"Still, this doesn't end the tension"

"Still, this doesn't end the tension"

Earlier, the captain of the fishing boat FB GEM/VER apologized to president Duterte "after his comments made it appear he backed out of the supposed meeting with the president."

In an article from ABS CBN News, Capitain Junel Insigne, faced the media and said he was not aware that it was Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, not Duterte, who asked to meet him in Manila.

For earlier this week, Capt. Insigne said he would meet Duterte to demand accountability after a Chinese vessel Yuemaobinyu 42212 rammed his boat and left him and his 21 crew members in open waters.

However, Capt. Insigne said he backed out of the meeting because he suddenly felt ill.

At this time, with Agriculture Secretary Piñol beside him, Capt. Insigne apologized to the president because "his statement made it appear he ditched the President."

"I apologize to our dear president, that he did not call me but Secretary Piñol. I did not go because I felt bad," Insigne said in Filipino during a press conference in Occidental Mindoro.

Furthermore, the captain also appealed to Duterte to help them obtain justice from the perpetuator- even as the chief executive earlier downplayed the incident, much to the captain's dismay.

***

Regardless of the recent apology by the capitain of the fishing vessel due to miscommunications with Malacanang, hope this doesn't equate to compromising justice and truth. 

For knowing that the regime as trying to upheld Philippine-Chinese relations, it is "natural" for them to be skeptical in regards to the incident; yet, this skepticism, what more of a downplay, hath rather fueled discontent, especially after a leader who described the sea ramming incident as a mere "hit and run". 

Ridiculous if not anger provoking isn't it? And no matter how some of its apologists trying to "calm down tensions" between an indifferent administration and an angry folk, this downplaying brought by a fellow Filipino hath made worse than the ramming incident brought by a Chinaman.- and to think that it is "natural" for the order to be skeptical towards this matter, then so is the folk also being "skeptical", or even "annoying" on how the order treated its fellow folk, be it this incident or any other incidents the order tries to evade as such. 

Anyway, what else should happen so that the folk would be able to finally come to their senses? Will the order trying its 'best' to steer them from reality with its debt-driven concrete delusions of development and grandeur (especially those financed by the Chinese), if not by blaming the opposition for seeking truth from facts?

No matter what the order tries to suffice the issue, of retractions and gifts, still, this doesn't end the tension.

"No 'accident' will stop the Filipino from asserting truth and sovereignty."

"No 'accident' will stop the Filipino from asserting truth and sovereignty."

(Notes on the recent accident at Recto Bank, West Philippine Sea last June 9, 2019)

It cannot be denied that Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is correct that the Philippines should take a strong, proactive stand against China's agression amidst this tragic event against Filipino fishermen last June 9.

But by seeing Duterte et al. failing to make a strong stand against this agressive act, this shows the regime fails to heed its people, especially victims of the fishing vessel FB Gemvir 1 that was rammed by Yuemaobinyu 42212 in Recto Bank of the West Philippine Sea.
Worse, by seeing apologists trying to whitewash tensions all in the name of "Sino-Philippine relations", of Spokesman Panelo downplaying, rejecting as "premature" or "speculation" those who condemn China for violating UNCLOS* and to bring Chinese seamen to trial; if not condoning China's statements like in the case of Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin telling "China can say anything it wants."

Quite lamenting at first isn't it? Knowing that this tragic incident happened when Filipinos were celebrating its independence day, it end subjected to debates (like Sasot vs. Hedayrian), downplaying (like Panelo), ridiculing (like Locsin Jr.), instead of urging people to unite and assert its sovereignty even at the expense of agreements and monetary aid- or is unity be limited to boxing matches? Basketball? Beauty pageants while this serious matter be downplayed as a politician's matter?

Well, no matter how apologists would defend their dear leader then come to think of this: Duterte is becoming a bootlicker to both Western and Chinese interests- that for the purpose of keeping the loyalty of the American-leaning officers in the Police and in the Armed Forces, as well as for currying western investments, he retains all the agreements, treaties, as those of his predecessors that makes US imperialism continue to dominate Filipino affairs; while at the same time accepting agreements wholehwartedly by the Chinese, including having its resources treated as collaterals and letting Chinese labor "do their work" at the expense of Filipino labor.

With these shows how this country continues to remain an appendage no matter how it appears to be "developed". That alongside retaining existing agreements from the Americans, having a country selling its sovereign right over the west Philippine Sea, particularly its shoals, isles, rocks, marine and mineral resources to the Chinese also made the country tied to their interests as such; with apologists trying to justify its high interest loans and overpriced infrastructure projects.

Yet, regardless of this, this doesn't stop people from seeking truth from facts and to expose, oppose this venture the order hath benefited from. The recent incident as well as earlier ones should be a wake-up call for each and every Filipino to stand up and assert no matter how apologists, fanatics, may try to counter this reality. This situation is no Cold War hysteria as what most people think of, for there is no "communism versus liberal democracy involved" in a matter that involves territorial integrity and the right of its people to assert as sovereigns; but to see China stubbornly trying to upheld its foothold at the expense of its neighbours, what more to see a subservient order, then it is the will of the people to stand up and fight without their discretion.

Anyway, China isn't red as what people think of.

*UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

"Neither Patriotic nor Radical"

"Neither Patriotic nor Radical"

(Or: "Notes all after Duterte preaches defending independence and change
an a still reactionary order")

"Neither Patriotic nor Radical".

These are the words this person and others concerned in regards to the Duterte administration this day of independece. For as he and his camarilla would still claim to their state affairs as patriotic-driven and radical in its action in "bringing changes", it seems that reality is actually more like contrary to the words being stated in this note- all thanks to their very selves who are submissive towards theirs and their overlord's interests.

With words like "President Rodrigo Duterte hopes for true independence for the country "within our lifetimes," he said in his 2019 Independence Day message on Wednesday, June 12.", would say that there's a lot of time to struggle just to upheld the country and its independence especially in facing greater challenges particularly those brought by the order he sworn to protect.

Initially, Duterte is right that for over a hundred and twenty-one years that the Filipinos of the past bound their lives and fortunes to fight and proclaim their independence. But as reality continues to be at the hands of an oppressive order, be it by an unjust decree, an unfair decision, or an extrajudicial act all in the name of interest,  then that fight for independence continues to remain still- this time by the poor and of the oppressed, whose lives would say had enough of their contentment over injustices, of getting discontent over unfairness and injustices, and with their struggles would say that "the tree of liberty blossomed on these lands because it was nourished by the sweat and blood of our patriots, heroes, and martyrs."

For sure his apologists would disagree on to this, instead clinging to their idol's "optimistic statement" that all Filipinos should "help uplift the country" regardless of its soiled acts and connivances with entrenched interests and its foreign backers, that keeps Filipinos from ever getting uplifted as what the president saidth in his statement.

***

As far as this person observes, that despite the celebration of independence, of expressing statements of change, reform, and stability, that reality goes something like this: that the so-called "republic of the Philippines" is a charade, that the government is full of delusion, that the constitution is being diluted by self-proclaimed orderists, that there is only a vassal of the imperialists. 

How come? For a concerned who expressed this thoughts, the country has been enduring this reality for decades, especially that amidst the so-called atmosphere of development, this doesn't benefit the majority who supposed to enjoy its fruits. That from the infrastucture being done to the rice being sold, each taxpayer has to pay the debt that brought that structure, or the farmer who forced to sell their palay cheap to the middlemen if not their farm to the developer who wishes to transform those into houses for the well-offs in the city. 

Sorry for the words but with this truth, being cruel and unrelenting, makes one make peace with mentally before thinking ahead. It is true that in being vassal every policy, law, to those of project, infrastructure, is driven by the order whose desire is to keep interests firm, while at the same time making the people subjected to the rules and at the same time having a feel of being satisfied no matter how small it is given to them. 

This is less to do with coup plotter idealists or the self-proclaimed analysts in Social media, but in their intellectual exercises they drift off into idealism as the situation agrows worse: for apologists ranging from a disgruntled activist Nilo Tayag or the frustrated anarch Sass Sasot trying to insist that the leader Duterte is patriotic if not radical, but is he? As far as this writer knows that he tried to but end otherwise being an apologist of the order, so are the apologists who once claiming to be for change by any means only to be settled down by their legalism and its perchance for reform. But the fact that they justify their dear leader's  actions and statements would say that they bring the country to the dogs, that they exchange the country for some pieces of silver while claiming that this for the country's good. After all, they aren't not like Brockdorff-Rantzau who did refused to sign the treaty of Versailles after Germany's defeat in WWI, yet he is the same man who died embittered in his lips as he said: "Everything for me has been shattered-I already died in Versailles." Thinking that he failed his duty for the country.

Sadly to say, the ones this person stated in this note aren't like the one admitting. Like their predecessors claiming to be patriots would claim that everything is under control as their idol performs good works if not justifying the need for an extrajudicial act as a form of imposing justice. It is no longer surprising for a concerned tho, for the atrocity laidth by the order, be it drug related killings, of targeting activists for arrest/disappearance, and increasing numbers of collateral damages, along with increasing debt and taxes, outweighs the infrastructure projects being built or currently set upon, the 'strong economy' being praised, or the soup kitchen being promoted, anything the administration afforded to brag in making a backward country appear to be "on a right track" if not a reactionary appearing to be a a "revolutionary" in the eyes of an ever concerned people.

***

If to paraphrase Adam Müller's 'Die Elemente der Staatskunst', this person is ought to say that the state and by extension the community, hath to be not a mere factory, farm, insurance agency or a commercial company. It is not even like a device or a tool meant to out things in order as one would wish, but rather it is the inner union of all physical and moral needs, of all physical and spiritual wealth, of the inner and outer life of a folk community, all in a great, energetic, eternally active and living whole.

It may sound illusory if not fictional, but man's quest for an ideal community hath been since time immemorial, that in every interaction be it right or wrong lies the totality of human affairs if not a union of many successive generations. But reality failed to realise as such and turned the state into a tool of consolidation than a spearheader of change. Duterte did sneered people through the ears by telling his administration as socialistic, that his rule as just if not enlightened, but given the bloodshed and the interest prevailing, is his change be considered a vulgar form of Marcos's 'constitutional authoritarianism'? Vulgar in a sense that it is divorced from the law by making the law less lawful if not amoral?

In fairness for the late dictator that he himself recognise the state as consolidatory while trying to appear itself a spearheader of change in order to address issues like poverty. Like Müller as well as Fichte, he sees the state as a factor to unite physical, moral, and spiritual wealth to revive the lost consciousness and drivel to achieve progress and stability. From his book 'Notes in the New Society', he, assuming to be progressive, speaks on why the rebellion of the poor may take various forms, if not a search for an ideology which makes that rebellion be the basis of the new society:

"Moral realism requires this ideological basis: the consciousness of the poor permates them with a profound sense of being oppressed, and not simply because the rich oppresses then brazenly but it is poverty itself that oppresses them.

To be poor is to be without, and, therefore, to be an outsider in the vibrant and meaningful political, economic, and social life of modern human community. Above all, being poor is being invisible; violence makes them visible."

But despite the order's means to let's just say "achieve development", dissident agitation for social change has comparatively more success given the structure's half-hearted action for social amelioriation. After all, it was the same Marcos who opted to leave his predecessor's decontrol untouched thinking it is inseparable to free enterprise. So was the floating rate in Peso, the junking of the Magna Carta of Social Justice and Economic Freedom, and the membership in the "General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade"'(GATT).

And Duterte opted to emulate it: continuing VAT with an additional enabling law like TRAIN, the policy of borrowing from neighbouring countries and multinational moneylending institutions, obeisance to existing economic agreements, and others that made Duterte's change more like a continuity with new terms and paraphrased statements. Apologists may disagree or critically accept this note out of sheer defence of their idol for Marcos and Duterte tried their "best" to save the republic, maintain order, and bring some "reforms" whose goal is to upheld cohesion amidst popular criticism. But to cite George Magnus:

"Policy makers struggling to understand the barrage of financial panics, protests, and other ills afflicting the world would do well to study the works of a long-dead economist: Karl Marx. The sooner they recognise we're facing a once-in-a-lifetime crisis of capitalism, the better equipped they will be to manage a way out of it..."

From there, one would say that those from the order did afford to study Marx, of recognising his work particularly those of "class struggle" and the likes, then refuting him out of sheer defense of "democracy" amidst the threat of "communist subversion" if not insisting th need for economic liberalisation and the impossibility of having self-reliance amidst prevailing globalisation and neoliberalism. At some cases they would imitate Marx, et al. in their so-called "struggle against the oligarchs" only to be concluded with their distorted version of corporatism and its cooperation with the elites in the society they've once called "rotten." It is not surprising in seeing them reading either to refute or to make concessions with the working masses "just to avert a revolutionary tension", not just the usual conservative "need for industrial and social peace".

Anyway, Duterte and his fanatics will still cling to their view that their brand of authoritarianism as democratic if not revolutionary. But the revolution can only be made with revolutionaries and not structuralists. Theirs, be cold and calculating, are rather like melancholic ghosts wandering around Malacañang trying to reclaim the past in a guise of creating a future. Someone by temperament and through experience mistrustful of others, whom they see only motivated in their turn when induced by base interests; skeptical about their views despite parroting it, poor Duterte for as he becoming a negation of what people desired of- and so is his camarilla.

"For Independence over Terror, Injustice, and Humiliation"

"For Independence over Terror, Injustice, and Humiliation"

(Or: "Notes after Duterte's statement about 'a truly independent Philippines'

and its actually existing subservience to entrenched interests")

More than a century hence, the Philippines, despite its independence, remains under the clutches of interests. Both from the landed gentries and its foreign overlords, these interests hath controlled economically, politically, militarily, and culturally.

It may sound "negative" as such as it negates the country being an independent entity in the family of nations; but, by seeing the country continues to be plundered by American, Chinese, and various nationals, with its big corporations, financial institutions, and various entities controlled by the unequal treaties and agremeents, this country remains as a mere economic appendage of the operations of these foreign big capitalists.

What more of seeing landlords keeping control in their fiefs regardless of various agrarian reform programs, provisions, and decisions from the courts. The order, through the Duterte administration, continues to tolerate as such, citing the fact that the ones within the order are themselves both landlords and compradores, maintaining firm in their interests.

And now, with the rise of China as an imperialist power in a "socialist" garb, Duterte, whilst feigning to be an antiimperialist, has allowed this rising dragon to infringe on the cpountry's maritime territory and plunder the country's economic resources; whilst ironically, maintaining the country as a neocolonial client state under American rule, and serving its economic, military, and geopolitical interests.

With these, no wonder the Filipino's struggle for genuine national and social liberation continues to prevail. With the country celebrating its 121's anniversary of its independence, the Filipino people, drewing inspiration from its epic struggle to attain freedom, doesn't stop from its continuity. For these people, woken up by the realities that surrounded them, has concluded that it is indeniable that the regime whom assuming to be first "socialist" rather end as any other ruler that cares about the interests of the landed; so is also indeniable that the regime whom promised land for the landless, homes for the homeless, and justice for the victims of various oppressions including those in uniform turns out to be the one who kowtowed at the interest of the landlords, compradores, and bureaucrats.

Thus, it is indeniable that in the face of all-out terror of the Duterte regime, the clamor of the every Filipino to oust from his position, what more of dismantling this present order continues to mount.

And as in the past, it is the most urgent task in this saga of struggle to advance the Filipino's cause for National and Social Liberation.

"Is it to defend the country or to upheld the order?"

"Is it to defend the country or to upheld the order?"

(Notes regarding the revival of the Reserve Officers Training Corps)

Its been decades passed since mandatory implementation of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) was terminated in year 2001 after University of Sto. Tomas student Mark Welson Chua was found dead after exposing the alleged corruption in his unit.

That incident, as well as other earlier yet isolated incidents has triggered protests against the said implementation, leading to its termination and its replacement by the National Service Training Program, which however, includes Military Service as an option alongside Civic Welfare and Literacy Training services.

However, with recent events such as the need for bolstering defences particularly against the Chinese, there are people who insist the importance of a reserve force capable of defending the nation's patrimony regardless of the controversies that marred its revival.
This matter persisted until last year, when president Rodrigo Duterte hath approved the restoration of the mandatory ROTC program this time in Senior High School students. This revival was of course supported by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and most from the Armed Forces, but this time with the justification that the program ‘instills patriotism, love of country, respect for human rights, moral and spiritual values’.

Quite appealing to patriotism if not the need for an adventure at first as the Armed Forces wanting to revive that saidth program this time for Senior High; it even tried to promote itself as an alternative to today's hedonism which most Filipinos think about as root of deliquency amongst youths, hence looking at military discipline as necessary.

***

But the question is, will that discipline and patriotism truly make the youth orderly and patriotic? In a time when orderism has been the guiding line for Duterte and his administration, the latter seems to be badly needed young blood to support him especially in a time when these young folks are increasingly against his policies what more of the atrocities synonymous with his regime regardless of being marred by its scandals that failed to be addressed, if not trying to be hidden by its apologists.

From this no wonder why critics of that said revival frankly equates it with militarism aside from its atrocities and corruption. For other than the tragedy in UST that led to its termination, there are other incidents that involves hazing, and even sexual harassment towards female cadets by its male counterparts like in the case of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). As according to Kara Taggaoa, she saith:

 “ROTC has always been a tool to violate the rights of the Filipino youth and to reinforce the powerplay and abuse perpetuated by the state”.

 “With its restoration among senior high students, the ROTC will certainly bolster military order in the country, It will breed and train the Filipino youth to abide with, and worse, justify the ongoing atmosphere of vehemence in the country”...

Quite reasonable that said statement knowing that the program has been marred by its events authorities described as isolated cases if politicised matters due to groups concerned. And to think that by using "discipline" and the order's view of "nationalism" as its justifications laid upon by the administration for the said revival, Taggaoa et al. knew that with this kind of view it meant justifying militarisation using the youth, if not further cultivated misogynism, discrimination, and harassment given the Filipino's perception of the military program as machismo-ism and its idealisation. For as according to Akbayan's Bas Claudio, whom describing the program as “unjustified” and “unnecessary”, said:

“There’s this misconception with ROTC that ties with the conceptions of manliness… [whether] you can do intensive physical and military training, so it is really these rituals of manliness that… instill that kind of misogyny."

Furthermore, he said the government could still promote active citizenship through NSTP. The community development programs developed under NSTP, he added, had helped many indigent communities.

***

But despite the "general" approval of  Duterte's diehard fans, not all amongst these fanatical ranks do agree about its revival, and some even criticised if not opposed partially the reviving of ROTC in Senior High School.

In fact, according from a note made by University of the Philippines Regent Spocky Farolan, he did expressed his criticism of reviving ROTC despite agreeing the need for citizenship advancement through paramilitary methods of instruction within that said level:

"We are not against providing leadership and citizenship training through para-military methods of instruction in the SHS level but this should not be called the rotc which would serve as the primary source for our country's service and military reserves."

Furthermore, he instisted an alterative program through the "Citizen Service Bill" which was authored by Sen Koko Pimentel and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. According to that act, it provided for a leadership and service program for Senior High School students, somewhat a better version of the "Citizenship Advancement Training" and the "National Service Training Program" (both Civic welfare and Literacy Traning Services).
From there, the Philippine Red Cross, as well as the Boy and Girl Scouts can handle the program. Farolan even stated that "it would be better since the Red Cross can issue internationally-recognized certificates which adds to the employment and professional credentials of the senior high school student".

However, the former UP Vanguard cadet stated that the real cadre training should be in college for two years which would have elements of military, law enforcement, disaster risk reduction and management,  and civil service training.

"Graduates of the program become cadres which would be assigned per locality or district and capable of being deployed not only by the Armed Forces of the Philippines but as well as by the Philippine National Police, Office of Civil Defence, Local Government Units, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Elections, Department of Health, and other government agencies which which would have a need for volunteer support."  he said.

Quite interesting isn't it? Especially coming from a rabid Duterte supporter who afforded criticise that said revival and instead offering an alternative brought about by legislators Pimentel and Macapagal-Arroyo, but to think that despite that said bill as a "better alternative" to reviving ROTC in Senior High Schools, this doesn't diminish the order's stubborness in reviving with apologists babbling about the need for discipline and order for young deliquents- that sometimes this writer thinks that how come these people who favour reviving it wanted to substitute the state for themselves in cultivating nationalism and strengthening moral values? If not disregarding the problems that marred the said military program thinking as mere isolated cases? The National Defence Act, which served as a basis for ROTC was made long before the agreements which the Philippine government respected and observed, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and others that superseded earlier agreements.

***

Admittingly speaking, the need for a reserve force is in itself necessary to multiply an existing armed force especially in times of war and emergency; but, to think that in a regime whose tendency is to consolidate the old order firmly pretending they are for a revolutionary change, then why need to mobilise reserves? Is the regime truly for the defence of the country in justifying is kind of revival? Is the regime also expressed about patriotism when that same regime offers concessions with entrenched interests? And is the regime also expressed about discipline when trigger happy men in uniform and gutter-mouthed politicos justify their bullshits? Well, despite the reasons why the need for ROTC as to be revived, the fact that the program hath been synonymous with upholding order than defending sovereignty continues to be played through.
And also to think that regardless of their statement and no matter how isolated those cases were according to these apologists, this cannot stop the concerned from questioning its revival. On the first place, speaking of discipline, did it stop corrupt officers from their interests? Of cruel men from their atrocities? Perhaps, this revival doesn't equate to multiplying forces in pursuit of defending sovereignty, let alone defending the order.

Such justifications made by the order has brought this person and others concerned that regardless of their statements the obvious intention remains clear. Thinking that the order fails to defend sovereignty especially in the contested isles, rocks, and shoals in the west Philippine Sea, of seeing a leader indifferent towards the poor and the needy, of landlords upholding firm in their landed interests at the expense of the struggling peasantry, then no wonder why the regime needs obedient youths sworn to upheld the order to the extent of making them willing to disregard human rights, of making them not question authority, what more of justifying a distorted kind of democracy that prevails in this ever continuing past.

***

Anyway, to cut this note short, it is indeed affirming that defending the country is a must, that to train and arm is necessary regardless of its status in life as a Filipino; but to defend the order, especially a corrupt, rotten one pretending to be for change, is bullshit. And because of the bullshit that is actually existing happening, true enough that the country needs rebels fighting for genuine social and national change, and not obedient thugs iin uniform claiming to be for the flag and for the land.