Showing posts with label America. Show all posts

Ms. Judith P. Bernardo: Lending Respectability

and Sophistication to Housekeeping and Caregiving as DecentJobs

by Apolinario Villalobos

When Ms. Judith P. Bernardo shared with me how she managed her life while in the United States, she proudly mentioned how she tried her best to be respectable as a Filipino while doing housekeeping, garden maintenance, and caregiving jobs. She used to her advantage, the American culture which is founded on fairness for all who are willing to flex their muscles in order to earn a living while in the shadow of Uncle Sam. Another advantage of Ms. Bernardo up her sleeve is her social adequacy which enabled her to meld with the locals, be they Americans or immigrants from various nations who have been able to have a secure foothold and who belonged to the higher rung of the American society.

Without any qualm, she grabbed every opportunity to earn that came her way which enabled her to establish connections with clients, soonest as she was able to adjust herself to the environment. Her courage and determination were fueled by her former social status in the Philippines and her former job as a young member of the American diplomatic corps based in Southeast Asia, and which bolstered her self-confidence.

After a few years of doing the various jobs single-handedly, she was able to form a group of trusted house cleaners and gardeners, with her as the coordinator. Requests from clients were channeled through her, an arrangement which helped many immigrants. A little later still, she ventured into catering which was very much appreciated by her clients. Later, some of them requested that she also attend to their elders whom they prefer to be taken cared at home, rather than being sent to the home for the aged.

Social graces have always been part of Ms. Bernardo’ life while growing up and moving around her circles of cliques. This plus factor made her a sought after housekeeper and caregiver, as she was also trusted by her clients with the finances allotted for the homes that she maintained and elders under her care. She was also appreciated for her culinary expertise, always ready with suggestions about what food could go well with red or white wine and any liquor.

According to Ms. Bermardo, Filipinos who work as caregiver and housekeeper abroad need not be ashamed of their job. All that they need is try their best to project a respectable image. She added that teachers and other professionals who happen to land on such jobs should not be despised or belittled as they are in fact, well- equipped. She is right, for how can an ignoramus who has no knowledge on the proper housekeeping that deals with handling of fragile household furnishings, be trusted by a client? Or, how can one who can barely speak English be hired by a family that speaks such language only?

With her exposure to housekeeping as a job and social graces that have been part of her life, I asked if she is willing to be contacted as resource speaker for trainings and seminars that may require such, to which she replied in the affirmative, adding that she can also be consulted on banquet preparations.

ON THE FILIPINO DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT

By Apolinario Villalobos

President Rodrigo Duterte, with animated emotion, declared that he does not want his country to be trampled on just like a doormat by America. His declaration is very timely as, since the Spanish colonization, the Filipinos have been treated like slaves. And, when the Americans took over, they did the same - treating the Philippine archipelago as their “garden” where they can reap the produce anytime they want for their dinner table. During the Spanish regime, vast areas of the country, except Mindanao, were divided among the friars and the Spanish immigrants as “encomiendas”. When America took over, and in time, supposedly gave the long-overdue liberty to the Filipinos, they tainted their act with deceit by inserting the disgusting “parity rights” in the Philippine Constitution. In short, while the Spanish colonization was grossly masked with religion, that of the Americans was with “freedom and rights”.

Ever since, the Philippines became “independent”, nobody among the presidents until the time of Benigno Aquino III, ever noticed that the Filipinos have been suffering from the trauma that resulted from trampled dignity which practically shattered their self-respect. Unfortunately, SOME of those who enjoy the “blessings” via US visa and Green Card cannot accept this fact. The enforced influence is so ingrained in the consciousness of the Filipinos that it has brought forth the word, “stateside”, which means “nice things from America”…which further means, that nothing is better than “stateside”.

I have nothing against America and anything American. What I am disgusted at is how the leadership of America and even many Americans, themselves, continue to have a negative impression about the Philippines and her people who, for them are overly- dependent on their “big white brothers”. I am also disgusted at SOME Filipinos who suddenly became “American” upon setting foot on American soil. SOME of them pretend to have forgotten their dialect, the taste of saluyot, alugbate, ginamos, tuyo, etc. SOME even ask, “why is YOUR president (Duterte) like that?”, as if their skin is not brown or that it transformed into a sickly paleness only after quaffing skin whitening drugs. There is nothing wrong with those of course, FOR AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT FORGET THAT THEY ARE FILIPINOS DESPITE THEIR U.S. VISA AND GREEN CARD, AND MOST ESPECIALLY, THEY DO NOT DESPISE THE COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH, JUST BECAUSE THE NEW PRESIDENT CUSSES!

Those who deny their being a Filipino are losing their dignity and self-respect. THE U.S. VISA AND THE GREEN CARD CANNOT SUPPLANT THE FILIPINO BLOOD THAT FLOWS IN THEIR VEINS….THEY SHOULD REMEMBER THAT, IF THEY ARE WISE ENOUGH. They forgot that foremost among their plans when they went to America was to earn dollars to be sent back home to their family, for which they toil hard night and day by maintaining many jobs, and losing sleep in the process. The problem with SOME of them is that they deny this fact. How can those back home, understand their sacrifice if they keep this information from them which results to their family’s assuming that they are just picking up dollars in America, as if they are picking up shells on the seashore?

The impressive diligence and dependability of the Filipinos in America have not totally erased the bad impression about the country as demeaning comments can still be found in the internet, especially, with the emergence of Rodrigo Duterte as the new President…and all because of his cussing and brashness. His guts did not spare the American president, Obama, and the European Union because they dipped their fingers into what Duterte is doing to eradicate the illegal drug problem in the country. All of a sudden, Filipinos in America became apprehensive because they might be affected which shows their lack of self-confidence. The two governments are involved in the issue, and not the business sector, although, the bosses of Filipinos who may be dishonest and not diligent enough in their job will now have a reason to kick them out.

Duterte should be admired for his courage and aggressive desire to restore the dignity of the Filipinos that has long been trampled by their colonizers. Instead of lambasting him with unfair judgments, his detractors should wake up and face the reality that what the country needs today is a paramount cooperation among the Filipinos, for which the detractors should extend their hand. If they cannot do it…the big question is WHY?

THE VARIOUS “RELATIONSHIPS”, DUTERTE, AND THE PHILIPPINES

By Apolinario Villalobos

There are various kinds of relationship. One of these is based on simple friendship devoid of malice. Another is that which, though, started with the simple friendship, has developed into one with carnal desire for each other. There is also a relationship that started with flings for sexual release by those who are innately maniacal in their desire, but which could unfortunately affect others, just like what a woman, supposedly of respectable repute did, and whose nymphomanic desire resulted to scandalous and uncontrolled spread of illegal drugs.

As regards the relationship among nations, given foremost consideration is their kind of ideology that could be founded on the liberal Democracy or oppressive Communism. Another consideration is the people’s Faith, which could either be rooted in Christianity or Islam.

The Philippines has a varicolored and rich culture for having been tainted with those of other nations in the past that made the blood of other races flow through the veins of the Filipinos. In view, however, of the considerably long domination of Spain and America over the Philippines, their respective influence has left a deep impression on the image of the country, as viewed by the rest of the world. In this regard, a book on the spoken international language of different nations, listed the Philippines in the 1950’s as Spanish-speaking nation. When the Americans took over as colonizers, the Iberian language was supplanted with English which even attempted to dominate Tagalog, as it was forced on students while inside the school campus.

In view of the considerable length of domination by Spain, Catholicism was predominantly observed in the Philippines. When the Americans took over, many were converted into the different Protestant sects. As regards the government, the Philippines’s Constitution has been almost totally copied from that of America, except the form of governance. With that, America practically developed in the Philippines a seemingly total dependence toward her. This is how the nauseating referral to the Filipinos as “helpless little brown brothers” of the white Americans developed, with the latter viewing the former as helpless people who needed to be prevailed upon, reprimanded at all times, and if need be, disciplined with the rod…practically, held by the hand for proper guidance.

Further to the aforementioned long oppression of the Philippines, what has been culled in the mind of the Filipinos is the consciousness that no other religion is better than Catholicism, and no other government is better than what is copied from America. Ironically, the Philippines is lagging behind some of her Southeast Asian neighbors, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam , especially, on rice production despite the fact that their rice scientists and technologists developed their knowledge at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) which is in the Philippines! These nations admirably and successfully made leaps and bounds despite their having remained untainted by their colonizers, Great Britain and France. It should be noted, too, that these nations are not Christian, and one has even become a Communist!

Hecklers of Duterte call him “idiot”, blabber-mouthed, tactless, and many more, just because he wants to free the Philippines from the image of being shackled by America. His avowed advocacy to give the Philippines a new image in the eyes of the world, one that shows her standing on her two feet and free from the influence of any other nation has made Duterte the subject of contempt from all sides. But the big question now is: who among the past presidents has ever showed pro-Filipino or sincere nationalism that he is manifesting? Filipinos thought that Marcos was the right guy with his “New Society”, but he, unfortunately, got derailed when he became a dictator.

The vision of Duterte’s detractors seemed to be just limited to the American-owned Call Centers or BPO’s as they express their apprehension of virtual “famine” in the country if these would eventually pack up because of his anti-American pronouncements. On the contrary, how can these American investors leave the country where they are reaping financial returns beyond their expectation? Their relationship with the Filipinos who work for them, and who show sincerity in their job can be viewed as one which is symbiotic or an unwritten “give and take” system. What the detractors failed to notice still, is that, although, many American firms have already left the country in quest for cheaper labor in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, their exodus did not affect the economy of the Philippines, or to the very least…felt, as the Filipinos are known for their pliant flexibility and endurance.

ANG JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES AT IBA

PANG MUKHA NG PANLALAMANG NG AMERIKA SA PILIPINAS

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Nang palitan ng Amerika ang Espanya bilang mananakop ng Pilipinas, marami ang nag-akalang bukal sa loob nito ang pagtulong sa mga Pilipino. Maliban sa Guam, ang Pilipinas ay hawak ng Amerika sa malawak na karagatang Pasipiko (Pacific). Pakiramdam ng Amerika ay “kuya” siya ng Pilipinas na sa tingin niya ay kawawa at nangangailangan ng tulong. Inabot ang Amerika sa Pilipinas ng WWII kaya naudlot ang dapat sana ay pagbigay ng kalayaan.

Kahit pa sinabing “malaya” na ang Pilipinas noong Commonwealth period, kontrolado pa rin ng Amerika ang Pilipinas. Ang Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas ay kailangang aprubahan ng presidente ng Amerika. Nakapaloob sa Saligang Batas ang “parity rights” na nagsasaad  ng karapatan ng mga Amerikano pagdating sa pamumuhunan sa negosyo at paggamit ng likas na yaman tulad ng kagubatan, minahan, karagatan. Yan ay sa kabila ng nakasaad pa rin sa Saligang Batas na 60% ang pag-aari ng mga Pilipino sa mga pamumuhunan.

Hindi tamang sabihin na maraming naitulong ang Amerika sa paggawa ng mga kalsada, tulay, mga gusali at iba pa noong kapanahunan nila. Ang mga ginawa ay naging dahilan upang magkaroon ng “pangangailangan” na bumili naman ang Pilipinas ng mga mamahaling kagamitan, trak, at iba  sa napakamahal na presyo upang magamit! Sinundan ng Amerika ang taktika sa pag-Americanize ng mga Pilipino upang maging “dependent” na nagresulta sa pagsira sa kultura, nang bumaha ang mga pelikulang Amerikano tungkol sa mga gangsterism at sex na nagpakita ng mga bisyo tulad ng paninigarilyo, paglalasing, pagpuputa o prostitution; mga pagkain na angkop lang sana sa panlasa ng mga Amerikano tulad ng hot dog at hamburger; at marami pang iba. Naging palasak ang paniniwalang kung hindi “stateside” ay hindi maganda.

Nagkaroon din ng batas noon na bawal magladlad o magwagayway ng bandila ng Pilipinas. Nang umalis ang mga Amerikano, iniwan ang mga base militar - ang Subic at Clark, kung saan ay mayabang na nakawagayway ang bandila ng Amerika. Nakakahiya, dahil sa ibang bansang mayroong base militar ang Amerika, ang nakawagayway ay bandila ng bansa kung saan nakatirik ang mga base militar nila! Mabuti na lang at naipilit ni Claro Recto ang katotohanang hindi pag-aari ng Amerika ang lupang kinatitirikan ng mga military facilities nila, kaya nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa kasunduan.

Nang magkaroon ng problema ang Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea laban sa Tsina, walang ginawa ang Amerika dahil hindi daw saklaw ang isyung ito sa mutual defense act ng dalawang bansa. Kung hindi pa nagreklamo ang iba pang malalaking bansa tulad ng France at Great Britain, hindi pa nagpalabas ng “reklamo” ang Amerika. Ganoon pa man, malinaw na pagkukunwari lang ang pagrereklamo ng Amerika sa Tsina dahil wala rin naman itong magawa dahil sa laki ng utang nito sa mga Tsino.

Nagising sa katotohanang walang karapatan ang presidente ng Amerika sa pagsita o pagbulyaw sa presidente ng Pilipinas sa isyu ng “human rights” nang mamutawi sa mga bibig na Duterte ang maaanghang na salita laban kay Obama, lalo pa at ang “bakuran” nito ay namumutiktik ng mga kaso tungkol sa pang-aapi ng mga “puting” Amerikano sa mga “itim” na kababayan kuno nila.

Ang pag-aalala nina Robredo at Shahani na baka matigil ang tulong ng mga European countries at Amerika sa Pilipinas ay pagpapakita ng “colonial mentality”. Kung may mga tratado o treaty na nilagdaan ang Pilipinas at ibang bansa, hindi ito “one way” o para lang sa kapakinabangan ng Pilipinas dahil hindi tanga ang mga bansang ka-tratado upang magpalamang sa isang third world country tulad ng Pilipinas. Ang mga “aids” at “grants” ay mga utang na binabayaran ng Pilipinas. Ang mga tulong na binibigay nila kung may kalamidad nila ay “kusang –loob” at hindi hiningi. Nagpapadala din ang Pilipinas ng tulong kapag may kalamidad na nangyari sa kanila. Ang mga investments na nakikita ngayon sa Pilipinas ay galing sa Tsina, pati mga produktong bumabaha sa malls at palengke dahil pati toothpick at gulay ay galing sa Tsina.

Ang mga Pilipinong nakatira sa Amerika ay hindi dapat mag-alala dahil hindi naman sila palaboy sa bansang yan kundi nagkakayod-kalabaw upang kumita sa disenteng paraan, na nakakatulong pa sa pagpaunlad ng ekonomiya nito. Ang mga takot o nag-aalala ay mga sipsip at tamad na Pilipinong nagpapaka-Amerikano sa pagkain ng mga pagkain sa bansang yan na tadtad ng kemikal kaya lahat na lang sakit ay nadadanasan nila! Kung may plano silang habang -buhay na titira sa Amerika, huwang silang makialam sa Pilipinas ngayon sa pagdagdag ng paninira kay Duterte dahil nakakagulo lang sila! Kung maging turista sa Pilipinas ang mga sipsip na Pilipino ay hanggang mall lang naman sila o di kaya ay sa mga tourist spots. Pumunta kaya sila sa mga squatters’ area, tingnan ko lang kung magsasalita pa sila na animo ay dito sila nakatira at hindi sa Amerika!

Sana ay gayahin ng mga sipsip na Pinoy ang maraming Pilipino sa Amerika at iba pang bansa na may malalim na pang-unawa at bukas na kaisipan….at walang “colonial mentality”.

THE PHILIPPINES, AMERICA AND HER CIA

(Blog/installment #1)

By Apolinario Villalobos

I found an interesting dual-titled book, “The Marcoses and the Making of American Policy/ Waltzing with A Dictator” by Raymond Bonner, in of all places - a junk shop! As I am no Marcos fan, I set it aside for a long time and came across it again when I was cleaning my files just recently. I even thought of selling it at a tempting price to a Marcos book collector. At first, I only literally browsed through it, but before reaching the mid-section of the 533-paged book, my attention caught the passages on the life of the couple, Ferdinand and Imelda, Manifest Destiny, American Senate, Philippine election, Vietnam, CIA, etc. I finally, decided to seriously go through the pages and I was taken aback by so many “discoveries” about how the Philippine government has been fiddled with by America, making me think that it could still be happening today, to put Duterte down.

Here are some interesting quoted passages:

Chapter 2/ page 28: “America acquired the Philippines (along with Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba) as part of the spoils of its war against Spain, a war fought in pursuit of the country’s “Manifest Destiny”. (There was deceit during the so-called “American-Spanish War”. The Filipinos, at the last minute, were not allowed to participate to prevent the ensuing of an “honest-to-goodness” fight against the Spaniards by Aguinaldo and his soldiers who came home from Hongkong for this purpose. As planned by the Americans and Spaniards holed up inside Intramuros, and as part of “negotiation”, there should only be a short exchange of shots, before the white flag shall be held up high by one of the Spaniards on the Intramuros bastion facing Manila Bay, thereby, preventing the unnecessary loss of lives on both the side of the Americans and Spaniards. The “drama” also saved the face of the Spaniards from the shame of cowardice or outright surrender without putting up a fight.)

“Filipinos generally were most appreciative of Dewey and the Americans for having tossed out the Spanish…. But that didn’t mean they were anxious for another colonial master. Under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo, they took up against the Americans. Aguinaldo is dismissed in American history as a “rebel”; his guerilla was, which is most certainly was, as an “insurrection”….(When the July 4 marked as Independence Day to correlate with America’s was changed to June 12 which was the date when Aguinaldo declared the Philippine Independence at Kawit (Cavite), America’s ill-feeling toward the Philippines took root.)

Page 29:     “It was a dirty war, marked by racism and atrocities. The Filipinos were considered “savages”, barbarians, a wild and ignorant people”. Entire towns were burned to the ground; in one village every male over ten years old was ordered shot.” (This passage shows how atrocious America can be in realizing her “dream” of “civilizing” a people who, to her are savages and barbarians! It was during this time that water torture was introduced by the Americans to the Filipinos as a form of painful punishment…right in front of their families!)

“The war was fought for businessmen who wanted new profits; generals who wanted bases; and other Americans who just wanted to do good – the “white man’s burden”, as Rudyard Kipling wrote in 1899.” (This passage is an exposition on the greed that underlines the supposedly noble intentions of America in gripping the throat of the Filipinos, despite which she wants the Filipinos to show gratitude to her deceptive intent.)

“The country’s Constitution, which had to be approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt was virtually a rewrite of the American Constitution.” (Despite the two revisions, the Philippine Constitution is still tinged with a heavy color of American influence, that is why there is a need to totally change it, and this time, Congress is working on it, hopefully for its transformation into a federal system which suits in all aspect the various cultures of the Filipinos and the character or lay out of the archipelago.)

Page 30:  “ ….While the Philippine President was the commander in chief….whenever he deemed necessary in order to prevent violence, invasion, insurrection, or rebellion or when the public safety required, he could legally place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law. It was this provision that Marcos was to invoke in 1972….” (That is how Marcos found out he can be a dictator at all cost.)

“….writes Robert Pringle, a career Foreign Service officer with a doctorate in Southeast Asian history who served in the Philippines in the early 1970s. In a scholarly book Pringle says: ‘Myth number one is that we created democracy in the Philippines; that our colonialism was more enlightened than European colonialism, both in its motivations and its consequences. In fact, American rule bolstered a preexisting landed elite, encouraging it to express itself through representative forms…”(So, now we have political dynasties that virtually eats up the supposedly democratic system of the government!)

Page 32: “….Filipinos were incensed by the Philippine Trade Act which passed by the US Congress in 1946 and set the terms of the economic relationship between the two countries. ….its provisions were far more favorable to Americans.  The provision that most rankled was the one which gave Americans the same rights as Filipinos to exploit the island’s agricultural and mineral resources and to own and operate public utilities. The “parity” clause violated the Philippine Constitution which mandated that Filipinos must own 60% of any business engaged in the development of the country’s natural resources. Under pressure from the United States, the Philippine Legislature approved a constitutional amendment – after expelling on specious grounds leftist members who opposed it”. (The passage refers to the expulsion of the group of Luis Taruc who was elected by the people to Congress. Luis Taruc was identified with the HUK, shortened from HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) that originally fought the Japanese invaders but later reduced to insurgent group due to their disappointment at the dereliction of the Philippine government in granting the promises made after their surrender. And, it is very unfortunate that until today, many Filipinos think that America is very GENEROUS toward the Philippines! )

There are many more passages pointing to how America exploited the Philippines. More will be shared on how the CIA came into the picture….and how their “tactics” exploited even the deep religiosity of the Filipinos.

The meddling of the Americans in the affairs of the Philippines even went as far as the expulsion of Marcos and the installation of Cory Aquino. Today, tongues are wagging if America is also doing something through the CIA, to deface Duterte, as the agency is said to be expert in coming up with manipulative documentaries. CIA agents are known to infiltrate organizations. Such assumptions are in the face of the obvious orchestrated “tactics” in connivance with Filipino personalities who, perhaps, are trembling at the president’s vocally- expressed threat of their eventual persecution…add to their number the drug lords who are already hurting from the jabs of the president. To make the covert obvious, from all angles, manipulations are emanating from America, simultaneously with those coming right within the Philippines.

Note: Underlines provided to some statements are mine, as well as, the commentaries that are enclosed in parenthesis.)

Life in the Philippines and America

By Apolinario Villalobos

America is touted as the land of prosperity and opportunity which is true, but only for the disciplined and those who are willing to work. I may not have been to the United States but I have eyes that read and brains that comprehend, aside from ears that listen to the stories told by friends who went there as tourists or are still there as immigrants. Take note, physicians diagnose patients and prescribe drugs for them, not because these medical practitioners have had suffered many diseases themselves, but their decisions are based on cases that they have previously handled, written references, and information from colleagues during conventions. I am in that situation. I am making this early clarification because I am aware of the skeptic viewers who may question my right to write about this topic.

Also, I expect denials from viewers who are in situations far from their expectation of immediate success upon setting foot on American soil. These are Filipinos who want prosperity but without a bit of willingness to do menial jobs even temporarily, for immediate sustenance. Some Filipino executives who left their lucrative jobs in the Philippines expect to land in positions similar to what they have left once they set foot in America, but they were wrong. I admire those who have bravely faced the reality and immediately reset their mind to conform to the new situation they are in. In time, by dints of their patience and perseverance, they have achieved what they longed for, although perhaps, not totally. There are still many who failed until now but keep on dreaming about success which just become as evasive because of their finicky attitude.

The following are some of the situations that I can share based on my personal observations in the Philippines and second-hand information from references and friends who have experienced life in America, though not necessarily arranged according to their positive and negative implications:

The Bicol Uprising and Concentration System

During the American Occupation

Resulting to 300,000 Casualties

By Apolinario Villalobos

In 1903, Simeon Ola with about 1,500 supporters continued the uprising in Albay against the Americans after the fall of Aguinaldo. In answer to such insurrection, the Americans resorted to the concentration of the villagers resulting to the casualty of about 300,000 due to the inadequate supply of food and unhealthy accommodation. Hunger and diseases caused the deaths.

Governor Taft vehemently insisted that the move was necessary to “save” the villagers from the supposedly terroristic activities of Ola, an accusation which was denied by those affected of concentration. What followed was the ceaseless negotiation for his surrender. Aside from Vice-Governor Luke Wright, Pardo de Tavera was also involved in the negotiation for the surrender of Ola for which conferences were held and promises were made by the American government.

As a last resort, On September 22, 1903, Col. Bandholtz purportedly signed an agreement with Ola “promising him immunity” and other conveniences. When the band of Ola surrendered, the Americans denied having signed an agreement with him. Instead, the colonizers spread the story that Ola surrendered finally, as he found it futile to continue going against the superior forces of the Americans who were really resolute in apprehending him at all cost. This denial tactic was used also against Aguinaldo when he conferred with Dewey just before the outbreak of the Spanish-American war.

To further pin Ola down, the American authorities also spread stories that Ola turned witness against his band, for which, he was given an “executive clemency”. The hearing was presided over by Judge James Blount and Judge Adam C. Carson, assisted by Prosecutor James Rosa. The proceeding resulted to the release of some of Ola’s followers, others were sentenced for vagrancy, while the rest were charged for sedition. Some got the heaviest penalty which was death, under the Brigandage Act. Ola was slapped with imprisonment for 30 years...ironically, despite his cooperation. Ola was clearly another victim of the American treachery.

It’s Only Now that the Hovering High-Tech Satellites

Discover the Runway Project of China in West Philippine Sea?

…tell that to the Marines!

by Apolinario Villalobos

It is irritating to read “revealing” and “explosive” news about the “discovery” of the runway being built by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea. And, of all things, they learned about it from the shots of the satellites in the sky. What hypocrisy! Those satellites are hovering up there 24/7 and captured images are being monitored, and to think that the Chinese have been flaunting their reclamation projects for years! Are the lenses of the satellites’ cameras selective?

Conflicting statements of the Americans are coming out on the defense issue of the Philippines. It shows the ambivalent treatment of the trust given by Filipinos to their white big brothers. Even the United Nations sat on the complaint filed by the Philippines. What will they do now that the reclamation projects that glaringly indicate a military base of the Chinese to protect their claim in the West Philippine Sea is almost finished? The Chinese are not fools to dismantle those structures to comply with whatever pronouncements the United Nations will have just in case it favors the Philippines which is just a dream! It should be noted that China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council…need I say more on this aspect? China has been adamantly vocal about their refusal to resolve the issue with the mediation of UN. Period.

Those “Balikatan Exercises” with the United States Armed Forces are just for show. If the United States has been effective in scaring off the Chinese, the latter should have stopped their reclamation projects long time ago yet. In another situation which God forbids should happen, just in case there will be altercation between the Chinese and Americans, in “defense” of the Philippines, it will not last for days. A few guided missiles from China is enough to obliterate structures and Filipinos from the face of the earth! And, the big brothers, the Americans can just say, “we did our best…now let us talk peace”…..that will be the happiest moment for the Chinese and the Americans, as the archipelago will then be sliced into portions like cake!

Show of power without regard to the mediating authority of the United Nations is being done in Europe now resulting to invasion of helpless countries. What will prevent the same thing to happen in Asia? With the extended sovereignty that China is building via their reclamation projects, what organization or what other powerful country will tell them that the Philippines is not within their territory? And, the Chinese can easily quote now the UN’s Law of the Sea which in the eyes of the exploited nations is becoming inutile…useless!

I fear the day when stories about a lost race somewhere in the Pacific will be told to the coming generations of earthlings….just like the stories about, “Paradise Lost” and the “Bermuda Triangle”. Only this time, the islands will still be there….