Pentagon has said the soldiers are there to train and advise, they are also accompanying Philippine units on combat patrols and are authorized to fire in self-defense.

Liberty operates the Philippine unit of Wi-Tribe, a provider of broadband internet services using the WiMax platform.

Though the American forces are not taking part in combat, they are going out on patrols with Philippine units and are authorized to fire their weapons in self defense.

At the core of the American military mission is a group of about 85 training sergeants from the United States Special Forces who are to work closely with Philippine units battling the Abu Sayyaf insurgents in the southern Philippines.

His father had served during World War II as a Philippine Scout, a member of a Philippine unit under the United States Army, and after he was taken prisoner by the Japanese, escaped and fought in the resistance.

As with Mexican dollars, the Philippine unit was based on silver, unlike the United States and Canada where a gold standard operated.

As of 30 November 1941, the strength of US Army Troops in the Philippines, including Philippine units, was 31,095, consisting of 2,504 officers and 28,591 enlisted (16,643 Americans and 11,957 Philippine Scouts).