Showing posts with label Southeast Asia. Show all posts

THE GUTSINESS OF DUTERTE SETS HIM APART

FROM THE REST OF SEAn LEADERS...HE IS A STANDOUT

By Apolinario Villalobos

Let us just talk about leadership quality based on the strength of impact that it impresses on others and definitely, our own president, Rodrigo Duterte has IT. Nobody among the SEAn leaders has made such an impressive feat in less than six month after assuming his office, not even Singapore’s whose own mark made a deep impression only after several years of attempt, but which at the end proved successful, making the comparably small nation an unquestionable model for disciplined metamorphosis into progress.

Duterte is a no-nonsense leader, and whose steely personality is made more tough by his bluntness. He is not a hypocrite which is a very important trait that leaders should have, so that people around him and those with whom he deals with shall IMMEDIATELY know what he FEELS and THINKS about issues, instead of virtually running around the bush.

Only avowed detractors perceive him as evil because of his honest ways. Evil, because nasty words have become practically emotional punctuations of his language just like the “callejeros” who, happy or angry can easily mutter “putang ina”. How about comparing him with a president who always attends religious service every Sunday, maintains friends from the high society, eats French foods, wears signature apparel and cologne, drives luxury cars, earned doctorates from reputable universities here and abroad…AND NEVER EVER UTTERED EVEN A SINGLE “BULLSHIT”, BUT IS ACTUALLY DOWNRIGHT CORRUPT!?!?

If Duterte could be bad based on the hypocritical ethical standard, and the corrupt president may appear clean unless proven in court as corrupt….which of them has a better image in the eyes of the people and God? The honest though cussing Duterte? …or the hypocrite corrupt who puts on a deceitful religious and clean countenance!

During the 2016 ASEAN conference that Duterte attended in Laos, the dignitaries were unanimous in showing their admiration. Upon his arrival, other leaders and dignitaries practically vied with each other in getting his attention for a selfie opportunity that virtually broke diplomatic protocol. The Japanese minister mentioned him at the start of his speech. Prior to the conference, curiosity made Obama call Duterte “colorful”.  During an opportunity, Duterte courageously showed photos of the American atrocities in Mindanao which for me is an affront challenge to Obama who was even jolted by the historic evidences….reasons for the alienation of the Moros from the democratic system of the Philippines that the Americans planted. Had he not been outright honest, the world whose eyes were focused on the ASEAN conference would have not known the reason why our country is such in a dire state of discord.

And, most importantly, the Indonesian president was very vocal about his desire to copy what Duterte is doing to obliterate the drug menace in the Philippines. All of those are strong manifestations that contradict what detractors are sowing about the supposedly negative effect of his “bad image” due to his cussing and what his campaign against illegal drugs could give to the country such as absolute infamy!

Duterte’s request about the issue on “extra-judicial” killings was not respected, and of all people, by fellow Filipinos who by virtue of the string that attaches them to their white-skinned employer have practically made them lost their identity….as they thought they are Americans, too. All that Duterte has been asking is that this issue be not taken up during the ASEAN conference, which makes such question no longer necessarily asked during the press conference at the Davao airport. He is not dumb as not to know that it could make him flare up, if questioned, especially, by other leaders, much more Obama.

The biased and mocking editorial “warnings” about his being confronted by Obama on the issue of “extrajudicial killings” insinuated that he would buckle down, irritating him more which made him remark, “who is he”.  They obviously enjoy poking at the patience of Duterte who to them cannot compare with any other leader, just because he hails from the south, hence, with unrefined manners. Their impertinence shows that their hate of Duterte made them so naïve of the guy’s own feelings.  But, as the saying goes, goodness really prevails over evil at the end….and just like a popular Pilipino song, “Ako ang Nagwagi”…he indeed, came out the winner! On the positive side, the incident could also be another blessing in disguise as it made the world see that the Philippines has a gutsy president who dares to stand equal when it comes to asserting justified rights, even to the president of the most powerful nation in the world!

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!

Sa Panahon ng APEC Summit

Daan-daang Flights ang Kakanselahin!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang APEC Summit, November 16-20, na tinanggihang i-host ng isa pang southeast Asian country na mas hindi hamak na may kakayahan, at sinalo naman ng Pilipinas ay magdudulot ng trahedya sa industriya ng biyaheng panghimpapawid dahil sa daan-daang kanseladong flight. Ang dahilan ng MIAA ay upang bigyan ng kaluwagan ang airport para sa mga darating at aalis na mga eroplanong gagamitin ng mga pinuno ng mga bansang dadalo sa nasabing pagtitipon. Sa panahong yon ay magigigng katawa-tawa ang Pilipinas sa paningin ng ibang bansa, dahil nagpauto at nagyabang na naman. Ang mangyayari sa Pilipinas ay parang isang probinsiyanong gumastos ng malaki upang makapaghanda ng todo pagdating ng kapistahan sa lugar nila, ganoong inutang lang ang pera. Ang kayabangan nga naman, kung umiral!

Maliban sa pagkansela ng mga flight, ang gobyerno ni Pnoy ay maglilinis ng mga bangketa at kalsada sa metro Manila upang walang makitang pagala-galang mga gusgusing nagtitinda ng mineral water at mani, lalo na ang mga nakatira sa bangketa na ang tinatawag na “tahanan” ay ang tinutulak na kariton. Siguradong mamumutok sa dami ang mga pampublikong gym, at covered courts ng mga barangay na pagdadalhan sa kanila. Subalit masuwerte ang madadala sa mga mamahaling resort tulad ng nangyari noong dumating si pope Francis, ang pinuno ng Vatican. Samantala, ang mga pamilya naman ng kawawang mga Pilipinong umaasa ng kabuhayan sa paglalako ngunit walang puwesto sa palengke ay isang linggo ring magugutom.

Gustong ipakita ni Pnoy sa mga bisitang akala niya ay hindi nagbabasa ng mga balita sa internet, na “totoo” nga ang sinasabi ng mga survey na umuunlad ang bansa. Ganoong sa totoo lang, ay pekeng pag-unlad pala! Bilang respeto, aayunan siya ng mga bisita, pero sa loob-loob ng mga ito, alam nila ang tunay na kalagayan ng bansa, dahil hindi naman sila mga bobo at tanga.

Ilang bilyong piso ang hindi inalintana ni Pnoy na mawawala sa mga negosyong apektado ng walang kuwentang pagtitipon. Pero, sa isang banda, hindi naman kaya sila pinangakuan ng “kapalit”, halimbawa ay “kaluwagan” o “write off” sa buwis? Wala namang cash na pang-refund ang gobyerno sa mga kalugian, eh di, idaan na lang sa collectible na tax!

Wala namang kabutihang idinudulot ang APEC at kung anu-ano pang kaek-ekang mga organisasyon ngayon ng mga bansa dahil kinokontrol lahat ng China, lalo na ang ekonomiya ng mga ito. Dahil dito, ano pa ang pag-uusapan ng mga pinuno, ganoong mas marami silang mga domestic problems na dapat asikasuhin sa bayan nila, tulad ng nalulugi nilang ekonomiya, krimen, droga at marami pang iba? Anong pagtutulungan ang pag-uusapan kung ang mga kalakal at paggalaw ng mga ito ay kontrolado ng China? Gumastos lang sila para sa junket na pagtitipon, samantalang lalo namang pinagdusa pa ni Pnoy ang mga kawawa nang mga Pilipino dahil sa abala at gastos na walang silbi!

Sa buong isang linggong pagtitipon ng APEC, luluwag ang kalsada dahil halos walang bibiyaheng mga bus at jeep. Gutom ang mga driver. Ang mga may kotse ay pupunta na lang sa probinsiya kung meron silang mapapasyalang kamag-anak upang makaiwas sa isang linggong gastusan kung sa resort sila titigil. Ang masaya ay mga may-ari ng malls at internet café dahil siguradong iistambayan ng mga magsasawa sa kapapanood ng Aldub kalye serye. Malamang, bukod tanging LRT at MRT ang mamamayagpag sa pagbiyahe, ang problema nga lang ay palagi namang naaaberya. At ang nakakatakot, ay baka lahat ng mga mamamasyal sa Luneta ay kakapkapan for security reason! Kaya itong gawin dahil may mga gate na ang Luneta na isinasara pa nga kung hatinggabi at binubuksan sa umaga, na para na ring mall. Yan ang Pilipinas sa ilalim ni Pnoy!

Marami tuloy ang nagsasabi na bumunot nga ng barahang panghuling hirit si Pnoy, bulilyaso pa. Kaya madadagdagan na naman ang malalagay sa pahina ng libro ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas tungkol sa kanya, bilang presidenteng puro palpak daw ang ginawa, hanggang sa huling sandali ng panunungkulan. Baka gusto rin niyang magkaroon ng pelikula na tulad ng kay Heneral Luna, yon nga lang iba ang tema….siguradong hindi aayon sa kanya.

Mga Historical Trivia tungkol sa Pilipinas (part 1)

ni Apolinario Villalobos)

-Bago dumating ang mga Kastila, partikular, si Magellan, malakas na ang pakikipagkalakalan ng ating mga ninuno sa mga Hapon, Tsino, Cambodians, Indians, Malaysians, Borneans, Moluccans, Javans, at Sumatrans. Balita sa Espanya at iba pang kaharian sa Yuropa ang mga sangkap-panluto na tulad ng pamenta, sili, cinnamon, at iba pa na matatagpuan lamang sa Asya lalo na sa Malacca o Moluccas, at nagpapahaba din ng “buhay” ng hilaw na karne bilang preservative. Ang pakay talaga ng grupo ni Magellan ay ang Moluccas na madaling marating mula sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin, itinuring na “transit point” lamang ang Pilipinas. Pangalawang biyahe ni Magellan papunta sana sa Moluccas ang ginawang pagdaong sa mga isla ng Pilipinas, kung saan siya minalas na mapatay ni Lapu-lapu sa Mactan.

-Ang tunay na pangalan ni Magellan na isang Portuguese ay “Fernậo de Magalhậes”. Ang pangalan niya sa Kastila ay “Fernando de Magallanes”, at ang “Ferdinand Magellan” ay sa Ingles naman. Lumipat siya sa pagkiling ng Espanya kahit siya ay Portuguese dahil hindi kinilala ang kanyang naiambag sa mga paglalayag na nagpatanyag sa Portugal. Ininsulto pa siya ng hari noon ng Portugal na si Dom Manuel (the Fortunate) nang humingi siya ng kaunting dagdag na pension. May alipin siyang Asyano na si Enrique, o Henry, na nakatulong ng malaki nang makarating ang grupo niya sa Visayas dahil nakakausap nito ang mga katutubo ng mga isla ng Limasawa, Homonhon at Cebu na una nilang dinaungan. Dalawa ang bersiyon ng kuwento tungkol sa pagkatao ni Enrique. Ang una, siya daw ay anak ng sultan ng Malacca at sa edad na 13 ay sumama sa isang grupong sumalakay sa isang barko ng mga Portuguese at nahuli, pero “sinalo” siya ni Magellan na nagkataong nasa Malacca noon, at dinala siya sa Portugal. Ang pangalawa, siya daw ay isang Visayan na nabihag ng mga pirata at binenta bilang alipin sa Sumatra, hanggang makarating siya sa Malacca. Ang dalawang tawag sa kanya ng mga historian ay, “Henry of Malacca” at “Black Henry”.

-Hindi nagkakaisa ang mga katutubo sa ilalim ng iisang pinuno nang datnan ni Magellan dahil bawa’t isla ay may sariling pinuno o “datu”, at ang may pinakamaraming sakop ay kilala sa tawag na “raha”. Ang unang na-convert sa Kristiyanismo sa Cebu na nakipag-blood compact pa kay Magellan ay si Raha Humabon, pamilya niya at mga sakop. Si Lapu-lapu naman na pinuno ng Mactan ay hindi pumayag at nagbanta pa ng laban kay Magellan kung hindi sila aalis agad. Hindi nakipagtulungan ang mga Kastilang tripulante ng mga galleon na may hinanakit kay Magellan dahil sa pagka-Portuguese nito, sa planong pagsalakay  sa Mactan. Hindi sila bumaba ng mga galleon upang lumusob sa mga naghihintay na tropang katutubo sa dalampasigan ng Mactan. Pinanood lamang nila si Magellan at mga kababayan nitong mga Portuguese habang nakikipagbakbakan sa mga katutubo sa dalampasigan hanggang sa siya ay mapatay.

- Nagkaroon ng “peace negotiation” sa pagitan ng mga katutubo at natirang mga Kastilang tauhan ni Magellan pagkatapos ng labanan. Pinagpalagay ng ilang historian na bilang ganti ay nakipagsabwatan si Enrique kay Raha Humabon na “blood brother” ni Magellan, na nagplano kasama si Lapu-lapu, ng isang salu-salo bilang pamamaalam sa mga Kastila.  Sa salu-salong naganap, minasaker ang mga Kastila, subalit may iilang maswerteng nakatakas at nakabalik sa mga galleon na agad naglayag. Ang mga buhay na mga Kastilang naiwan ay binihag at ibinenta bilang alipin sa mga mangangalakal na Tsino. Si Enrique naman ay pinagpalagay na bumalik sa kanyang pamilya.

-Ang pakay talaga ng mga Kastila sa pagsakop ng mga isla dahil napasubo na sila, ay upang pagkitaan ito batay sa paniwalang mayaman ang mga ito sa ginto at mga sangkap sa pagluto o spices. Upang magtagumpay sila sa pananakop, pinauna muna ang mga misyonaryo, na bandang huli ay nakipagpaligsahan na rin sa mga opisyal, sa pagpayaman. Ang mga misyonaryo ay mga Jesuits o Hesuwita na kinabibilangan ni St. Francis Xavier o St. Francis of Assissi, at mga Dominikano o Dominicans.

-Ang mistulang tatsulok na kapirasong lupain na ngayon ay ang tinatawag na Intramuros ang tinutukoy noon ng mga Kastila na Manila, at ang Pilipinas naman ay tumutukoy sa iilang isla ng Luzon at Visayas, hindi sakop ang buong Mindanao, kahit na may maliit silang kampo noon sa Zamboanga. Ang “Islas Felipinas” na naging “Filipinas” ay hango sa pangalan ng hari ng Espanya noon na si Philip II.

-Ang mga Kastilang hinakot lamang ng galleon mula sa Espanya upang tumira sa Manila ang tinawag na “Manileῆo” o “Filipino” - mga nakatira sa loob ng Intramuros o “Walled City” na ayon sa mga historian ay tumalo sa kagandahan ng ibang mga siyudad sa Yuropa.  Ang tawag sa mga nakatira sa kabilang pampang ng Ilog Pasig (ngayon ay Quiapo at Sta. Cruz) ay mga “Tagalog” (taga-ilog), pero dahil hindi binyagan sa Kristiyano ay tinukoy ding mga “Moro” bilang paghalintulad sa mga “Moors”, mga Moslem na pinalayas mula sa Espanya ng mga Christian Crusaders. Ang iba pang mga nakatira sa kabila ng Ilog Pasig ay mga Intsik na tinawag na “Sangley” isang salitang Amoy na ibig sabihin ay “trader”, at pinilit tumira sa iisang lugar upang makontrol – ang “Parian”, na ngayon ay Chinatown. Ang mga Hapon naman ay pinatira sa hindi kalayuang lugar na ang sentro ay tinatawag ngayong Plaza Dilao. Ang mga nakatira sa mga karatig- lugar ay tinawag na mga “Indio” o “Indian” dahil inihanlintulad naman sila sa mga katutubo ng mga lugar sa  South America tulad ng Peru at Mexico na unang sinakop ng mga Kastila.

Malinaw dito na ang mga ninuno natin ay inalipin sa sariling bayan. At, ang “Filipino” bilang katawagan ay hindi talaga laan para sa kanila noong panahon ng mananakop na mga Kastila!

A Fearful Prediction

on the World’s Course

by Apolinario Villalobos

At the rate the pockets of unrest are scarring the face of the earth, horrendous sentiments have practically overcame the peoples of different nations. The overzealous races even think of the events as premonitions of the Biblical Armageddon.

The African continent has long been rocked with unrests, and so are parts of Europe. The Asian regions are not free from bickering among neighboring countries over disputed parcels of maritime territories, and even the country of Uncle Sam, long known as the cradle of democracy is not without its share of bombings.

European countries have come together to meld themselves into the European Union (EU). In Asia, there is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over which hovers “big brother”, China. In the Middle East, there is the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Left out are the weak black African nations, the Judaic country of Israel, and Japan that still manifest unwavering faith in the United Nations.

With the emergence of China as an economic giant, and which wisely makes use of such reputation to its advantage, the US and other traditionally strong nations, wisely maintain their safe perch on the fence, as they gawk at events around them. The US lives up to its reputation as champion of democracy by meddling in the affairs of the exploited countries, and in so doing, drags along willing allies. China, on the other hand, stealthily and discreetly impresses its mark of economic hold throughout the world which is dangerously polarized between the haves and the haves not, while concentrating its focus in Asia - an open land of opportunities where labor can be had for a pittance, where natural resources are ready for the taking, and worse, where lives wallow in poverty.

It will not be long, for the earth to be finally sliced like a cake into portions that represent blocks of the African countries, Islamic countries, European countries, north and south American countries, mainland Asian countries, and Southeast Asian countries….with the weak coming under control of the strong.  If Israel fails to choose which group to join, it may again suffer the wrath that caused the dispersal and persecution of its people, although, the US has proved to be a dependable protector, but for how long?

The world is undergoing a cleansing. Aside from the man-made calamities – wars that systematically wipe out helpless populations, it is also periodically ravaged by natural catastrophes such as, typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and plagues. Lethal bombs that can zero-in to their targets, thousands of miles away can be launched by countries that are driven by maniacal desire to rule the world. Technology has made another world war that may ensue, sophisticated, sweeping and short-lived, as warring countries can pelt each other with remote-controlled bombs that can practically wipe out cities in minutes.

It seems, the world is taking a course fated with man’s self-destruction elicited by his greed.