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The Philippines' pre-colonial prosperity could be attributed to the fact that the country was made up of several ethnic groups, each of which had its own culture, dialect, custom, and way of life. Furthermore, societies had their unique social structures and were based on familial lines, which were typically headed by chieftains or datu. On the other hand, the Philippines actively engages in commerce with other countries due to its wide network of regional and inter-island trade avenues. Here, it can be observed that the Filipinos were very hard-working and diligent prior to the Spanish occupation.

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During this era, the Spaniards established complete authority over the people, political affinities, diminished local customs, the native languages, as well as the customary practices in the country. Moreover, the perception of Filipino indolence arose when the colonizers imposed high taxes, while the Filipinos were subjected to forced labor and exploitation as the Spaniards profited from the country's wealth.

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The Manila Galleon was a Spanish sailing ship that traveled yearly between Manila, Philippines, and Acapulco, modern-day Mexico, between 1565 and 1815 and as a hub for trade between China and Europe during the height of the galleon trade, Manila rose to prominence as one of the greatest ports in the world (Britannica, 2019). During the peak of this trade, small businesses and handmade goods industries that flourished as a means of sustenance for the natives prior to the arrival of the Spanish eventually vanished; Filipinos were obliged to work in the galleon shipyards while performing some public tasks as laborers, which had a huge effect on how indolent they were seen to be. There is also the encomienda system, in which the encomenderos (Spaniards who had control over local communities, involving their labor and resources) frequently exploit Filipinos to increase their profits, attributing to the notion of Filipino indolence.
Reference:
Britannica. (2019). Manila galleon | Spanish sailing vessel | Britannica. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/Manila-galleon

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When the Americans occupied the Philippines, a lot of conditions changed. Filipinos have been chosen to serve as public officials and have had the opportunity to pursue higher education. Americans have also established essential public infrastructure and have made free education available to Filipinos, something they were unable to obtain under Spanish rule (Sicat, 2019). However, despite that, the Philippines had become reliant on the US for over the more than three decades of the occupation and lacked a militarized army of its own (Malloryk, 2021). In addition, considering the colonial administration established labor requirements including the polo y servicio and excessive tax collection, there is still labor exploitation occurring. Additionally, Americans caused economic developments that disturbed conventional practices of Filipinos. Many experienced economic troubles as a result of the transition from farming for sustenance to cash crops, specifically due to the increase of export goods such sugar and tobacco. As other Filipinos had troubles with adjusting to the current economic situation, these changes raised the notion of Filipino indolence.
References:
Malloryk. (2021). July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained Independence from the United States. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/july-4-1946-philippines-independence#:~:text=During%20the%20over%20three%20decades,enterprises%20in%20business%20were%20launched.
Sicat, G. P. (2019). Colonial economic and social development: 1898-1941 | Per Se. Upd.edu.ph. https://econ.upd.edu.ph/perse/?p=7437#:~:text=Commercial%20opportunities%20opened%20up%20businesses

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During World War II, the arrival of the Japanese in the country caused the Filipinos a great deal of suffering. Along with establishing a system of sexual slavery among Filipino women, the Japanese Army also killed and mistreated hundreds of thousands of Filipinos(Sexual Slavery During Second World War, 2023). However, eventually, to challenge Japanese military power, Filipinos established a resistance movement and initiated a fierce guerrilla onslaught (Women Made to Be Comfort Women - Philippines, n.d.). Filipinos were then perceived as resilient and contradicted the stigma of indolence as a result of their resistance to Japanese maltreatment.
References:
Sexual slavery during Second World War. (2023, October 21). ECCHR. https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/philippines-sexual-slavery-during-second-world-war/#:~:text=During%20the%201942%E2%80%931945%20Japanese,imprisoned%20as%20sexual%20slavery%20hostages.
Women made to be Comfort Women - Philippines. (n.d.). https://www.awf.or.jp/e1/philippine-00.html#:~:text=In%20December%201941%2C%20Japanese%20military,to%20oppose%20Japanese%20military%20rule.

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After World War II, the Philippines at last proclaimed full independence from its colonizers in 1946. Immediately as the military defenders started to recover the country, the recovery process began. In order to restore transport routes, the military engineers of the occupying American forces repaired or rebuilt strategic infrastructures and although little by little, imports began in effect as supply chains were becoming more better (Sicat, 2019). On top of that, the government has implemented land reform laws to address the issue of land tenure and boost the productivity of farming because the country is still in the reconstruction phase. The country has also begun to develop its economy, putting an emphasis on manufacturing industries and growth in industrial activity. Job opportunities arose as a result of growing industries, which in turn boosted the economy. Because of these occurrences, the perception of indolence among Filipinos subsided as the nation was recovered.
Reference:
Sicat, G. P. (2019, April 9). ‘Economic rehabilitation after World War II — Philippine republic in infancy.’ Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/04/10/1908626/economic-rehabilitation-after-world-war-ii-philippine-republic-infancy

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On September 23, 1972, the late President Marcos declared martial law will be enforced in the Philippines and everyone was required to adhere and support the authoritarian rule. According to the government, the law's stated objective was to protect the country's authorities and citizens' security from illicit forces, including communist insurgency and other rebellious inclinations.The Marcos administration caused political repression and economic instability, which may have contributed to the perception of indolence emerging again as democratic rights were curtailed.
Reference:
Juego, B. (2022, September 23). On Martial Law At 50: Fact-Checking the Marcos Story, Countering the EDSA History | Heinrich Böll Foundation | Southeast Asia Regional Office. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. https://th.boell.org/en/2022/09/23/martial-law-50

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It is apparent that the state of the economy has changed significantly when compared to earlier decades and eras. Nevertheless, it appears that Filipinos today continue to receive low paychecks and aren't fairly compensated for the work they do; the country still faces problems with labor migration and unjust tax reforms just like what Filipinos during earlier eras have experienced. According to A.Kireeva (2023), Filipinos tend to be dissatisfied with the economic situation in the Philippines as a result of the nation's discrepancies; as a result, many decide to migrate to seek for work abroad in order to improve their living conditions, earn higher wages, and receive better benefits. With this being said, as Filipinos work in numerous industries worldwide, the conditions mentioned counter preconceptions of Filipino indolence.
References:
A.Kireeva. (2023). Main Reasons why Filipinos Work Abroad. Digido. https://digido.ph/articles/ofw-loan/why-filipinos-work-abroad#:~:text=Filipinos%20often%20seek%20employment%20abroad,from%20OFWs%20impact%20the%20Philippines%3F