This exploratory paper attempts to examine immediate issues in official development assistance to the Philippines in light of state policy pronouncements and announced shifts in donor policies. While the observed donor shifts refer specifically to Japanese ODA, given the dominant role played by Japan in both bilateral and multilateral assistance and the positive impact that such. shifts could generally bring; they will be used as a yardstick to evaluate other donor countries as well. As a time frame, the study will look into ODA from 1986 onwards, or after the end of the Marcos regime.