A Closer Look at the Filipino "Nationalistic" Groups
Posted on Wednesday, 13 January 2016
A
Closer Look at the Filipino “Nationalistic” Groups
By Apolinario Villalobos
Even during the administration of Ferdinand
Marcos, there were already problems with China as regards the South China
Sea/West Philippine Sea, separatist movements and kidnapping in Mindanao, as
well as, with Malaysia as regards Sabah, and most especially, corruption in the
government. The same problems were inherited by subsequent administrations. But
the “nationalistic” groups were more concerned in shouting invectives against America
in front of the US Embassy and in burning effigies of American and Filipino
presidents. They did not lift a finger in helping the government in its effort
to recover Sabah, and not a single rally was held in front of the Chinese
Embassy to express their revulsion over the issue on West Philippine Sea. Not
even a question was raised as regards the effectiveness of the military against
the separatist movement and kidnappings in Mindanao because of its inadequate
facilities due to misused funds intended for its modernization. These groups
cannot even lay claim on the success in deposing Marcos, because the religious
groups and ordinary citizens were the ones responsible for such success.
Despite the open reclamations of China in
the West Philippine Sea, these groups were silent, although, belatedly, they
somehow held a lightning rally or two, after such, nothing was heard from them
again. Despite the ongoing activities of the Abu Sayyaf and separatist groups
in Mindanao, they remained silent. The overly grisly Maguindanao and Mamasapano
massacres did not entice them a bit to make a move to show their support to the
victims. Despite the moving of justice system at a snail’s pace and unabated
proliferation of foreign “investors” who are exploiting the natural resources
around the country, nothing is heard from them, too. And despite the blatant control of domestic
medium-scale trading in the country by these foreign “investors”, still nothing
is heard from these groups.
After the announcement of the Supreme
Court’ decision favoring the legality of the US military presence in the
country, these groups suddenly came to life. They maintain their claim that
such decision shall lead to the construction of the permanent US bases in the
country when in fact, nothing of that sort is mentioned in the agreement.
They claim that the continued presence of
the American soldiers in the country will lead to the revival of sex- related
industry which is not true. Even without the presence of US bases, there is
uncontrolled proliferation of the sex trade via the internet, bars and massage
parlors, even in the decent districts of Metro Manila. But still, if they want, they can knock at
the doors of Congress and Senate for laws that shall control this kind of
industry, and which should be appropriate for the time. On the other hand, they
are supposed to know that even the local government can control such industry.
And, just what have they done on the issue of poverty that contributed to the
fast growth of such industry in the country? They should caution the sex
workers if they are really bent on helping their countrymen involved in sex
trade which needs to be treated as a separate issue, instead of using this
alibi in pursuing their “nationalistic” objective. They seem to be blind to the
fact that various sex deals are flourishing even without the issue on the US
military presence in the Philippines due to weak national laws and LGU
regulations that reek with corrupt motives.
What dedication to advocacy are they
talking about when some of them are even holding passports stamped with US
visa? If these groups are really serious
in their advocacy, why don’t they hold rallies against the ongoing corruption
in the country and the vote-buying, a political tradition that got deeply-entrenched
in the Filipino culture? Why don’t they consistently hold rallies for the
removal of department secretaries who are being questioned on the issues of
smuggling, ghost NGOs, drug trafficking, illegal recruitment, and deplorable
state of mass transit facilities such as LRT and MRT, etc. Why don’t they
consistently hold rallies for the removal of the president, if they find him to
be ineffective just like what was done during the time of Marcos? Why don’t
they hold rallies against the unfulfilled promise of the government to
modernize the military facilities after prime public properties were sold to
foreign investors? Why don’t they picket outside the detention facilities where
the Ampatuans are, to show their disgust over the hideous crime that they
purportedly committed? These are what the Filipinos want to see and expect from
them, as they claim to be “nationalistic” and pro-Filipino.
Obviously, the Philippines has been under a
long-tested democracy which unfortunately proved ineffective due to its
loop-holed system that led to the propagation of various forms of corruption.
And, this is what the left-wing groups want to be changed to a more
“nationalistic” system. But what do they mean by “nationalistic”?...a
communism-inspired system?
By the way, I just want to make myself
clear that not all nationalistic Filipinos have a communistic mentality.
Discussion