“Testing wills”

Manila, Philippines – I can only shake my head at the avalanche of commentaries from media, student leaders & even senators that more often denigrate the homeland of our progeny. The verbal abuse, cascading into self-flagellation by making fun of our national defense capabilities, and ergo the temerity for the Philippines to even dare a behemoth as China. The extreme is when salt is added to injury, via jokes and lampooning one’s own ability to stand by and protect what is right and ours.

When it comes to student leaders e.g. president of student councils and youth organizations (UP, LFS, CEGP etc), in one TV show, one leader mockingly responded, “What is expected of us? For every student to fight China?” But where are the militants? The activists? Nary a shadow of red flag waiving in front of the Chinese Embassy or “anti” chants. Nationalism for the brown children of Maoism is protesting in front of the US Embassy in Roxas Blvd. And for some senators, one gentleman urged, “The politicians should stop talking and allow the businessmen to do the talking”, regards the Panatag Shoal. Knowing our kind of businessmen, our sovereignty will be sold for the right price. And a “win-win” situation is similar another man claiming rights over your wife, and to settle the matter amicably, you share her with another claimant. A lady senator said, “Let us focus on the common things that build instead of what divides us and destroys”. Thank you for that grandmother statement!

We did not seek this incident with the Chinese. And neither did we or will we start the first act of aggression. We do not want war. But neither will we shirk from the challenge, when it is forced upon us. The matter of war is not all about armaments capability, but of a “test of wills”. World opinion is against China. And it is not about to start a war. It will foul-bait us into an incident. What is definite is, “politics as an extension of war by other means”. Meaning, a war on tourism, OFWs, employment, exports, trade, death penalty for drug couriers etc. We have no choice. We have to stand by this line on the sand.