Showing posts with label Chinese. Show all posts

Dragon Stories and My Antique Dragon Bracelet

By Apolinario Villalobos

The reason, perhaps, why the armadillo scales command the highest price among the considered medicinal wildlife is their resemblance to the scales of the dragon. I thought about this while looking at the dragon bracelet just given to me by a Chinese friend. Without asking any information about it, except being told that it is antique and got health benefits, I presumed that it is made from “copperized” antique Chinese silver wires intricately woven into round “scales” and intertwined to resemble the dragon, complete with a head whose extended tongue locks with a small loop that serves as its tail.

From among the pages of a hundred year old book about the history of nations, I came across an item about how an early Chinese empress paid for the expense in the laying down of a railroad track by Russia, across a portion of the vast Chinese territory, tore it up and dumped the iron segments into the sea, because it offended the earth dragon. Eclipse according to the Chinese legend occurs when the dragon swallows the moon or the sun. Among the Christians, the mention of St. George is never complete without the dragon.  Practically, many cultures around the world are made intriguing and colorful by the dragon. Legends are replete with heroic stories that revolve around them, although, some had to be subdued in order to be transformed from being bad to good. Even popular motifs and designs are tainted with dragon form such as the “sarimanok” and “naga” of Southeast Asia.

In reality, modern relatives of the dragon are thriving around us. The gecko is among them, as well as, the innocently-looking house lizards that with extended tongue can put the bigger cockroach to flight. Their bigger relatives are the crocodiles (crocs) and alligators (gators), the strength of which earned respect from the early Egyptians who revere them very much. By contrast, in the Philippines, they represent greedy government officials and politicians voted to their positions in the halls of the Senate and Congress.

On the Caramoan Peninsula of the Philippines’ Bicol Region, can be found the “caramoan dragon”, which in time has become rare. And, on an island of Indonesia can be found the “komodo dragons” which are being taken cared of because of the discovered medicinal value of their saliva.

Back to my dragon bracelet, I almost relegated it to the drawer because it seems too vulgar and eye-catching, until the day I wore it. While strolling along Roxas Boulevard, a tourist stopped me, pointed at my wrist with the bracelet and asked if I would like to part with it. To check its value, I asked the guy, how much he was willing to shell out for my bracelet just in case I decided to part with it. He asked me if USD100 was okey but if wanted more, we could haggle. He looked at it closely and asked, “is it 10k?”. Surprised by his comment, I realized the bracelet’s dull golden luster. I did not part with my bracelet. My Chinese friend who gave it to me is the nephew of the old Chinese gentleman who gave me his tourmaline bracelet when I brought him home from Luneta, after losing his way many months ago. To maintain its antique look, I never had it cleaned, since the day I got it.

The Philippines’ Early Commercial Intercourse with China

By Apolinario Villalobos

The early recorded commercial intercourse between the Philippines and China was dated 982 A.D. when a certain Sung-Shih (History of the Sung) mentioned about traders from Mo-yi or May-I, referring to the Philippines and sometimes the island of Mindoro, and who came to the southern coast of China. But even much earlier than the said date, according to a noted historian Berthold Laufer in his “Relations of Chinese to the Philippines”, and Austin Craig in his “A Thousand Years of Philippine History Before the Coming of the Spaniards”, among the goods from the Philippines were birds, pearls and tortoise shell, to which, another historian, Chao Ju-Kua added, yellow wax, cotton, medicinal betel nuts and “yu-la” cloth. Proof of the early trade relations between the two countries are the archaeological sites that date back to the T’ang dynasty, in Babuyan islands, coastal areas of Ilocos and Pangasinan, Manila, Bohol, Mindoro, Cebu, Jolo and Cagayan de Sulu, and Mindanao.

Accordingly, Chinese junks would leave the southern coast of China for the Philippines during the month of March and their travel would take about 15 to 20 days. The same junks would prepare for the return trip during the month of June. Trading was done with haste, usually three to four days at one convergence point along a safe coast, then, they would move to other traditionally appointed place, as some natives proved to be hostile.

The commercial intercourse brought about cultural enhancement on both trading parties. On the part of the Philippines, according to Filipino anthropologist, E. Arsenio Manuel, about 522 words in the vocabulary of Pilipino language are of Chinese origin. Among them are, bihon, miki, miswa, mami, kuchay, tokwa, kinchay,  lumpia, lome, kimto, goto, batsoy, tsa, liyempo, kamto, biko, bitsu, hopia, petsay/pechay, bakya, jusi, siyansi, ate, kuya, diko, ditse, sangko, siko, and siyaho.

As mentioned among the pages of “Ming History”, traders from Fukien of southern China flocked to Luzon to establish trading colonies, so that when the Spaniards came, they found well-entrenched Chinese communities along the Pasig River and the coastal areas of Pangasinan and Ilocos. While the Philippines was under the administration the Spaniards, there was a time when the Chinese were expelled. Upon realizing, however, the need for the business acumen of the Chinese, they were encouraged by the colonizers to return but made to dwell in settlements outside the Walled City or Intramuros, which was called “Parian”. That is how the Manila Chinatown, the oldest in the whole world came to be.

Historically, the Chinese were never interested in politically colonizing any of the islands of the archipelago, unlike the Spaniards who came to the Philippines purely for this purpose. It is for this reason that when the Hispanic administration of Manila took effect, there was no resistance from the Chinese community. If the dynasties of the mainland that saw the growth of trading with the archipelago had any intension of annexing it to their kingdom, they should have done it long before the Spaniards came. But Chinese traders came and went, instead of even a single Chinese soldier. It is for this reason that China can never site history to attest her rights over a major part of the South China Sea or Philippine Sea. Their trading ancestors could have named some islands and bodies of water in and around the archipelago but only for their convenient reference and nothing else.

ANG “ISLA” SA WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea, ang tanging layunin ng Pilipinas kaya dumulog ito sa UN Arbitral Tribunal ay upang matukoy ang tunay na hangganang karagatan ng bansa. Nagkataon lang na mayroong bahura o reef sa lugar na yon kaya atat na atat ang China na sakupin ito. Upang malubos ang kanilang layunin, ang bahura na hindi angkop na tirhan ng tao ay tinambakan ng mga dinurog na korales mula sa paligid kaya tuluyang tumaas at naging “isla”. Ngayon ay may mga pasilidad na pang-military… mga gamit pandigma, kasama na ang mahabang paliparan.

Seryoso ang usapin. Noon pa binanggit kong dahil sa pagpupursige ng China na makamkam ang bahaging ito ng karagatan ay siguradong hindi ito papayag na basta-basta na lang patatalo lalo na sa pipitsuging bansa tulad ng Pilipinas. Sa kamalasan naman ng China, dahil sa desisyon ang UN tribunal tungkol sa naaangkop na pagturing sa karagatang yon hindi lang Pilipinas kundi buong mundo ang kalaban niya ngayon. Solohin ba naman ang karagatang yon na ang turing ng buong mundo ay “maritime highway”. Para siyang nagbakod ng isang right of way kaya walang madaan ang mga taong naapektuhan at nakulong!

Para walang gulo, pabor ang Pilipinas sa pakikipag-usap ng maayos upang kahit papaano ay umabot sa “sharing agreement”. Sa ganitong punto, wala nang pinakamagandang paraan kundi gawin itong” open trading post” ng China at Pilipinas. Hindi puwedeng mag-refund ang Pilipinas kahit sa maliit na bahagi ng ginastos ng China dahil noon pa man ay sinabihan na silang itigil ang ginagawa nilang reclamation. Kung magkaroon ng oil exploration dapat ay “sharing” din ang usapan.

Sa isang televised interview kay Duterte, sabi niya gusto niyang ipadala si dating presidenteng Ramos sa China upang masimulan ang pakikipag-usap sa kinauukulan. Marami ang nagtaas ng kilay dahil noong kapanahunan yata niya nang magkaroon ng bentahan ng military base na ngayon ay naging tinatawag na “Global City”, ang sabi ay gagamitin daw sa military modernization ang mapagbentahan. Marami ang nagtatanong kung anong nangyari sa pangako dahil hanggang ngayon ay “antique” pa rin ang mga gamit ng military.

Nitong bandang huli nga, dahil sa isyu ng West Philipppine Sea, ay tila naalimpungatan ang gobyerno dahil nakita ang kawalan pala ng maaayos na barko ang Philippine Navy at Philippine Coast Guard. Kailangan pa naman ang mga ito dahil ang bansa ay maraming isla kaya napakahaba ng coastline nito. Hindi nga maeskortan ang mga gustong mangisda sa West Philippine Sea at hindi nga mapatrulyahan ang karagatang dinadadaan ng Abu Sayyaf tuwing maghakot sila ng kidnap victims mula sa karating bansa upang dalhin sa Sulu, Basilan, at Tawi-tawi. Paano na daw kung si Ramos ang makikipag-usap sa China tungkol sa isang maayos kuno na “sharing agreement”?

Sa ambush interview kay Ramos pagkatapos ng miting, sinabi yata niyang hindi siya interesado…..mabuti naman. Mabuti pa siguro ipadala si Lucio Tan at Henry Sy at siguradong hindi sila patatalo sa usapin kung paano pagkitaan ng Pilipinas ang artipisyal na isla dahil siguradong patatayuan ito ng airport ng PAL at Air Philippines at napakalaking Shoemart mall ....isama na rin pala ang PAGCOR para ang hindi ma-accommodate na mga casino sa Manila ay doon na lang itayo. Kung kulang pa ang artipisyal na isla, gumawa ng mga submerged casino – first in the whole world yan! 

MGA PREDICTIONS KO PARA SA TAONG 2016

NA YEAR OF THE GOLDEN MONKEY DAW…

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Hurt Feelings and Grief

By Apolinario Villalobos

Several times, I have proven that “mind over matter” really works. I found out that some friends also had the same experience. Pain can be managed – both the emotional and physical. All it needs is mental discipline. Unfortunately, instead of overcoming pain in any way possible, some people even fake illness and grief to be used as alibi in evading responsibilities.

Pampering illness and grief results to self-pity that further results to the deterioration of personality and health. The body has its own way of counteracting the malfunction of any organ, the most noticeable sign being the fever. Instead of feeling miserable, the mind should help the body by controlling the negative emotion. The same mind-driven control should be applied when somebody is grief-stricken.

If a person becomes used to the “mind over matter” routine, emotional maturity sets in which is very important in coming up with sound decisions and having a healthy outlook in life, despite the occurrence of tragedy. Also, if a person gets used to pain, no amount of threat or weight on his shoulder can buckle him down. This is the reason why recruits of the police and military forces had to go through painful trainings to prepare them for any unexpected perilous situation later on, especially, torture to be inflicted by enemies when captured while dispensing of their responsibilities in the field.

Grief is more painful than wound. Uncontrolled grief can drive some people to the verge of committing suicide. Grief can cause depression to set in which affects the emotion. If a person is psychology weak, it will be a downslide all the way for him. Not only will he be angry at himself, family, and other loved ones, but the whole world, as well. It also, takes a very long time for some people to get over grief, especially, due to the death of a loved one. Queen Victoria of England for instance, wore black dress to grieve the death of her husband, until the time of her death. Some need a year or a little more before they can move on. During the mentioned long period of grief, the affected just let their troubled emotion flow through a normal course until it has finally calmed down.

For the unaffected of a tragedy, it is easy to say, “take it easy” to the victim.  How can everything be taken in stride after a typhoon for instance, has leveled down the victim’s house and even killed some members of his family? How can a widowed jobless wife take it easy, with her husband gone due to illness, as there are still kids to be taken care of? Instead of being vocal with such kind of sympathy, it is suggested that financial or material assistance be extended to the grieving party if the mourner can afford it, otherwise, the latter should better keep his mouth shut, as silence can also imply deeply-felt compassion.

Giving comfort to the grieving is a universal obligation. It is during the moment of grief that extended hands are most needed by them. Even just the thought that a friend is around and ready to give comfort, relieves the grief-stricken of some burden. Comforting need not be verbalized, as earlier mentioned, but manifested in many ways such as taking over some responsibilities in the grieving family’s home or the wake’s venue, which the members of the grieving family cannot do for the duration of the wake. This is a traditional practice in the rural areas of the Philippines.

On the other hand, the Chinese hire “professional crying women” to enhance the depressing atmosphere during the wake of their dead and along the way to the resting ground. Pagan people gash their bodies to show their grief. Meanwhile, in the Old Testament days, the Israelites wore sack clothes and poured ash over their head when a member of the family or a leader died, and completing such show of grief were the beating of chest and pulling of hair while crying to the top of their voice.

Today, among the Filipino Roman Catholics, showing a sad face during the wake is no longer widely practiced. Some families even hire a videoke unit, alleging that it’s the last wish of the deceased – to have singing and merriment during his or her wake. Gambling and heavy drinking are also allowed, aside from butchering of pigs and even cows, in the case of the affluent, for the duration of the wake. This is the family’s way of joyously sending off the spirit of the departed on his journey to another world of supposedly infinite life and happiness. And, on the way to the cemetery, merry tunes are played by the marching band or audio player. Well, that’s life…and, death – only in the Philippines!

China Did it Again…Passing the Blame to the Philippines

and Playing the Downtrodden on the Issue of West Phil. Sea

By Apolinario Villalobos

Here is another disturbing dispatch from Reuter on the latest declaration of China as regards the disputed West Philippine Sea:

 “BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines' case against China at an arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea had strained relations and that it was up to the Philippines to heal the rift.”( By Sui-Lee Wee and Manuel Mogato)

China is not stopping from presenting an image that oozes with weakness, humility and innocence to illicit sympathy from fence-sitting nations as regards the West Philippine Sea where she has built artificial islands that anytime from now shall be inhabited by thousands of her military personnel, as well as, equipped with military facilities. This is despite her insistence that the reclaimed islands shall be utilized for researches and emergency rescues, although, her covert objective, is first and foremost, expansion of her territory. She is perceived with disdain as a double-talker. Proof to this was when she declared that reclamation in the West Philippine Sea was stopped, but weeks later, the world was gaping at the wonder of the transformation of an atoll into a “high-tech island”, complete with military facilities and runway. 

The issue on the West Philippine Sea shall put to test the guts of the United Nation’s International Tribunal charged with the Law of the Sea. Will it go on with the investigations and trials despite the vehement refusal of China to participate as she does not recognize the tribunal’s authority? What will the other co-members of China in the UN Security Council do? Will they join hands and gang-up on her? Will the United Nations order the dismantling of the facilities on the disputed natural and man-made islands, once the tribunal decides in favor of the Philippines?

Practically, the economy of the whole world is in the tight grip of China, as even powerful nations are indebted to her. The Chinese President was recently a guest of Honor in London and accorded very special treatment which their high officials unabashedly admitted to be equated with “economic assistance”. China has also, spearheaded the opening of a bank that competes with the World Bank in offering loans to distressed countries.

The peoples around the globe practically depend on China – from their toothpick, gadgets, food products, equipment, and machineries. Due to the cheap Chinese labor, companies from all over the world, transferred the manufacturing of their goods in China, although, marketing of the products are done in their home countries  In this view, it would seem that once the machines of factories in China will stop, the whole world shall come to a complete stop, too. When the Chinese money declined in value, other moneys in the world followed suit. So, what other manifestations do we need to show that the Chinese, have by their wily manipulation, able to control the world, and that the leaders of the nations that are supposed to be defenders of democracy, are just playing charades to avoid losing face?

Meanwhile, in the “game of the West Philippine Sea”, the pawn is the Philippines…if China will get what she wants, it would be goodbye to the rest of the claims by other SEA nations!

Early Trade Relations of the Philippines with China

By Apolinario Villalobos

While Spain was resolute in her desire to colonize islands with the use of the cross, China was more reclusive, as her rulers were even discouraging the voyages of their people. Nevertheless, the Chinese traders were stubborn in carrying out their occupation to the point of risking their lives in crossing oceans. According to archaeological findings, the natives of the Philippine archipelago had their first contact with the Chinese traders during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), based on the discovered pot shards which are now at the National Museum.

The hectic trading activity was recorded during the 13^th century. Chinese traders coveted the Filipino products such as, corals, gold, cotton, hard wood, edible nuts, gums, resins, rattan, pearls, and many others. In the course of their trading, the Chinese traders intermarried with native women, while establishing commercial centers, a wise move which checked the entry of other trading nationalities. The first mention of the trading activity in the Philippines by the Chinese was in 982, when merchandise from Ma-I (Mindoro), where brought to Canton.

A clear account of how the trading was conducted was mentioned by Chao-Ju-Kua in 1225, in which he said that as soon as the ships of the Chinese traders dropped anchor where the local official was located, they were boarded for checking, after which the natives were already free to ply their trade with the foreign merchants. A converging place was assigned for this commercial activity.

Trading Chinese vessels were also said to have sailed to “Sanhsi” (three islands), which could have been the reference for central Visayas,  also to “Pu-li-lu” (Polilio), and “Tung-Liu-sin” which could be eastern Luzon.

According to the Ming Annals, embassies from Luzon visited China in 1372 and 1408, and brought with them gifts for the emperor, such as small but strong horses. In return, the emperor gave them silk, copper, cash and other valuable things. There is also an account about Chinese traders bringing gifts to the “King of Luzon”.

Natives of Pangasinan had their share of trading with the Chinese as early as 1406 during the Ming Dynasty. Pangasinan was mentioned in the book of Kiyoshi, published by Toyo Gakubo, where it was referred to by the Chinese traders as “Ping-chia-shih-lan”.

When the Spaniards arrived, they found a Chinese settlement of traders along the Pasig River. This settlement was known then, as “Parian”, and later evolved into what is now known as the Manila Chinatown, the oldest in the world. Among the locals, though, it is more popularly called “Ongpin”.

Ang mga Ninuno ng mga Tsino ay Mangangalakal

Hindi Mananakop…kaya hindi sila dapat idahilan

sa issue ng West Philippine Sea

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Unang-una, hindi dahil ang West Philippines na tinatawag ding “South China Sea” ay may “China”, ay nangangahulugang pagmamay-ari na ito ng mga Tsino. Ang pangalang “South China Sea” ay ginamit bilang reference o batayan ng direksyon ng mga manlalayag noong unang panahon. Wala ni isa mang pahina ng history books ang nagsasabi na sinakop ng Tsina ang karagatang ito. Mangangalakal ang mga Tsino noon kaya kung saan-saan sila nakakarating at ginawang animo ay “highway” ang pinagtatalunang karagatan. Nadatnan ng mga Kastila ang mga Tsino noon bilang tahimik na mga negosyante, subalit may pagkatuso nga lang. Sinona o pinatira sila sa iisang lugar sa kabila ng Pasig at tinawag itong “Parian”.  Tinawag din silang “Sangley”, na ang ibig sabihin ay “trader”. Ang Parian ay ang maunlad na ngayong Manila Chinatown, ang kauna-unahang Chinatown sa buong mundo.

Patunay sa kawalan nila ng intensyong manakop ang hindi pagtulong ng emperor ng Tsina noon sa mga Tsino sa Manila, nang mag-aklas ang mga ito laban sa pagmamalabis ng mga Kastila na umabot sa madugong labanan. Ayaw kasi ng emperor nila noon na umalis sila ng Tsina at tumira sa ibang lugar, kaya lumalabas na para silang itinakwil. Nagkaroon pa nga ng tinatatawag na “Bamboo Curtain” noon dahil sa inasal ng Tsina na hindi  pakikipagrelasyon ng lubusan sa ibang bansa.

Kaya ang sinasabi ng mga lider ng Tsina ngayon na “nakakahiya” sa kanilang ninuno kung hindi nila ipaglalaban ang “karapatan” nila sa West Philippine Sea ay malabo. Ideya na lang yan ng mga pinuno ng Tsina ngayon dahil nangangailangan sila ng mapaglalagyan ng iba pa nilang mamamayan na umaapaw na sa mainland China, at nangangalap din sila ng pagmumulan ng langis na sinasabing matatagpuan sa West Philippine Sea. Bumabagsak na kasi ang Tsina at nadagdagan pa ng problema nila sa Hongkong dahil gustong kumalas mula sa mainland ang mga Honkongites.

Noong panahon ni Gloria Arroyo, nagkaroon ng joint exploration sa West Philippine Sea ang Tsina at Pilipinas, para sana sa joint exploitation ng matatagpuang langis. Subalit nang makumpirma na mayaman nga sa langis ang ilalim ng karagatan, biglang kumalas ang Tsina sa magandang pakikipagtulungan. Tumahimik sila, at nang bumuwelta ay umiba na ang tono ng kanilang sinasabi, at inungkat pa ang “nine dash” na kaek-ekan nila. Dahil sa “nine dash” na yan, pinalabas nilang “sakop” daw nila ang malaking bahagi ng West Philippine Sea, kaya nag-double time sila sa pag-reclaim ng mga bahura upang maging artificial islands ang mga ito.  At, dahil pa rin diyan ay nagkaroon na ng “extension” ang kanilang nasasakop na teritoryo. Ngayon, lumalabas tuloy na talagang legal ang pangangamkam nila! Mga tuso nga...hindi na nagbago!

Mula noong naging aktibo ang Tsina sa pag-reclaim ng mga bahura sa West Philippine Sea, nasira rin ang maganda sanang samahan ng mga Pilipinong mangingisda sa mga kapwa nila mangingisdang Tsino, pati na sa mga nagpapatrulyang Chinese Navy. Nagpapalitan pa sila noon ng pagkain. Ang alam kasi ng lahat noon ay “neutral” ang nasabing karagatan dahil may iba pang mga bansang umaako sa mga bahagi nito, tulad ng Brunei, Malaysia at Vietnam, at wala pang maayos na napapagkasunduan hanggang ngayon.

Ayaw ng Tsina na mamagitan ang United Nations dahil alam nitong kung makialam ang ibang bansa, lalo na ang malalaki, ay matatalo sila. Ang gusto ng Tsina ay bilateral talk lamang sa pagitan nito at ng Pilipinas. Kung mangyayari ito, Pilipinas naman ang matatalo dahil siguradong dodominahen ng makapangyarihang Tsina ang usapan.

Ngayon, ang mayabang na Amerika ay walang magawa kundi mamangha at magbanta.  Ang mga bansa namang nakiki-angkin din ng bahagi sa nasabing karagatan ay tahimik lamang dahil walang magawa. Ang isang maliit na hakbang kasi na gagawin ng maliliit na bansang nakiki-angkin ay maaaring gawing dahilan ng Tsina upang lumusob sa kanila. Sa katusuhan ng Tsina, maaari nilang sabihin na ito ay “act of aggression”  o di kaya ay “trespassing”, at ang matindi ay baka sabihin nilang nilulusob sila! Hindi malayong mangyari ito, dahil sa kasisinungaling nila, pinapalabas pa nga nila na sila ang inaapi ng Pilipinas dahil nagsampa ito ng reklamo sa United Nations!

Kung sakaling magkaroon ng labanan sa karagatang ito, ang kawawa ay mga bansa ng Timog –kanlurang Asya na ilang daang milya lang ang layo sa mga bahura, kung saan ay mayroon nang base-militar ang Tsina. Malabong asahan ang Amerika na wala naman talagang naitulong sa Pilipinas mula pa noong pinalitan nila ang mga Kastila bilang mananakop. Nagtayo nga sila ng mga eskwelahan, mga tulay at kung anu-ano pa, pero ang kapalit naman ay ang walang pakundangang pakialam sa pamamalakad ng ating gobyerno at pangangahas (exploitation) sa ating likas-yaman (natural resources).

Ang malinaw ngayon, naisahan ng mga Tsino ang wise na mga Amerikano. Ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng base- militar sa Pilipinas noon ang mga Amerikano ay upang mapangalagaan nila ang kanilang mga interes sa rehiyong ito ng Asya, kaya nga hanggang ngayon ay may base-militar pa rin sila sa Okinawa, Japan. Malas lang nila dahil napatalsik sila noong panahon ni Erap Estrada. Ang ginawang paraan na lang upang maparamdam ang kanilang presensiya sa rehiyon ay ang pagkaroon ng taunang joint military exercises na nakapaloob sa isang tratado na kinukuwestiyon naman ng mga makabayang sector. Ngayon, ang pinakamasakit na black-eye nila ay ang kabiguang maunahan ang mga Tsino sa West Philippine Sea. Akala nila kasi ay hanggang pagnenegosyo at pamemeke lang ang alam ng mga Tsino. Dahil sa mga pangyayari, napatunayang hindi pala ganoon kagaling ang Amerika, na nagbigay ng kahulugan sa kasabihang, “matalino man daw ang matsing ay napaglalangan din!”

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….

The Philippines Should Expect the Worst

With China’s Refusal to Recognize the UN Authority

By Apolinario Villalobos

The vehement refusal of China to recognize the authority of the United Nations to mediate in its differences with the Philippines as regards the West Philippine Sea, should give a strong signal to the Filipinos. Except for Vietnam that filed lately its own protest, the seemingly inaction of other concerned ASEAN countries, has just emboldened China to go on with its brave and defiant actions in developing and protecting their so-called territories in the contested area.

The Chinese government has a reason in losing its respect to the UN’s authority in the face of unrests that plague member countries which the world brotherhood of nations failed to police. Even the newly-formed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has enshrouded with doubt UN’s credibility,  as the former, continually breaches the neutral line of the latter’s peace-keeping forces. Not even the strong protests that tinged with threats from the so-called super powers, Great Britain and United States, have put a stop to the terroristic acts of the motley group of Islamic nationalists.

China has repeatedly expressed its resolve not to honor whatever decision the UN court will make in favor of the Philippines. And, as it is wont to do, the giant country may even slap a “disciplinary action” on the Philippines for its persistent move to seek the mediation of a third party. Worst, China may impose demands when, eventually, the Philippines agrees to sit down for a bilateral “compromise” agreement. The Philippines is left with no choice, anyway, as it cannot even expect help from UN.

Another worst scenario is when an untoward incident between the Chinese naval force and the weakling Philippine Navy shall ignite an excuse for the former to make an invasive action. A single shot is enough. The Chinese can easily say that they are protecting their territory and in retaliation can launch an attack of the neighboring populated islands of the archipelago. If that happens, I doubt if the US will lift a finger, because, its President shall still seek a mandate from their Congress. Nothing in the questioned latest “agreement” with the US Armed Forces provides for their immediate action in case China attacks the Philippines.

Doubtful, too, is if the Philippine government has already plotted options that could prevent the occurrence of the worst scenarios, or when they shall happen eventually. The West Philippine Sea case has practically become a “test case” to prove if indeed, China is the new world super power that should be feared, or at the very least, respected. The world is gawking at this Pacific side of the world, waiting for what will happen next… and the Philippines is one of the pawns.

Finally, with the UN’s diminishing credibility, its “weak” members are left to the bullying of the “strong” ones. The mandate of the organization’s court of justice that is supposed to protect the territorial rights of member- countries has become a simple memo. The weakness of the UN could lead to a chaos – a formidable threat to world peace.