Why English Comes Easy

It may come as quite a surprise to many US hospitals
and American patients that newly-arriving Philippine nurses are fluent in English.

A quick look back into American history will help explain this phenomenon.

In 1898, when the USA was successfully battling Spain for supremacy in that part of the Pacific theater (Spanish-American War of 1898), the Philippines became the crown jewel of the prize in that victory. The country was acquired by the USA as Spain, which had colonized the country since the 1500's, lost. 

The US immediately embarked on an ambitious agenda of Americanizing the Philippines by turning it into a veritable mini version of the USA. US institutions were introduced into the country the easier it is to control this distant colony. Foremost among these institutions was the US educational system which the Americans introduced all over the country from first grade up to the college level.

Fast forward to July 4th, 1946. The Philippines gained independence from the USA. By this time, the country has become the most westernized country in Asia. All school textbooks from first grade to graduate level are all in English, written mostly by American authors. A Filipino student in any grade level transplanted to any American classroom will thrive as well as anybody else.

This is the context of the present nursing education in the Philippines. Medium of instruction throughout the educational system is English from Kindergarten to Graduate level. Textbooks are in English. It is no surprise therefore that nursing graduates take and pass US RN licensing exams like they take and pass Philippine exams.