raissarobles.com: Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Japan Foreign Minister may discuss with PNoy aid provision for up to 10 state-of-the-art coast guard ships

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By Raïssa Robles

Japan’s new Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, is in Manila today and tomorrow to meet with President Benigno Aquino and his local counterpart, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

According to a news report in today’s South China Morning Post jointly bylined by Greg Torode and me, ” Kishida is widely expected to discuss the provision of up to 10 state-of-the-art coast guard ships to the Philippines under a development aid package, according to diplomats.”

 

UPDATE: January 9, 2013, 11 PM

Greg and my story was confirmed today in a news conference by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. See the story :

Philippines plans to purchase coast guard vessels from Japan: official 

Below is our story which can be accessed here –

http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1123359/japan-increases-military-budget-amid-tension-beijing

 

Japan increases military budget amid tension with Beijing
News›Asia
TERRITORIAL DISPUTE

Greg Torode and Raissa Robles in Manila

Spending rise details emerge as foreign minister visits Philippines amid South China Sea dispute

Japan is to spend more than US$1 billion to expand radar coverage and military surveillance flights in its first increase in military spending in more than a decade as the newly elected Liberal Democratic Party fleshes out its approach to dealing with an emboldened China.

Details of the budget increase emerged as Tokyo summoned the Chinese ambassador to formally protest against Beijing’s latest deployment of ships to the Japanese-occupied Diaoyu Islands – which Tokyo calls the Senkakus – the first such move since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was returned to office last month.

Abe’s new foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, stages his first foreign trip today – visiting strategic partner the Philippines, which is also locked in a territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea.

Agence France-Presse quoted an official with the LDP’s national defence task force as saying that the defence budget would be expanded by more than 100 billion yen (HK$8.8 billion).

“We have decided that the additional budget will be used for research into a new radar system as well as fuel and other maintenance costs for early-warning aircraft,” the official said, despite Beijing’s warnings against higher defence spending.

Japanese defence officials have become increasingly concerned about the long-term security of its southern island chain as the long-simmering Diaoyu-Senkaku spat degenerates into a new regional flashpoint and marked point of tension between Asia’s two giants.

The budget increase highlights a significant shift across Japanese society and its political arena, with rises in defence spending for years considered a no-go area given the country’s pacifist constitution. Despite the document limiting its military’s role, Japan has a well-equipped and advanced military, including ultra-quiet submarines.

The increases are also likely to please its treaty ally the US, which has long urged Japan to spend more on its own defence long-term, while still continuing to host US forces on its soil.

In another move set to be closely watched by Beijing, Kishida is widely expected to discuss the provision of up to 10 state-of-the-art coast guard ships to the Philippines under a development aid package, according to diplomats.

A statement from Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario confirmed the prospect of wide-ranging talks, saying that as well as bilateral relations, “regional issues and the foreign policy priorities of the new Japanese leadership” would be covered.

“The visit is an opportunity for both countries to advance the Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership under the new Japanese administration,” it said.

Comments

  1. @ joe america

    I absolutely agree with you that Flipinos plunder Filipinos most than americans, that alone is the most stumbling block in the development and betterment of the Philippines and its people. Quo vadis, patriotism?

    Reply

    • @helena,

      As stated below in your Comment No. 22, here is another uploaded copy of the NTD Television China Focus episode featuring Loida Nicolas Lewis.

      Reply

      • @baycas

        Loida did a great wrap up by bringng up Germany and Japan’s fate during WWII. That s the proper way, China is being portrayed at par with the WWII bad guys.

        She is known to be a very humble and religious person; she always ends her email with “God Bless”. Not that there is something wrong with those traits. She is so close to Hillary and that is a plus. She is the first Filipino I know whose voice is lstened to by the white house and the Filipinos in the US. Her sister works in the PNoy govt.

        Loida is also championing to save the life of Dondon Lanuza, an OFW convicted to die by hanging-it was self defense but when you are in the middle east where justice is stack against a foreigner, especially a Filipino OFW. Loida is matching every dollar/peso contributed to pay for Dondon’s blood money.

        Her voice is a nuisance to China’s ears. She is wealthy and uncorruptible, so bribing her will be futile-the opposite of Gloria.

        It is good that you share this in CPM, bloggers now know that there is somebody taking our fight in the Global Media.

        Reply

    • @helena,

      Going back to Ms. Raissa Robles’ questions in April last year:

      Why get so riled up over some rocks under the sea?

      Is it because China is after the Philippines’ oil & gas fields?

      With China’s ambivalence, who knows?

      For we are uncertain of her primary interest:

      Petrol from the region, Power over the region, Peace in the region, Piece of the region or, could it be, the entire Philippines???

      A refresher here:

      http://raissarobles.com/2012/04/23/why-get-so-riled-up-over-some-rocks-under-the-sea/

      Reply

      • @helena @baycas

        China is in Africa because of the oil. The West Philippine sea which is so rich in natural resources and nearer to the China mainland is the main reason why they want to occupy that part of the Phillipine territory.

        That’s development aggression.

        Reply

      • @baycas…is it Philippines’ posture that “For we are uncertain of her [China] primary interest”? …or we should categorically as apparent as it appears that China’s interest are the natural treasure like Petrol from the region, even the Gas resources?

        I find some substantial ‘weakness’ on one’s stand as “uncertain” rather than being certain. Anyway, errors if there be, on such categorical posture won’t do much harm. More harm is a disadvantage to one’s posture when one is uncertain in one’s argument or opposition to another’s action. My opn.

        Reply

  3. at joe america 26.1, you’re enlightened. I think the mutal defense treaty we have with USA still stands only it might not be honored as quickly as we want. american soldiers are stationed in hot spots around the world and recalling them to come to our aid could prove logistic nightmare. they’re bound by other treaties of other nations, and will take them few months to break those treaties (if they can!) before they can come to our shores and help us. also, USA has now less money in the coffer, and no longer so generous with aid. they’re also counting their pennies. just like us.

    Reply

  4. we have no guarantee that if we give up spratlys, scarborough, etc, the chinese will be satisfied and stay there. what’s stopping them from marching on and taking the whole of the phillipine archipelago? look at tibet, such a small and peaceful nation, then china annexed it. it’s citizens forced to speak mandarin and be chinese, its treasury controlled by the chinese. almost everything for sale in tibet are made in china. are the tibetans happy? no, many of them followed their dalai lama into exile. many cannot leave the country.

    nothing new, really. people has been fighting since biblical times. only now we take to new heights, far advanced and more sophisticated with the advent of technology.

    Reply

  5. leona @20.4

    As Margaret Drabble ( an English novelist and biographer) quoted:
    “when nothing is sure, everything is possible”

    To apply this in the rampant corruption in the Philippines, the government can consider to increase the salary of the members of the Cabinet, Senate and House of Representatives to a higher scale – of those who are exhibiting , modelling, and displaying the traits of discipline, patriotism, sincerety/honesty, dedication, aspiration, and forward looking- subject to monitoring, assessment, and review. Also, a member must be ready to sacrifice wealth indiscriminately to those for and against this vision for a better community. However, simply possessing these traits are not enough, members have to display these in deeds and those who fail to display these traits should be struck off and banned from any government offices. This new line of thinking might/ might not work, depending on the nerve of steel and iron will of the persons-in-charge.

    On the other hand, I’m fully aware that our government officials are insatiable for enriching themselves, they don’t know when to stop, pocketing monies for themselves while the common tao are languishing in poverty. Sagad sa buto ang pangungurakot.
    ———————————————————————————————————————–

    On 60 years Mutual Defense Treaty with America

    Not an iota of my brain believe that this treaty is beneficial for the Philippines. First and foremost, America always looks after Number 1, plundering Philippines in many ways since its invasion for its self vested interest.

    Reply

    • Filipinos plunder Filipinos more than Americans plunder them. Give up the victim stance and you won’t get plundered by anyone. And yes, America looks out for American interests, no different than any other country. The trick for the Philippines is to act and negotiate so that America finds it in their best interest to help the Philippines grow strong. You don’t achieve that aim by attacking and criticizing America. And you can do the same with China, which I what I would advise. Use the tension between the giants but stay in charge. Don’t whimper.

      Reply

  6. leona @ 20.4

    As Margaret Drabble ( an English novelist and biographer) quoted:
    ” when nothing is sure, everything is possible.”.

    The government can try increasing the salary of the Cabinet, Senate and House of Representatives members of those who are qualified to receive it to a higher scale to prevent corruption, but subject to monitoring, assessment and reviews every two years. The criteria for the recipeints are discipline, patriotism, honesty/sincerety, dedication and inspiration. It is important to exhibit, model and display these traits. Possessing these traits are not enough, as they have to be displayed in deeds. If any member does not display these traits after two years, he/she should be struck off from the membership of any government office.

    Well, my suggestion might/might not work.

    Reply

  7. Japan has come to know that Philippine Government is in the market for brand new exotic naval armaments against China. These state-of-the-art battleships is deeply discounted promotional after-Christmas items hoping more business to come.

    I’d rather not purchase these state-of-the-art battleships instead build a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT so I can have if not free at least cheap power.

    These battleships has no return of investment. It just sit there rusting. No one in his right mind would send this Japan-made floating objects against Chinese nuclear-powered aircraft carriers bristling with F-16s.

    Whereas, if we built Nuclear Power Plant we could harness it with plutonium with Pyongyang’s technology on top of cheaper unlimited sustainable power supply.

    BATTLESHIPS ? Even if Manny Pacquiao leads these Filipinos against Spratleys it would make Philippines a desert of deserters.

    So, let us get real and here are the facts:

    1. It takes more than battleships to defeat China.
    2. GNP, GDP, OFW remittances are not enough to buy all the battleships to defeat China
    3. Filipinos would rather go desert even of the most nationalistic patriotic Filipinos

    Therefore, military spending is an investments of no return so are those two specks of jutting rocks in China sea that even Google Map cannot find. Most of all if China relinquish their claim, Spratleys and Scarborough will remain forever the same but only an exotic vacation spot for the corrupt rich and thieving mighties.

    The government shoulod get real and re-direct military spending that benefits the countrymen directly.

    Like what Joe said, he’d sell his soul. I WOULD. Let us remember the purpose we are here on earth is temporary the ultimate goal of our existence is heaven. Let us not obliterate ourselves to hell.

    GIVE UP SPRATLEYS. GIVE UP SCARBOROUGH. WE WILL RETAKE THEM ONCE WE BECOME industrialized, 1stworld and have all military toys available for the taking.

    BUT THIS TIME IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.

    I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN PEACEFULLY …

    Yuna, ra, is there usch thing as HEAVEN ?

    Reply

    • The world stopped building “battleships” 60 years ago (although it’s possible to argue that one or two of the existing large Russian units are battlecruisers). A coast guard unit is not a battleship.

      As I said, the goal of any military program, in combination with alliances, would be to make us unpleasant to conquer so China will think carefully

      Reply

    • @Mariano…if England gave up the Las Malvinas Islands or Faulklands, do you think now at 2013 England should re-take them from Argentina? Or maybe in another 10 years from now? Just a point of asking…I do not know ‘who really owns Faulklands except that the British are in possession of it.’ Based on what, ancient maps? I don’t know for sure. It’s 8,000 miles from London that’s what I know. It’s about 500 miles east from Argentina. But no Argentinians are living in Faulklands. Only British, et al.

      Reply

  8. Coming from the “Old Continent” I don’t understand all this old language of war, rekindling problems of or grandparents 70 years ago. Germans are Europeans, French are, British also a little bit, Franco and Salasar are gone we are all Europeans now. Please get real, we solve issues of more value than the potential oil in the South China Sea without war those days.

    Build the economy, the president is invited to the Economic Forum in Davos… You have of the best programmers, some very competitive factories with a motivated work force. Compete on productivity, quality, flexibility, not on cheap labor; clean up the place to attract tourists; use the mineral wealth you have; build quality infrastructure… Wake-up, the Spaniards are gone, World War 2 is over. Stop whining and roll up your sleeves as your President and many around him did. Be proud on what he is achieving. This will be 100 times more effective to impress the Chinese than whatever military equipment.

    Reply

    • While I agree that there are better things to do than bulk up for war, I have two words for you: “Mischief Reef” — read up on it

      Reply

      • While I agree that the Philipines should defend its teritory with all means, it should be a priority for the Philippines to be taken serious by the Filipinos themself and the rest of the world. Your President is leading in this respect.

        I have one question, what credibility did Erap, GMA have nationaly or in the rest of the world to make a point?

        Reply

        • // Coming from the “Old Continent” I don’t understand all this old language of war, rekindling problems of or grandparents 70 years ago. // <– was the point I was addressing. I don't recall Erap and Gloria being mentioned at all, though I have plenty of things to say about both as well.

          Reply

          • My point is that Aquino has the right strategy! First have people noticing you and get respected. War talks solve very little if nobody hears you ornobody respects you. Ask Erap and GMA, even Ramos, what options they had in Mischief Reef, they must know what it is to have little respect abroad.

            7% growth gets attention. Excellent factories get attention. The stock market records get attention. Reduced corruption gets attention… Somewhere, something is changing in the Philippines, is it not in Malacañan?

            By the way, who did respect the Chinese when their economy was a mess?

            Talking with the Japanese about investments is more scary for the Chinese than talking about warships. Many arguments used here are romantic and outdated, contra productive even. This is 2013, not 1940.

            Reply

            • I like what Aquino is doing, too, but I’m not sure you see it, or the context. Let me explain
              (1) Who do you think ordered a gray on white response (navy to a police matter) last year in Scarborough , setting off the contretemps with China?? Hint: it wasn’t Gloria
              (2) Who do you think stood up to the resulting tirade from Beijing? Hint: it wasn’t Erap
              (3) Who do you think butted in during the Asean meeting to interrupt what could have been a railroaded statement suiting China? Hint: it wasn’t Ramos
              (4) Finally, who do you think ordered a near doubling of the military budget, the acquisition of two Hamilton class cutters from the US, possibly two frigates from Italy, possibly 10 patrol craft from Japan, naval air assets from I don’t know who and radar as well? Obviously somebody who doesn’t believe (as you do) that focusing on Japanese investments is enough.
              That’s why we’re talking of military buildups right now. And by the way you could read that recent Economist article which says a military buildup is happening right across Asia. Ours is pretty modest ($2 billion) compared to, say, Indonesia ($8 billion). But clearly, these countries don’t seem to share your idea that militarization is so 1940s
              At any rate my point has always been the PHL strategy should be a combination of military buildup, negotiation, engagement, internationalization of the issue, and alliances. In this context the fact that Japan is offering us 10 patrol craft is not as significant as the fact that Japan made the gesture. It sends a message.

              Reply

              • Yes, telling nothiing new, but what do you think will have more inpact, the military build up or the growing respect for the Philippines economy and its presideint?

                All I’m saying is keep your prioirties right, don’t get (ok I give in a little…) too much distracted by romantic war language.

                Reply

                • @JosephIvo
                  Of course “growing respect for the Philippine economy and its president” has a great impact, but how can you sustain that economy if the very source of development is threatened because of weak security?

                  Reply

              • Think of non violent (romantic) confrontations instead. Ask some Chinese tai-pans here to go on hunger strike, send 100,000’s of letters to the world leaders, organize specific boycotts, organize a war for the areas on Google Earth, I’m not a specialist in non-violent actions, but there must be enough creativity CPM’ers.

                Reply

              • @ Fed_up. Japan had a weak army, Germany had a weak army but both strong economies. The Soviet Union had a very strong army and very weak economy. What was sustainable?

                Reply

              • The most ramshackle economy in Asia is that of North Korea’s, yet the country commands fear, respect and even terror from greater powers. Btw you’re editing yourself: your original argument was that China (and the world) would respect a strong economy better than a strong military, now you’re saying a strong economy is “more sustainable”.

                I think better than strong economies and armies, what commands world attention and respect is good leadership and diplomacy

                Reply

              • correct. in our locality alone, who are the most influential(and wealthy)?
                those who are sufficiently armed.
                arms build-up doesn’t mean we are going for war. it means we are not afraid of it…

                Reply

              • @ Alan. Sustainability was only an answer to Fed_up. I stick with my original point that China will never be impressed by a state of the art Philippine fleet.. To compete in any military way with the Chinese build up is an illusion. Symbolic actions might be needed one day and a fleet of pump boats could be equally effective to make a territorial point.

                More of the same will lead to more of the same. The results of “arm races” are well documented in history. On the other hand becoming number 17 economically is feasible and will guarantee territorial integrity better than any useless military build up.

                Philippines keep your eye on the ball and don’t get to much distracted by Chinese provocations. I think that Secretary Del Rosario has it right. Focus on strengthening your president in the upcoming elections. UNA in charge will be a delight for the Chinese!

                Reply

              • @ Alan.(missed out a part) Don’t think that North Korea is a good example. What territorial claims are they defending from whom? What did they achieve apart from starving their own people? Their strength for the time being is only the Chinese umbrella. East Germany collapsed the day Russia folded its umbrella.

                Reply

              • JosephIvo, please inform all the leaders in Asia — including Aquino — that arms build ups don’t impress anybody, that they may benefit from your sage advice and immediately stop what they’re doing. Or maybe they won’t.

                You seem to be confusing several different things here: support for Aquino, arms buildup, economic prosperity. It might surprise you that people can support Aquino and an arms buildup at the same time. Furthermore, Aquino also wants it.

                By the way you made an egregious error that I neglected to point out earlier — you claimed that after World War II Japan and Germany had weak armies. Wrong. Germany was actually a key member of NATO, with the most powerful non-nuclear military in Europe (and it was busy producing and selling arms – tanks, aircraft, ships, submarines, you name it, all over the world); postwar Japan always had the largest fleet in Asia after the US (not so large now, with the Chinese navy coming up). What you probably should have said was that both Japan and Germany were forbidden from foreign engagements. Having a reasonably capable military goes hand in glove with economic prosperity – ask the Swiss, Belgium, Norway, the Gulf States, etc etc etc. Our military has been decrepit for far too long

                Reply

              • 1. Military strength, the tense used was “had”, some statistics to enlighten you. Strength of armies can be described by military capital stock . (in billion 1986$, according Rand Corporation )
                1950: Germany 0; US 525; UK 78; France 52; Japan 0; China 107;
                1960: Germany 24; US 677; UK 113; France 74; Japan 6; China 103;
                From 70’s onwards German defence budget increased due to European pressures.
                2. NATO is the correct name of the umbrella I talked about.
                3. Israel and some Middle East countries are indeed trapped in military posturing and war, one of the historical examples not to follow! The Swiss situation is unique. Belgium (smaller than Manila, but with a real king) has one of the smallest % of military spending/GDP in the NATO with no more offensive capabilities only peace keeping, but % wise high export of military equipment.

                By the way what I’m talking about is “priorities”, “being creative”, “avoid dangerous romantic language”, I never said “no army”

                Reply

        • @JosephIvo. “I have one question, what credibility did Erap, GMA have nationaly or in the rest of the world to make a point?” I have the answer to your question: Because of our religious training and culture of “forgive and forget”. We Filipinos are made to believe that it is divine to “forgive and forget.”

          Reply

  9. domo aregato for the update, raisa, much appreciated. @ alan 19.2, tama ka. I think ships are intergral part of cyberwar. they not only carry military personnel, but also IT engineers and uber state of the art jamming devices that can scramble target messages going out, also going in. they are stratigically placed in international water but close and within range to the island they intend to invade. IT engineers can then do their wonders, jamming and scrambling messages, hacking and maybe overloading target computers with trash to make them crash, and so, allow army to go in unannounced and unnoticed. but they have to do it fast and quick, communication will not stay down for long. they’ll probably attack at night too, under the cover of darkness. their ships might not show up on radar screen but at day time they can still be seen, sighted manually, by ships passing by the area.

    Reply

    • China is developing a “new” weapon to deal with US carrier fleets. It’s an ICBM — but whereas most ICBM’s on reentry are pretty much committed to the target they’re hitting (usually a geographical location), this shipbusting giant missile will CHANGE course and FOLLOW the carrier, being guided in its course by satellites, drones, radar and other automated external guidance systems (such as perhaps, fixed networks based on islands and reefs on the South China Sea?)

      Reply

      • And for sure, the US is developing anti-missle missiles for carrier fleets, and the expense of these systems is huge, the US borrowing from the Chinese to build theirs and the Chinese relying on its exports to the US to fund theirs.

        I’m reminded of the freeways in Los Angeles where people on the west side of town are heading east to work and the people on the east side are heading west to work and wouldn’t be nice if they would just all move to where they work so the freeways would actually work. LA freeways are a pile of metal. You want to know where the dirt being dug from the Philippines is going?

        We are really a huge disappointment as an advanced species.

        Reply

  11. Sorry guys, gotta scramble to attend the press briefing at the DFA with the Japanese Foreign Minister and ours.

    Meanwhile , here’s some interesting bit of news –

    http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1124161/japan-may-allow-jets-fire-warning-shots-chinese-aircraft

    Japan may allow jets to fire warning shots at Chinese aircraft
    News›China
    TERRITORIAL DISPUTES
    Minnie Chan [email protected]
    Tokyo considers authorising Japanese military aircraft to take action if China’s planes enter air space near disputed waters
    Japan’s defence ministry is considering authorising the country’s Air Self-Defence Force (ASDF) jets to fire warning shots when Chinese planes enter air space claimed by Japan, Japanese media reported yesterday.

    Citing sources close to the Japanese government, the Sankei newspaper reported that Tokyo had instructed the defence ministry and ASDF to look at stepping up warnings to People’s Liberation Army planes and Chinese government aircraft that “intrude into Japanese air space”.

    In Beijing, the foreign ministry said China opposed any infringement of its sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands committed by Japanese aircraft or vessels and remained vigilant against attempts to commit such acts.

    “Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been China’s inherent territory. Patrols conducted by Chinese planes and ships in waters off the islands represent normal administrative activities for the purpose of exercising jurisdiction,” ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in response to a question about the Japanese report.

    The report said the number of Chinese military planes flying near Japan’s “air-defence identification zone”, including the PLA Air Force’s Y-8 multi-role cargo planes and other intelligence-gathering aircraft, had increased since Japan bought three of the disputed islands, in the East China Sea, in September.

    “[Chinese aircraft] have continued to fly [in our air space] for up to three consecutive days in some peak periods,” the newspaper quoted a Japanese defence ministry official as saying.

    Professor Liu Jiangyong , an international relations expert at Tsinghua University, said the warning shots would not worry the PLA. “Chinese military jets will not be scared off by the shots and will continue to fly to anywhere they want to go, including the air space of the Diaoyu Islands,” he said.

    Japanese defence officials said they could not immediately confirm the report, but a spokesman said “it is extremely rare for Japan’s defence forces to fire a warning shot against a foreign military force”.

    Japan News Network reported that Japan’s defence ministry is also looking at beefing up the deployment of Maritime Self-Defence Force vessels in waters near the Diaoyus – known as the Senkakus in Japan – to be on standby in case Chinese vessels “intruded into Japanese waters”.

    At present the ASDF just issues radio warnings to PLA planes or sends F-15 fighter jets aloft to head off aircraft from China’s maritime surveillance authorities.

    Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said Tokyo’s proposed move was “a tactic to boost their air force’s courage”.

    Liu said the ASDF had fired warning shots at jets of the former Soviet Union. “But the Russians took no serious heed of the warnings,” he said.

    Meanwhile, a Japanese defence ministry spokesman said it would request 180.5 billion yen (HK$1.58 billion) in military spending from a stimulus package to buy PAC-3 surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile systems and to modernise four F-15 jets.

    The new funding sought includes 60.5 billion yen to prepare for the “changing security environment surrounding Japan”, the spokesman said.

    Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

    **
    http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1121659/japan-scrambles-eight-fighter-jets-intercept-chinese-plane-near-diaoyus

    Japan scrambles eight fighter jets to intercept Chinese plane near Diaoyus
    News›China
    DIAOYUS DISPUTE
    Agence France-Presse in Tokyo and Bloomberg in Shanghai
    Japan scrambled fighter jets on Saturday to head off a Chinese state-owned plane that flew near the disputed Diaoyu islands, which Japan calls the Senkakus, a Japanese Defence Ministry spokesman said.

    Japanese jets were mobilised after a Chinese maritime aircraft ventured 120 kilometres north of islands at about noon, the spokesman said.

    The Chinese Y-12 twin-turboprop later left the zone without entering Japanese airspace, he added.

    It was the first time Japanese fighters had been scrambled this year to counter Chinese aircraft approaching the islands, the spokesman said.

    Japan dispatched eight F-15 fighter jets to the area on December 13 after its coast guard spotted a Chinese marine surveillance plane near the isles, with its foreign ministry describing the flight as a “further dangerous act” that “escalates the situation”. China protested a day later that Japanese military planes entered its airspace near the islands.

    The dispute over control of the islands in the East China Sea has strained relations between Asia’s two biggest economies and stoked fears of an arms build-up in the region. Japan’s new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, vowed in his New Year message to “defend our land, airspace and territorial waters”.

    Abe also held meetings with officials on Saturday to discuss how to intercept Chinese planes near the disputed islands, ribenxinwen.com [1] reported yesterday.

    The latest crisis in the longstanding dispute was triggered by the Japanese government’s purchase in September of three of the disputed islands from their private Japanese owner.

    China last month filed a report with the United Nations detailing grounds for its sovereignty claims over the islands in an area rich in oil, gas and fish.

    Additional reporting by staff reporter

    Reply

    • Hoooray !!!! Japan is on our side !!! Thank gootness.

      Who will be in PHilippine side against Japan ?

      Reply

  12. Rene Ipil @13

    Reasons why Singapore is corruption free

    Singapore’s Highly Paid Officials Get Richer
    by Seth Mydans
    Published April 10, 2007

    SINGAPORE, aPRIL 9 – how much money does it take to keep a government minister in Singapore happy? The government says a million dollars is not enough, and on Monday it announced a 60% increase in minister’s salaries to an average of $ 1.9 million Singapore dollars..In this nation where the bottom line, the argument goes, you have to pay to get them and you have to pay to keep them clean.

    “If we don’t do that, in the long term the government system will slowly crumble and collapse.” Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean told reporters last month. ” Corruption will set in, and we will become like many other countries, and face the problems that many other countries face,” the The Straits Times, Singapore largest- circulation.

    According to Yeo Cheow Tong website – August 15, 2011

    Salaries of Singaporean Ministers
    Singapore (Tax Free)
    Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: US $ 1,700,000
    Singapore President: US$ 1,900,000
    Singapore Cabinet Ministers: US$ 850,000
    Singapore Member of Parliament: US$148,306

    United States (not tax free)
    President Barack Obama: US$ 400,000, with US$ 50,000 expenses
    Vice President Biden: US$ 202,900
    Cabinet Ministers: US$ 157,000
    Secretary of State (Hilary Clinton): US$ 186,000

    United Kingdom: Prime Minister: US$ 279,000
    Hongkong Prime Minister: US$ 516, 000
    Japan Prime Minister: US$ 359,000

    Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04//10/worldasia/10singaporehmtl
    yeocheowtong.com/salarieshtml

    Reply

    • Effectively the Singaporean government is “bribing” its officials not to become corrupt.

      Philippine President: US$ 28,000 (based on PHP 95,000/month)
      Philippine Vice President US$ 16,200 (based on PHP 55,000/month)

      Australia Prime Minister: US$ 520,650

      Reply

    • I don’t think paying our politicians exorbitantly will stop corruption. Look at our corrupt officials, they do it big time….hundreds of millions to billions of pesos go to their pockets. The more they amass fortune, the more they become hungry of it…NO CONTENTMENT.

      These people do not steal because they want to survive like the pickpockets of Quiapo. GANID LANG SILA TALAGA. Have I mentioned MARCOS, CORONA, ARROYO, etc. etc.?

      Reply

    • Who was it who posted a comment here that said:

      WEALTH CANNOT BE BROUGHTEN TO HEAVEN.

      So what is the use of money ?

      Dang, Now I got a virus from Alan’s 3 liners ….

      Reply

    • @letlet…do you think or believe if we do the same, increasing the salaries by 2000%, our gov’t officials will stop stealing and corrupting? Or they might just do some more of it?

      There’s more than to that. Discipline, patriotism, dedication, love of country, sincerity, atbpa! Do our leaders have these traits, before, now and in the future?

      Dito sa atin, garapalan ang gawa ng koruptions sa gobierno! Karumaldumal walang awa…as someone said @sprinwoodman yata…ANYTHING GOES!

      Reply

        • @kalakala,
          hahaha, umalma si mds. konti lang ang kaparte nya.
          imho, even the president has no right na paghatihatian nila ang pera ng bayan.
          maliwanag pa sa kulay ng hinyebra na pamasko ang ipinamigay ni Hapi Ka.

          Reply

  13. I’ve read somewhere that modern war will not be fought by warships alone. it will also be fought in cyberspace. china is capable of launching cyberwar. like what its ally russia did roughly a decade ago when it disabled georgia and ukraine’s communication system. the people there did not know what hit them. they saw russian tanks on their streets complete with invading soldiers. they could not send SOS and ask for help, they could not send out messages, let the world know what was happening to them. many georgians and ukranians were killed. by the time their messages finally got out, russia has already achieved its objectives: got rid of georgian and ukranian dissidents and have gone back home, drinking vodka and singing babushka yay! modern war is going to be a lot, lot different.

    Reply

      • @moonie,….cyberspace WAR were all originated from computer or without those micro-chips we can not speak of cyberspace to date……. Try to research the identity of the Americans who first broke the ATM machines in your country . Discover their lineages or nationalities first and you might come into position that FILIPINOs can fight a cyberspace war in due time without ” PAKIKIALAM ” ng USA instead, THEM giving their technology and assistance. ( ayaw nila , dahil talagang madamot ang USA sa atin )

        Reply

        • I mean ATM machines computer code was DECODED by the criminal elements and withdrawn some dollar amounts.

          In order to disable a system via a computer , you have to DECODE or break into the system…… Fiber Optics thru the computer micro-chips ( broad band ) compounded ONEs communication system….. Hacking , decoding system or files ……….EXPERT tayo dito palagay ko……..

          Remember @moonie….. Small things that we are expert into is OPENING the LINE of an imported and RESTRICTED/CLOSED cell phones…….. Instead of US sim card use only or globe only or smart only…… Go to greenhills , they will OPEN it for you to every system you want…. EXPERT TAYO DYAN….even de-classification of INTELLEGENCE FILEs…….remember the case of AQUINO and MANCAO and etc….. CYBERSPACE WAR,….kaunting insayo lang and authority …. Kayang kaya ng Filipino iyan.

          Reply

    • the goals will be the same — cripple or flatten the enemy. The techniques will be more varied. Btw, supposedly having a high capability for cyberwar has not stopped China from implementing plans to to build a bluewater navy to support its “island chains” doctrine of offensive-defense

      Reply

    • January 5, 2012

      Japan Mulls Rearming to Defend Itself
      By Michael Auslin

      Has Japan finally been mugged by reality? Several policy moves in the past month suggest Tokyo has been rudely awakened to the dangers of an increasingly volatile region and is actually doing something about it. By pledging to buy advanced stealth aircrafts and starting to fight back against cyberwarfare, Japan is telling the world that it has figured out good intentions are no insurance against the destabilizing actions of aggressive regimes. It is an apt lesson for a troubled time in Asia and a lesson America’s leaders should learn.

      The new year opened with the news that Tokyo is developing a virus to disable computers used by cyber attackers. This comes after an unidentified hacker broke into the systems of defense contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries earlier this year, stealing sensitive information on military programs and nuclear power plants. In December, the upper house of Parliament was hacked by addresses originating in China. Ironically, the company entrusted by the government with developing the cyber counterattack, Fujitsu, was itself penetrated this past fall, leading to a crash in service at more than 200 local government websites.

      realclearworlddotcom link to follow…

      Reply

      • @baycas…while other countries in this region like Japan will be thinking how to boost their defense, our country leaders do otherwise, how to boost our congressmen and senators for their “office equipments, etc.” and giving “gifts” kuno not bribes P1.6M to senators and P.500th each congressman. Link below…

        “Each member received approximately the same amount. The amounts added up to P141.5 million for all the representatives.” From Inquirer news.

        They have budgeted salaries and for opn expenses. Why these additional bribes or gifts? They have pork barrel allocations pa! Lobby money also pa!

        Heck, how can this country modernize anything for people’s welfare? …but only lawmakers? SusMA!

        Reply

        • …@leona…With such wastage of people’s money, it’s like crying in the wilderness…John the Baptist !

          Before we can face China, we have to face this things with our gov’t leaders and officials! What a lamentable task ahead for our people! And here, we are all blogging while they the few are enriching themselves.

          Reply

        • @leona,
          savings ang tawag nila. madali lang gawin yun. bloat your budget. don’t spend on necessary things. presto, may savings!!! parte-parte na!!!
          luvya MDS. may pakinabang ka rin naman. kundi pa naagrabyado sa partihan…

          Reply

      • TRUE @Vander …… Mapapaaga ang pagsakop talaga….but the the TRANSCO contracts awarded to the CHINESE Firms so as the passing of RA declaring scarborough shoal only regime of island , not incorporated to the Baseline Theory to mainland Philippines were pay offs by RP to China in aborting the ZTE contract.

        Reply

    • Japan is a goot ally because Japan got a beef against Nanking Rape and reconstituting their history books that it never happened just a figment of Japan’s imagination.

      Reply

      • @Mariano…nice! Chinese leadership takes on Japan who never have sincerely apologized for what they did to the Chinese people specially in Nanking rape. The Japanese officials only apologize to Japanese people when they blunder in their actions and not to anybody else! Have they apologized to us or USA? I never read about it or ….But the Japanese knows they have to live among nations, so apology to them may not be that important to extend. Thanks.

        Reply

        • The Japanese has not apologized to our comfort women, too.

          Why Japanese sudden interest in Philippines welfare?

          Why Philippine sudden acceptance of Japanese offer when they have not unequivocally apologized to our women?

          Did Japan pay reparation damages to us?

          Something is wrong here. Terribly wrong. Is it possible Japan wanted war at our shores instead of theirs?

          Reply

  15. The 60 year old mutual defense treaty .between the US and the Philippines has the potential to put Washington in hot water in standoffs like the one playing out at the Scarborough Shoal, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have been facing off since april ,2012. Manila appears adamant tha the US would be duty-bound to come to the Philippines’ assistance should a conflict break out, but the US had edged on the issue.

    US needs to get along with China to prevent their strategic rivalry from spiralling into conforntation

    Ernest Bower, Director of the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it is very important for the US to solidify its ties with its traditional allies in the region.

    Source: Planet Philippines June 2012

    Reply

    • Dwefinitely, dragging America to war with China over two specks of useless rocks will throw them OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF. Americans are smart enough not to be dragged by 93,999,999 crybabies to war.

      Reply

      • hehe hold it pansit…ayan na naman yang masyado mong sinasantong Uncle Sam. That’s your usual theme: America the almighty and Juan de la Cruz na basahan. Stop it my man…you’re breaking my heart hahaha. Just watch TFC, oh wait…I forgot you dont watch that trash, you’d rather watch Ofrah Winprey hahaha…or Ellen Degenerous hahaha…lab u fafi hahahha

        Reply

        • Oprah Winfrey ? Ellen Degeneres ? TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, Sssssh !!!!, I DO NOT HAVE TELEVISION AT HOME.

          I have all-in-one wireless desktops and laptops. I stream on-demand movies. Pick my news. Definitely not the TFC kind. I do not watch TFC beauties because THEY DO NOT LOOK LIKE THE TYPICAL TRADITIONAL FILIPNIO LOOKS.

          Along Jacksonville, Florida and in Bergenfield New Jersey malls, they splash traditional looking Filipinoa beauties not some whitewashed bleached reconfigured blue-eyed Filipinas. Do not even try to marry one of these chicks because the babies that comes out of its hole is in need of multitude of visits to Vicky Belo.

          Reply

          • you dont watch Ofrah? come on, you’re jokening me naman eh, Ofrang-Ofrah mga materials mo: “poor me, I dont heb pointy-pointy nose like Piolo, it’s goot Uncle Sam took me in, now I dont heb to lib with those eskinol beauties…theyre so kadiri!”
            hehehe

            Reply

            • I like your englischtzes. You copied it from me? That is absolutely plagiarizing.

              Comparing Ofrah-rah-rah versus Ellen ? I’d pick Ellen all-the-time. She’s a hottie.

              Reply

    • Eh, paano yan?
      Lucio Tan, Concepcions, Cojuancgcos, Gokongwei, Henry Sy, “Papa Chen and Sir Chief” are all of Chinese blood who have controls on Philippine Economy will be forced to make a choice. while our strength as a Filipino could only be relied upon the wisdom of Enteng Kabisote, Agimat and Amaya?
      Most Filipinos too who claimed to be Christians yet believing more in Feng Shue ( A pure Chinese belief)…do you think we can really stand against China specially if USA is profiting more from them than from us?

      Reply

      • These MOLES are not running the country. Chinese bide their time. Chinese planted MOLES before Spanish crusaders landed in our shores. They have patience. Now their patience bore fruit. They are now running importatyion of catsup and noodle industries while Filipnios are still fishing boogers.

        The brilliant Philippine Media should check the passports of these MOLES so people can know how often these MOLES visited China! They have now Jollibee over there. They have malls, too. And Banks. Of course, run by Chinese from the Philippines.

        Little-by-Little without us knowing Batanes will soon be claimed by Chinese.

        Reply

    • @letlet…don’t believe that 60 year Mutual Defense Treaty we have with US. It’s a relic as far as the US Congress is concerned!

      Look …US was here in 1941 to ’45. In ’42 the fighting was raging here. The US said rescue was coming…it took ’em 3 more years to come. Where did the rescue go? Europe! Our Pres. Quezon yelled “PUNETA! America has a sister here being raped and America saves a brother in Europe!”…rem’ber the ‘N’ is ‘nyeta’ kastila si presidente.

      America needs and loves money…their dollars $$$ are their god. China makes ’em for ’em! That’s why China has what we call MFN…Most Favored Nation clause…money…IT’S ALL MONEY with a little mixture for power.

      Reply

      • Leona, you’ve succeeded in raising my hackles.

        America is substantially founded by European immigrants. The decision as to where to extend resources was not as lightly (cavalierly) taken as your comment suggests. Remember that millions of jews were being hauled off to the gas chambers and the US was fighting two wars. Your remark is simplistic and reflects a strange anger, like the envy anger I see from my poor neighbors because I have money and they do not. WWII was an amazing power struggle, with strategies and alliances flowing with each battle. To expect the US to drop everything and come running to the Philippines is an amazing exercise in ego.

        I am always inclined to ask, why in the world would the US operate from the Philippine best interest rather than the US best interest. Is the Philippines God’s country, or what? The center of the universe, like my 4 year old son believes he is?

        Reply

        • To be historically correct about things:
          (1) The US didn’t fight in Europe first (ahead of Asia) in order to free the Jews. The Allies didn’t give a hoot what happened to the Jews (as any history of the Holocaust will show). In fact most of the Nazi genocide took place after the Americans had joined the war
          (2) The decision to prioritize Europe was based on a summit between the US and Great Britain, which identified Germany as the more dangerous power
          (3) The US DID intend to defend the Philippines (War Plan Orange) against the Japanese – the scenario was that the Filipinos under MacArthur would hold out and then the US Pacific Fleet would steam to the rescue. This became moot and academic when the Japanese Navy sent most of the Pacific Fleet’s major units to the bottom of Pearl Harbor. It would be hard to steam to the Philippines rescue with no fleet.
          (4) At that point the Philippine campaign became a strategic delaying action, to tie up the Japanese forces and maybe slow down the Japanese timetable. I don’t think it did that. But it did show that Filipinos — half-trained, untrained, underequiped, many unable to speak Tagalog or English — were willing to fight against a cruel invader, and the Japanese WERE indeed cruel

          Reply

          • “didn’t give a hoot” is a little strong. Roosevelt desperately wanted to enter the war but didn’t have the backing of Congress which was isolationist. Sometimes in democracy you don’t get what you want, but you generally eventually get what you need. To portray the US engagement in WWII as foolish and greedy is flippant and unfair to those who died fighting, and those who dedicated their lives to the war. That war was not personal only to Filipinos.

            Reply

            • Oh it’s true that Roosevelt desperately wanted to enter the war, but not to save the Jews, to save Europe and the US from Nazi Germany. The Allies’ indifference – even callousness — towards the plight of the Jews is too well documented (it even made it to fiction, in the Herman Wouk epic you like). The latest I’ve read it in is Evans’ three volume work on the Third Reich.

              As fate would have it (James Dunnigan has the figures) the US benefited the most and came out ahead of World War 2, emerging as the uncontested superpower with its homeland undamaged, its economy not only intact but supercharged. It suffered 400,000 killed, nearly all military. By comparison, the USSR (which bore most of the fighting and broke the power of the German Army) suffered 29 million dead

              Reply

              • “Allies indifference”. It is important to know who knew what when, which is a matter of some intricacy and argument. And it is important to know that many passionate voices within Western nations were not refected in the decisions taken by the leaders. I think, when the facts were revealed (facts that are denied by some even today), there is no question the world was stunned at the magnitude of the cruelty. That magnitude was not fully understood, I believe. And to paint the Allies as complicit in the deed would be incorrect.

                Reply

              • The US did not emerge as the uncontested superpower, or what’s a cold war for? The US gained by determined, all-consuming effort . . . underscore effort, not gift or luck . . . to create a monster industrial war machine. That machine provided the foundation for global economic domination, not military.

                Reply

              • there were international Jewish committees that kept the Allies fully informed of what was happening. By 1942, the Allies (and the Vatican) knew of the extermination camps. They did nothing – the best the allies managed was a not too loud warning that the Germans would be held responsible for what happened to the Jews. Whether that paints the allies as complicit is up to the reader to decide. Many Jewish survivors — and books on the Holocaust — are bitter about this. The malignant Nazi regime btw managed to exterminate Jews right up to the last year of the war

                Reply

              • But the US did “emerge” as the uncontested, undamaged superpower. You can verify this in any book on military history and geopolitics and economics. In 1945 the USSR also had a supercharged military and industrial plant but its losses and the damage to its infrastructure were too staggering for it to assert itself in the way that the US did (it was sustained by US aid — food, shoes, vehicles — in its fight against Hitler). The Cold War was an offshoot of the Soviet Union’s consequent paranoia about being ever invaded again — which is why it insisted on brutally or mildly controlling the countries around it (the Warsaw Pact and the Iron Curtain)

                Reply

        • @Joe Am..when pres. Quezon said those yelling words, it [as WW II] history says, US as promised to him, had already a convoy of US warships proceeding to Philippines and only to find out later it was diverted to Europe. His rage was on that broken promise. It was his amazing ego to make him yell those quotation. Yes, US would be pragmatic to operate for US best interests and not Philippines.

          And also the Filipino veterans who fought for US interests, who had to reach in their twilight years to get their long-awaited “Back Pays” and other US law benefits like ‘US citizenship’ that was not made known to them much earlier but only much very later. A small issue for America, right!

          Your raised hackles to that of our WW II Filipino veterans’ hackles were much lower than yours higher. No comparison.

          Philippines is a God’s country, yes. America is also. Philippines is not the center of the universe, neither is USA too. Many instances cannot be spaced how Filipinos specially in WW II era allowed themselves to be ‘brown-skin Americans’ They just swallowed it and America approved it.

          Speaking of ego, Filipino more lacks of it. Americans, in gov’t leadership…they have it in their highest score, not you included, who do not know or appreciate others of different color of skins. Be this as it may, America is America, a good loving country and race of people.

          Reply

          • @leona, yes the US treated Philippine veterans shabbily, and continue that neglect even of the Americans buried here. And I like the rest of your analysis. Rings spotlessly true to me. As for President Quezon, he was doing what he ought to do, represent his country. The problem is that the whole world from Winston Churchhill to Private Benjamin stuck under fire on Guam was trying to get into President Roosevelt’s ear. Those Europeans (read Great Britain) were desperate for American goods and firepower.

            Thanks for the reply. I’m cool now. Serene and on to the next topic . . .

            That scheming Binay hahaha . . .

            Reply

        • The US is supposed to put Filipino self-interest ahead of US self interest? What, the Philippines is God’s country? The center of the universe, like my 4 year old son when he is thowing a self-consumed hissy fit?

          Reply

      • The quick-witted leona could be naughty at times. With sharp mind and rattling keyboard, leona doesn’t mince words, and in the process ramming anyone in the way…harmless in intention, I should say. Leona is kind, nice, humane and a non-violent person…saludo ako.

        Who doesn’t get frustrated? Who among us is saint?

        Reply

  16. During these times where our sovereignty is threatened I remember my Grand uncle. My grand uncle predicted it after World War II, we need to have a strong Navy and not be reliant on Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is our friend, but he has its own interests and they might be in conflict with ours. My Uncle was a PMAyer, went to Annapolis before the WWII, and became the NSA type head for the Philippines during the 60’s. He was bribed by Senator Marcos to spy on the incumbent President, declined and wanted to serve his country’s interest. When Marcos became President and declared Martial Law, my granduncle wept for the country. He saw that we will be too reliant on Uncle Sam, not be able to develop and improve our own military, the coffers will be raided and impunity would thrive. He did not go with the communist, he went to the US, retired, died without riches but with intact dignity. I visited him before he died; he was generous to share with me some snippets in the windows of power in our country, when he was one of the vanguards of our intelligence community who emphasized the word intelligence with its true meaning rather than corrupted intelligence in “intelligence funds”.

    Now I appreciate more his words for we are in that impasse.

    History wise, China was not an invader, in fact there was a time that they think being isolated will be to their advantage.

    The dragon has awaken and flexing its muscles. How to feed the billions of mouths, how to supply the industries for their continued dominance in trade, how to assert themselves become the most powerful and rich nation in the world, then China needs to try any means necessary to achieve that. Extend generous aids to poor countries; bribe their leaders who have the influence, leverage on trade, and some charm offensive. At the same time wield the big stick, harass the weak nations, falsify evidence for the claims, use the UN veto powers for leverage, use its vast effective spy network, and divide its enemies. She is a nuclear state so she has the edge, but also wise that in the present geopolitical dealings, it is not enough. She is not only a chess player but a Go player. Her two skills are potent and devastating that the game is rigged, she will win. The question only is by how much territory?

    Among the Southeast Asian countries, we are the most vulnerable. We are poor; we have very corrupt leaders who can sell their mothers for a 10 million yuans. We have a non-existent Navy, in fact Chavit Singson owns a small submarine (similar to those found in Colombia), and we have 7100 islands to defend? PNoy has a plan and budgeted for acquiring some old hand me downs from other countries, but it is a good start. Our only leverage is that Uncle Sam does not want to give up the dominance in the Pacific, so our uncle does not have a choice but to help us, but for a price-Mindanao’s Riches baby.
    I don’t think we will win. For a pragmatic approach, let the giants fight and minimize our losses.

    Our only strategy is to delay their invasion of our territories and we need some arsenal for that. Let the world knows every encroachment China makes, counter every fallacy thrown out there, and expose our corrupt leaders dealings with China for they might have sold our territories already through policies or laws made. We as Netizens can do our small part by spreading our sentiments and it may even help if our Chinese Filipinos pledge their loyalty to their adopted land rather than gloat to see us one of China’s colonies.

    Kung hei fat choy!

    Reply

    • The only remaining thing our leaders and officials have is the last ‘intelligence’ they have. Intelligence. INTELLIGENCE! How to use it to our advantage is the SECRET! Can our leadership keep a SECRET? They should start now because we do not have the might but only intelligence, a small good INTELLIGENCE.

      Keep the enemy guessing. Which is or are the lies! Which are or is the truth! But keep them! Navy officers should keep their mouths shut. So, too Army and Air Force. Yes, they have this saying “What You Hear Here Leave It Here” in many offices of our military. But they make pronouncements to the Media on military secrets and confidential matters.

      Keep it a SECRET. Confuse China. Their brains are like ours. It has to think. Feed them something for the wrong things they need to make. With their might and power but actions based on wrong precepts and intelligence, they can’t get over us.

      We know our islands, our lands and territory. They don’t. They will based decisions on maps and wrong intelligence. We can change what’s on those maps. Confuse them. Mislead them. Keep it a SECRET.

      Secret secret intelligence. Any conflict without good intelligence is defeat. Over confidence without good intelligence is a disaster. The EYES and EARS with intelligence. Secret secret.

      Reply

      • The Art of War was written by Sun Tzu hundreds of years before Christ was even born. The Chinese know all the tricks in the book. They know what they are doing. The question to ask is does our government know what they are doing? Are they prepared to any eventuality.

        Reply

        • @Eric…good points. But I disagree that “the Chinese know all the tricks in the book.” Our secret tricks are not found in any books! Yep, Chinese “knows” what they are doing, with over-confidence. This ‘over-confidence’ now is their weakness!

          On the other hand, you ask “does our government know what they are doing?” That is a secret, as I told you and the others. Don’t blab it or blab it YES & NO. Always tricking…simple: tell something true and they’ll say it’s false; tell something false and they’ll say it’s true! Which is which? They will blunder, one way or the other. It got to be….over-confidence!

          Reply

      • “Intelligence” ? I’ll show you what intelligence is like in the PMA-trained military. Remember that tsuper of the first acquired Hamilton Cutter? Upon landing in Manila pier, he was greeted by equally “initelligent” Philippine Media.

        This PMA-trained tsuper told everyone that The Coast Guard Cutter is harmless and arm-less stripped down by the U.S. of lethal weaponry. THAT IS GROSS OUTING OF NATIONAL SECRET that the Coast Guard cutter WAS HARMLESS.

        And the equally clueless Brilliant Philippine Media just did not get it at all that the tsuper should not tell the whole world and Chinese that the Coast Guard Cutter in all its purposes was just nothing but a PASSENGER SHIP to Scarborough and Spratleys. HARMLESS and ARMED-LESS.

        This tsuper should be kicked out of the service and clean my latrines.

        Reply

        • you mean to say the tsekwas had no idea what sort of armaments our new hand-me-downs have and they have to rely on what we say we have for them to know our military capabilities? Wow! If that’s the case then we need not worry about them tsekwas after all. All we need do is say we have 10 nuclear powered subs, 100 F-22 Raptors, 100 million strong armed forces, and Patriot missiles stationed all over the country and the Chinese will believe it and leave us alone.
          Ikaw talaga Mariano, kaya pala di na kita makita sa Inquirer dito ka naman naghahasik ng ka-anuhan mo hahaha…keep it up it makes you happy hehehe. May latrines ka pang nalalaman ha…hahahaha.

          Reply

          • Of course, the Chinese knew … You can go to Americ a’s military surplus sites. There you can shop from Vietnam era hellicopters to 1940 American stuka.

            I do not go to inquirer anymore . they did not ban, blocked or ex-commjunicate me. I BANNED THEM !!!! HWWR! HAR! HAWR!

            Their commentators over there are bunch of ignorant minimum-wage working class people.

            Reply

            • “the Chinese knew”? weeeeh…eh ano pa yung pinasasabi mong “National Secret”? see, malabo pa sa ilog pasig mga argumento mo. Wag kasing puro Ofrah ang pinapanuod mo….hahahaha…malamang si Vice Ganda maaliw sayo hahahha.
              someone owes that PMA-trained tsuper an apology…hehehe

              Reply

        • …@Mariano…The saying of the AFP “What You Hear Here Leave It Here” is not followed by all members of AFP and maybe MEDIA too! I don’t know if what the tsuper said is true. Did the Pentagon or US Navy confirm it? Do a trick then [give a sample to one to the Chinese Navy]…let’s see if the trick will work.

          Reply

          • @leona…I remember Joseph the Shepherd boy who volunteered to fight GOLIATH…the boy applied a simple trick as the boy didn’t have the equal might and size, etc. of the giant…boy making steps around until the Sun was at his back…right moment…released the stone from the sling hitting the giant on the forehead who dropped dead! End of story. A trick! Useful trick.

            Reply

          • It was in the “major” Philippine dailies. Alan can confirm because his wife is in the tres-e-media.

            Reply

          • Anyone who is at all familiar with defense and aerospace technology knows you can buy the expensive books published by Jane’s (they also publish magazines) that list ALL of the world’s warships in excruciating detail (including of course those of the Chinese navy). For the budget conscious there’s Wikipedia. There are no secrets.

            Reply

  17. I found this passage in a magazine article on stress about people who live in the hell realm. It does not apply to China, but I was put in mind of some government heads and officials, imams, bishops, columnists and commenters.

    “In the hell realm, you are always enraged. You find enemies everywhere, and you are always fighting. You are always on edge, ready to defend yourself or to lash out. You are afraid that if you relax, you will be threatened or destroyed, so you strike first if you can. You are either red hot or ice cold. Fueled by hatred, you create wars and conflicts both large and small. You are fearful and in pain, like a cornered rat, and all you can do is attack.

    This mix of resentment, pain, and anger makes it hard to even breathe. Seeing the world in terms of us and them, for us and against us, keeps fueling this anger and warfare. But there are moments when you are not caught in these polarities…”

    Reply

  18. Finally, change of tune.

    Phiippine Navy ships sinking/stranded in the sea for defective anchors
    that is why Philippine Navy fighting song is
    Anchors Away.

    Japan donating to Noynoy Aquino government state of the art submarines
    New Philippine Navy fighting song:
    Yellow Submarine

    He he he

    Reply

  19. A tax expert suggested that PNoy should consider raising the salary of BIR employees by 1000%. Yes, one thousand percent. So that a lowly clerk with salary of PHP 10T would receive PHP100,000.00 as compensation per month. He explained that if that is done, the one (1) trillion pesos that Kim Henares collected in 2012 would become at least five (5) trillion pesos in 2013. Of course he agrees that the scheme is unlawful if not unconstitutional for now.

    My point is that if BIR collects enough money, we can raise our defense capability to the level of Taiwan, Israel or Singapore which are very small countries compared to Philippines in terms of economic and human resources.That is the only solution to the Chinese bullying tactics. We cannot rely on the Americans to solve the problem for us. They cannot even solve their own problem. So the Filipinos should join hands in eliminating corruption and pay the rightful taxes. If we continue to have a government like the present one, it would just be a matter of time. Meantime, let us all support our President in his foreign affairs policies, including economic and military alliances, while China is in saber rattling mode.

    Reply

    • No matter how big we grow our economy it will never be big enough to challenge China. In 1939 terms we will always be Finland to their USSR (and maybe not even that, Finland after all managed to give the Soviet Union a hard time before succumbing). In any (theoretical and only remotely possible) war China doesn’t even need to invade — and it can’t do that yet anyway — it can just bomb us and/or lob missiles at us, destroying our infrastructure: power plants (no electricity); dams (no water, agriculture, power), ports, airports, roads and bridges (no travel, no food), comm lines (no communications, media, no SMS, gawd), cities (terror, demoralization). So the best strategy is to get a lot of allies and calculate that China will hesitate taking on a coalition

      Reply

      • China is almost desperate in the “divide ASEAN and conquer” strategy. It is easier bullying people if they are by themselves. It is more difficult to bully a gang. But the ASEAN states are too nervous to be seen together.

        Reply

        • But China is picking fights in a north to south arc: with Japan and South Korea, with Taiwan, with the Philippines and Vietnam (and maybe Malaysia) — and in the background with the US and even India, so it is not doing itself any strategic favors, instead it’s embarking on a course of wish fulfillment like Germany before World War I. Believing it’s encircled it goes about making that encirclement come true (I’ve been gathering materials to write an essay about this aspect)

          Reply

          • I look forward to the essay. I’m no shrink, but I’d venture a guess that China, as a personality, is conflicted. And she is a big beast that needs to be fed lots of resources.

            Reply

          • @Alan

            i think China is leveraging by showing their might. i think she is realistic and pragmatic, she wants to have the strongest hand on the table so that when negotiations come, she can take the lion share.

            Note that this is the best time for China to be doing all these intimidations, the world economy is in shambles and they have the gold. US is currently has her hands full with a failing economy and political divide at home. Americans are tired of war and prefer to spend the money to prop its economy, they don’t want to waste money right now.

            I think in tne end, the riches in these disputed islandswill be divided among the claimants. The division though will be greatly biased towards China and American companies (as separately and secretly negotiated with China) then the crumbs wil be accepted by the bullied countries. The weaker a country is the smaller the crumb. Every party will laud it as a successful outcome and beaming with false pride!

            Defeatist but may not be far from the likely outcome.

            Reply

            • It is riches to Chinese but not to Filipinos. Filipinos would rather protect environment over the dead hungry children than exploit its wealth.

              Whereas, Chiense do not care about environment as long as they get rich, they will exploit these islands till it’s gone. They damned Yangtze flooded area as big as Philippines. Now, China is independent of power whereas Philippines is still dependent on fireflies.

              I love FILIPINOS BECAUSE THEY PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST CHILDREN LAST.

              I hate Chinese because they wanted to be rich first to hell with the environment.

              I hate Filipnos for being envious to Chinese bullies wielding economic ax. Well, Filipinos prefer environment over wealth. We so love environment that the most environmentally eco-friendly form of economic activity is STEALING. Stealing is protects environment because it is not pollutant.

              I SO LOVE FILIPINOS. That when I retire I go back to Philippines and STEAL SOME MORE.

              Reply

          • [email protected]

            I am re- posting my comment first posted at 8:31 a.m.

            Yes, we can never in our lifetime build a military that could challenge the Chinese. But we can always try a defense stance that puts some warheads aimed at the heart of Beijing, similar to midgetTaiwan’s tactics. And that also of tiny Israel who is beleaguered and intimidated always by the surrounding Arab countries. The minuscule Singapore maintains Air Force bases in Queensland and WA, in Southern France and in California, Texas and Arizona, and maybe more. Of course missile interceptors could be useful to us just in case.

            The Chinese may, in the end, completely obliterate us from the face of the earth. But a number of missiles aimed at Beijing, Shanghai, nearby Hongkong and similar places in China could definitely create havoc for a while. And no bully would like the idea of losing a finger and, much less, an arm for a sumptuous meal. China would better be reminded of Indonesian experience of ethnic Chinese.

            World history tells us that China was never a naval power. They were no match against our Moro vintas and seafarers. They can still remember that they learned to traverse the seas through our balanghais. Even at the height of their empire building, they were contented to receive token tributes and some respect and recognition from our sultans and datus. And they reciprocated magnanimously. Even building monuments for our royalties who died in their land. That was how Goliath China treated David Philippines.

            The software is already here and only needs updating. But we direly need the necessary hardware.

            Reply

      • [email protected]

        Yes, we can never in our lifetime build a military that could challenge the Chinese. But we can always try a defense stance that puts some warheads aimed at the heart of Beijing, similar to midgetTaiwan’s tactics. And that also of tiny Israel who is beleaguered and intimidated always by the surrounding Arab countries. The minuscule Singapore maintains Air Force bases in Queensland and WA, in Southern France and in California, Texas and Arizona, and maybe more. Of course missile interceptors could be useful to us just in case.

        The Chinese may, in the end, completely obliterate us from the face of the earth. But a number of missiles aimed at Beijing, Shanghai, nearby Hongkong and similar places in China could definitely create havoc for a while. And no bully would like the idea of losing a finger and, much less, his arm for a sumptuous meal. China would better be reminded of Indonesian experience of ethnic Chinese.

        World history tells us that China was never a naval power. They were no match against our Moro vintas and seafarers. They can still remember that they learned to traverse the seas through our balanghais. Even at the height of their empire building, they were contented to receive token tributes and some respect and recognition from our sultans and datus. And they reciprocated magnanimously. Even building monuments for our royalties who died in their land. That was how Goliath China treated David Philippines.

        The software is already here and only needs updating. But we direly need the necessary hardware.

        Reply

        • Actually, for a brief period, China was the world’s greatest naval power. This was during the time of admiral Zheng He, who in the 1400s commanded a colossal flotilla of gigantic ships that would have overwhelmed any equivalent European force. The fleet sailed all the way to Africa then back to China. The Emperor’s eunuch advisers apparently then intrigued for the fleet to be dismantled.

          There is no way we can harm Beijing with any missile or missiles we could acquire. So assuming we fight :China cripples us or sends our economy back 50 years, while we mildly damage China — what would we have accomplished? That’s why the way to go is diplomacy mixed with security and economic alliances

          Reply

          • [email protected] 13.1

            My impression is that Zheng He was more of an ambassador of goodwill than a war general out to conquer the world. But maybe he was both an ambassador and an aggressor asking tributes from various tribes and kingdoms by means of bully tactics that China is now employing on us. So you are damn right. China merely wants to “draw water from our wells”. Or maybe oil.

            Reply

      • @Alan…Bataan could not have fallen if and only IF Gen. Jonathan Wainright applied also a trick. He didn’t. But Gen. Homma did! Three months, delayed already, of fighting the defenders, Gen. Homma said “Surrender now, or we will continue our assaults or attacks!” Gen. Wainright, hungry, sick and confused, consulted his staff in same condition as he…consensus…right SURRENDER! They didn’t know Gen. Homma was ready to give up any further attack and leave Bataan alone and occupy the rest of the Philippines if need be. More than 35,000 Japanese lost their lives in the siege at Bataan and they couldn’t afford another same number for that.

        It was a last final trick to be done. A trick with Intelligence. The Japanese general was more cunning than Gen. Wainright. A trait of Orientals. It is not just bombing us that China can do.

        What it wants is we say “We Surrender.” These last words are the cue. Are we going to say that?

        Reply

        • Actually the Japanese were weak a month before their Holy Week offensive, when MacArthur was still in the Philippines. If I remember correctly the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines had been stripped of units to send to the conquest of Indonesia. But when MacArthur left, Homma was reinforced with the elite Gem Division as well as heavy artillery and air units so he did have material superiority over the defenders who were weakened by disease, starvation and lack of ammunition. Wainwright had no choice to surrender when his lines were broken down the middle of the Bataan peninsula. Homma was hardly close to giving up.

          Reply

          • @Alan…surrender was to ‘saved’ more men but the trick by Gen. Homma, et al., was to starve all of them to death! The Death March was the first of the tricks. So, many POWs did die of starvation later. Would it have been worth dying fighting or during the Death March to Capas, Tarlac, or dying starving in POW camps? Easy for me to say ’cause I wasn’t there! But, damn right I would have fought than die of starvation…the unbearable pain of hunger is …?

            Reply

    • @Rene_Ipil…hahaha, 1000% I like to work as sweeper in the office of the BIR Chief @P100,000.00/month! They can deduct P10th for 3 months if they want to!

      Raising the right amount of revenue, the gov’t should improve the BIR: office equipments, expertise, man-power, credible employees and Bosses and anything that will improve the collections. Census the rich and the famous from other “Sources” of information, Registers of Deeds, LTOs, Barangay Records, SEC Records, atbpa! From there, gov’t will get reliable data that many rich and famous are not paying correct taxes. COLLECT and apply SURCHARGES with PENALTIES!

      Eliminating corruptions, very old story! In the Executive Dept., NO PATAWAG for corrupt officials: summary and fast actions and dismissals from the service. Everyone one must be a team player. Those who are not up to it, GIVE PINK SLIPS to them, take a very long vacation.

      Judiciary and Executive must work hand-in-hand [ now it seems kanya-kanya. Or laban-laban pa!] Decisions of court must not delay terminations of cases. Remove sickly, ignorant and lazy judges, or retire them early. They are a hindrances.

      Remove the PADRINO SYSTEM! This is a bad trait in ourselves, civil or gov’t sectors. Of course if political dynasties spreads, the goal is frustrated. The corruptions starts enemically from the tops of gov’t levels.

      Think and Do. Can Do. Positiveness in gov’t is a MUST. Again, a gov’t that does not have money is poor in every way to progress! So, COLLECT MORE revenues.

      Reply

    • NO! Rene-IPIL. I have a goot idea. THIS WORKS !!!

      Why not give BIR examiners a percentage commission for every revenue they raise. That works with Customs people, too. And traffic enforcers.

      That should work. If it worked for salesmen and women, it should work with the government.

      Reply

      • …why not? But it will be abused…more quota more percentage commission. One in USA, a lady State Police did that. She was fired and facing criminal actions from hundreds they ticketed drivers, some for DUIs.

        Increase 1000% salary? Why not? But BIR must collect 1000% also! Customs the same. Etc. Somebody up here – @letlet – gave it on Singapore style.

        Reply

    • @sir Rene,……your right RATIONALIZATION of salary and wages of BIR employees and CUSTOM employees must first be REALIZE by PNOY GOVT….. . Side by side with other government low salaried employees…

      A Public Employee receiving reasonable salary or wage and had accumulated 5years to 10years in service , will and must THINK TWICE or THRICE if OFFERED to CORRUPT public funds of any kind in many ways , about their years of service rendered, about their retirement fee to be receive if taken the righteous PATH of GOVERNANCE, and being a HONEST and MODEST public employee ( CIPI competent, integrity, probity and independence ).

      As can be gleaned from factual cases , a BIR examiner ( CPA ) and other low income earner public employees say receiving only P 24,200.00 a month income, EVEN though serving that government agency for 20years or about to retire if OFFERED a GRAFT transaction equivalent to millions , 90% of them will bite that transaction and set aside their CIPI career for many years. ” ang kikitain nila kadi good enough hannggang sa ka apo apo an nila , until death compared to the computed retirement benefits they will receive.

      Kung si CORONA mga diba , malaki na ang matatanggap sana nya na retirement benefits pero ano ang ginawa nya. FACT’s isn’t it.

      Reply

      • NOT Rationalized salary and wage of PUBLIC EMPLOYEES and UNBALANCED salary and wages given to private sectors like farmers, carpenters, street cleaners and other ODD jobs earner AGAINST the production and or accomplishment COST.

        Minimum wages shall be increase tremendously, all farm products prices shall also be increase ,….the goernmnent must reduced the UNBALANCE INCOME/PRICES against the PROFITs earned by the CAPITALIST into a near EQUILIBRIUM .

        Payag ba ang mga BILLIONAIREs natin na hinahawakan nila lahat ang mga PUBLIC OFFICIALs natin both elected and appointed , to increase wages , increase prices from the farm and reducing tremendously their profits for a BALANCE economy like US , AUSTRALIA and other 1st world countries. He he …

        Reply

      • @VL…ang sweldo ng isang RTC judge ay below P40th/month. Isang ‘venta’ ng kaso…P1-2M…Judiciary’s budget is a pea …What can a judge do with P40th or lower as salary? Be corrupt! That’s what can do. Not all of ’em btw…some and many some!

        Reply

      • I am all in favor of giving them higher salary. They are not there as PUBLIC SERVANT they are there because government employment is employment of last resort.

        Reply

        • @M…P100th a month? The gov’t will have to create more courts as many lawyers like to become a judge! So your dream comes true…no more lawyers but all judges!

          Reply

  20. I dont think we pinoys are looking for free lunch. no one can cook adobo or paksiw like we do. they give us free lunch, we give them free lunch, then we seize each other, see what we have in common. and we’ll take it from there.

    Reply

  21. USA is battling fiscal cliff, it’s has less money and more or less close to being bankrupt, and even burrowed money from china. USA’s military personnel are spread in hot spots around the world, in afghanistan, etc. and may not be able to come home immediately in case USA is being attacked. it also has humongous defense budget. we cant just expect USA to drop all and come to our aid each time we crook a finger. they may have nothing to give us. we’ve got to stand on our own, find ourselves new allies closer to home. japan is good candidate being closer to home. I hope the visit of japan’s defence minister is fruitful one.

    Reply

    • as a matter of fact we SHOULD worry if the US becomes too interested in this region because we could wind up getting crushed like a nut between two gigantic powers. The US govt has already announced a “pivot” to Asia that will see it deploying at least 60 per cent of its navy in the region by the end of the decade

      Reply

          • China is not militarily a superpower what the U.S. is afraid of is the BOND BOMB. Once China drops U.S. Bond Holdings, U.S. economy goes into tailspin.

            It is the economic might of China that scares the U.S.

            Reply

            • My banking experience is that the person holding the debt gets punished in a bankruptcy, Not the company who borrowed the money. The company still has assets and just sells some of them to get new capital. The lender jumps off a high building, or a great wall, as the case may be.

              Reply

            • @M…Deng Shao Peng would resurrect and yell ‘What in hell’s name have you done allowing US of A filing for bankruptcy! Now, we get paid $30M than our $1+Trillion dollars!’

              Who knows, Congress might just do that, knowing their own laws on bankruptcy! And start anew.

              Reply

      • The Philippines would risk get rolled like a drunk in a dark alley if the US did not pivot. I actually see the Philippines as doing a good job of managing the two giants, and becoming more respected in the doing of that. The Philippines is not helpless, and this everpresent notion of the Philippines as victim ought to be the first value that is migrated from “cherished” to “junkpile of dysfunctional ideas”.

        Reply

        • it really depends on who the national leaders happen to be. For instance, the last Administration could hardly wait to sell us out to the Chinese. This administration is more firm. Whether a country behaves like a “victim” or not (another pointless remark is “whining”, as if entire countries whine) ultimately doesn’t matter in the face of cold geopolitics. Being heroic and canny didn’t save Finland and the Baltic countries from being invaded by the USSR. Small is small.

          Reply

          • As if entire countries are ignoring the plight of the Jews in wartime Germany. Yes, any generalization like that is wrong.

            It is better to be small and purposeful than small and looking for excuses or doing other deeds that distract from purpose.

            Reply

          • Aling Glo, ever an economist, must have thought that it is cost-efficient if we just give away these island.

            benign0 Aquino prefers spending gazillions of OFW dollars to contain China away from Spratleys when it is already a known knowledge that Filipinos will never ever exploit the hydrocarbon and oil to ….. DRUM ROLL PLEEZ ….. TA … DA ….. TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT !!!!!!!!

            So, there you are folks the reason I am not in favor of Spratleys ……

            benign0 Aquino ahs to prove TO ME first by allowing OIL EXPLORATION IN TANON STRAIT before I support him. As you know, OIL EXPLORTORY DRILLING in Tanon Strait was not allowed to PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT OF BOTTLED NOSE DOLPHINS.

            And who gets to see these BOTTLED NOSE DOLPHINS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT? Of course not your Pepe and Pilar but the tisoys and tisays in expensive diving gears.

            Reply

    • Corruption is in many forms. It can be stealing money. In USA different form of stealing. In ‘Pinas different form too. But both stealing money happens in both governments. So, we do not compare or gauge from USA or any other country. Lobby money, same. Padrino system, same…US has also this. All countries have their own corruptions but it’s all the same: MONEY OF THE PEOPLE IS STOLEN OR POCKETED…illegally and unlawfully!

      Reply

    • Americans withdraws from Afghanistan like Russians. Because Afghanis cannot be domisticated. They are still wild dogs.

      Americans will be wagging their pointing fingers and admonish Filipinos: “I told you not to do it, you did it, now, look at”

      Reply

      • @leona…like my son talking to his 4 year old…”Look at me when I’m talking to you!”

        Do it! C’mon Do it! Do it I’m here! Do it!…predator…Zwarze the go’V.

        Reply

  22. There’s no such thing as free lunch (more so in international relations). Japan’s altruism will work to its better interest. But I hope the Philippines won’t give up too much.

    Reply

    • I’m attending a press briefing tomorrow of the Japanese FM and our FM where questions are not allowed to be asked.

      This is food for thought.

      Reply

      • It is not press briefing after all. It is pure propaganda by Japanese FM. The fine prints are not there for Rappler to see.

        Tell you what, even with the absence of FOI, the fine prints will come out courtesy of Mr. Anonymous and that Little Lady in Red Riding Hood.

        Let us bide our time. Filipinos cannot hold secrets.

        Reply

        • how do you manage such cosmically brilliant analysis all the way from where you are? do you use very big binoculars?

          Reply

      • Good luck Raissa! Break the protocol ! – I hope you can DO IT! C’mon Do it! I’m herrrr!…Zwarzn the goV!…movie predator 1

        Reply

  23. let us not forget that china and russia are like two peas in a pod, then, there’s iran who’s now developing it’s own nuclear armaments, also on their side. whatever it is japan has, we can be sure russia has it too. plus they’re good in intel gathering and their engineers are legendary. they share info mostly among their allies and themselves.

    japan needs allies against china, and since we are most vocal against china and nipping china’s heel, I think we are worth a look. sadly the rest of the south east asian nations are softly softly on china, fearful of being left out in the economic doldrums.

    Reply

  24. if it’s true some Japanese companies pulled out from China to relocate in PH…

    then Japan wants to protect investments.

    Reply

    • Japan relocating to expensive-currency Philippines when Japan PM just recently was mulling about devaluing their strong yen.

      Reply

  25. Thank you Mr. Prime Minister. I have always been anti-Japanese but am seriously rethinking that now because of your nice gesture of gifting us with 10 state-of-the-art Coast Guard ships. More power to you. We are all in this together, against the big bad wolf. And thank you, Mr. President, for making all you do towards putting arms in our Armed Forces.

    Reply

    • Don’t thank anyone yet unless you’ve read the fine print. “There’s no such thing as a free meal.” Somebody somewhere is paying for it maybe with large interest.

      Reply

      • How does this development square with the push being made by Japan for our government to adapt the Japanese broadcast standard instead of the European standard?

        Reply

        • @docbebot…Japanese broadcast here…okay! We know how to ‘mix’ their language with ours…like “Ngayun, KURA KURA!…maagang HAPON! Nisei GABI NA!…” okay yan…To close broadcast…”Paalam SAYO NA RA eh!.”

          Reply

  26. Dont fall for communist antics!
    I hope the DFA will just act in building the schools and repairing the air strip in Pag-Asa island and stop responding to Hong Lei’s antics of trying to use the Philippines to avert the attention of the chinese people since the communist party is facing multiple rally and online protest regarding the censorship of a newspaper.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20942641

    Furthermore the communist party also experienced massive protest in Hong Kong last week because of beijing backed leader Leung Chun-ying came under fire for a illegal construction scandal.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20884033

    I really hope na makita ito ng DFA na ginagawa lang talagang panakip butas ang pinas sa mga internal problems ng china.

    Reply

  27. Ultra-quiet submarines and probably of detect less kind and carrying a radar detect less missiles for our sea lane defense will be a good aid/help for our NAVY.

    Japanese products especially military Armaments that includes ship’s , submarine’s and the like’s are of QUALITY and at par with USA . The plus factor for a Japanese aid/product are SPARE PART’s are cheaper and the readiness or the availability of the latter when needed.

    Also Japanese consultants/builders /engineers are more patient and kind in teaching the skills/methods/procedures/maintenance of the said NAVY MATERIAL’s.

    And lastly JAPANESE are more HONEST ALLIE’s than the REST.

    @macspeed …….as a qualified CPMER’s , may I request your humble support to post here any research you can about advance Japanese war materials in comparison with the production of other nations including USA. ( madamot ang US sa atin )

    Reply

    • Even if somebody gave us submarines and carriers we wouldn’t know what to do with them, we don’t have the technological and knowledge base to operate them. And we’re nt even talking about the costs of maintaining them. We’re just feeling our way through missile technology right now. But with a few more aircraft, radar, and fast surface craft with guided missiles (those small Korean frigates, for instance) we could upgrade our status against China from “instantly vaporized” to “almost hopeless”. The whole point is to make us unpleasant to defeat, through a beefed up military and extensive alliances. There are already two American attack subs who’ve suddenly arrived for a “visit” in the Philippines – a clear signal to China.
      As for Japan — well, all of Asia (including China) remembers what they did during the Pacific War

      Reply

      • Philippines & China were allies against Japan in WW II. Now, Japan and Philippines will be allies against China! How time reverses alignments!

        Alan’s right…costs of maintaining big surface ships which are easy targets for Chinese missiles. Why not the modified (WW II style) PT-Boats – 20 boats with 150 HP in-board twin-engine each, with modern torpedoes & missiles? These can sink larger Chinese warships in close encounters at shallow waters.

        Reply

      • Anybody here recall what’s the last line in Lupang Hinirang? Even if Japan provides us with 1,000 state of the art patrol ships what’s the use of it to a nation of cowards? We fight with what we have. When push comes to shove we shove back or even throw the first punch. Sadly this administration and the previous ones failed miserably to defend our territorial integrity. Diplomacy has it’s limits. If we do not know when to fight to protect what we consider is ours, then we will never know how. Ever.

        Reply

        • ” . . .nation of cowards”.

          I’m reminded of the Magsaysay brothers, Ramon and Jesse, who led the rebel forces in the hills of Zambales. They fought the Japanese with a few guns andmachetes until they were instructed to lay low and prepare for American invasion. Then on the invasion day they came out of the hills and laid waste to the entire Japanese infrastructure in Zambales, allowing the Americans to land without a shot.

          Now Ramon’s son is languishing in the senate polls.

          I don’t think it has anything to do with cowardly. I think it has to do with really bad memories.

          Reply

          • As in repressed memories out of fear? Fear to fight? I think now is the time to try to recall these bad memories. If you can’t fight your own battle who will?

            Reply

            • As in bad education perhaps. And the situation is far from needing saber rattling and threats of violence. Or blowhard bragadoccio bravado. It needs firmness and moving forward to pursue Philippine interests as if China were not even there.

              As is being done.

              Reply

              • Lots of fancy words, are you implying China or someone else? China’s been doing most of the saber rattling, if firmness means resolving the situation without putting on the table the option to (at some point) sacrifice lives.

                Someone just peed on Aquino’s billiard table and he’s just standing there contemplating- should I just continue playing as if nothing happened or should I whack this guy with my pool stick?

                A thousand warships is not the answer.

                Reply

              • @ Eric,You seem to be agitating for action and condemning President Aquino for not doing . . . something . . . what, I don’t know . . . warlike. And suggest that he is, like Arroyo, giving the Philippines away. And somehow the word “cowardly” got stuck in there, which is not a fancy word at all. I think knee jerk is not good policy, and firm is. The Aquino approach is firm. Perhaps if you would suggest exactly what you expect the President to do, I would be more clear on things. I personally like what I see . . . everything but Boom Boom Trillanes unrestrained mouth.

                Reply

              • It’s way too late for a knee jerk strategy, though it’s better late than never at all. Hat’s off to Vietnam.

                Reply

              • Trillanes is China’s ally. What I would like to see the Aquino administration do is to have a token ship patrolling the shoals constantly, to warn illegal fishermen fire water cannons to drive them away, board their ship arrest the crew and confiscate the ships and its contents if they are persistent. To be ready to whatever might happen. Yes, easier said than done but not impossible.

                What does it mean to protect one’s territory, keeping an eye on it nothing more? At some point you have to let the other guy know that you won’t take anymore bs from him. Am I a warfreak?

                Reply

              • Nope, not a warfreak at all. But you are more assertive than Del Rosario/Aquino who must live with any escalations or deaths that might occur. It’s delicate, for sure.

                The Pag-asa Island situation is interesting. It is beyond the 200 nautical mile internationally recognized economic zone controlled by the Philippines. The Philippine argument is that it is a part of the natural extension of (underwater) land extending from the Philippine islands, and is long inhabited by the Philippines. I like the idea of upgrading that island and moving more people there. It extends the physical presence and international claim without warships. I think the trick is how to extend Philippin reach into the contested areas without provoking conflict. Like start drilling for oil already.

                If China provokes conflict, China loses. If the Philippines provokes conflict, the Philippines loses.

                Reply

              • Don’t you think that China’s doing all the provocation precisely because they know that Aquino’s administration will not even jerk it’s knee?

                If I remember it correctly, late last year a few brothers in arms of Boom Boom Trillanes unrestrained mouth- either Lim, Faeldon or both planned to hire a boat and plant another Philippine flag at Panatag shoal as a show of protest. Aquino or someone from his office requested for the group to cancel their plan in which the group conceded.

                Why would this administration try to stop a small group of people who has the balls to at least conduct a harmless protest?

                We have to ask this administration is it ours or not? Maybe they are not even sure if it is ours because of some loopholes in our law courtesy of the present batch of our patriotic lawmakers.

                There could be oil and gas at the shoal and China wants a lion’s share.

                Reply

                • “There could be gas and oil in the shoal” ?

                  Lookit, yo! In Tanon Strait between Negros and Cebu has potential for oil. Some foreign national wanted to do EXPLORATORY DRILLING. It was rejected to protect the natural habitat of bottled nose dolphin over dead bodies of Filipnio hungry children.

                  So, since the Shoal and Spratleys have prestine environment, DO YOU REALLY THINK THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT ALLOW THE DESICRATION OF THESE ISLANDS to protect pods of Tilapias ? I DO NOT THINK SO.

                  Philippine Government wanted this shoal for the wealthy corrupt Filipnios to vacation. THAT IS HOW EXPENSIVE THIS SHOALS ARE. Do you ever think you can visit this shoal? UNLESS IF YOU ARE REALLY REALLY REALLY WEALTHY.

                  The Philippine Government is pro-rich. The shoals will be the playing grounds of the rich at the cost of millions and millions of taxpayer money to purchase armed-less harmless coast guard cutter to protect it. WoW!

                  Reply

              • @eric, regarding stopping a protest that would inflame Chinese sentiments . . . it is clear that you and the Aquino administration have different levels of tolerance, and different approaches. The distinction is that they have to live with results and you do not. I wouldn’t vote for you, for sure.

                Reply

              • I think it’s in their job description, if they thought they can’t live with the results of their decisions why did they run for office in the first place? And how is it different in deploying marines in Mindanao to go after Muslim terrorists to deploying navy ships to patrol the Panatag shoal?

                I’m sure everyone who enlisted in the military knows what their job is all about.

                We all make decisions, choices that affect other people’s lives (just watched Cloud Atlas and It’s a Wonderful Life back to back)… and don’t worry I have no plan on running for any public office, besides you’re not eligible to vote here.

                Reply

              • Oh, I think they do live with the results they create. You are the one who doesn’t.

                Think, Eric, think. Terrorists want to murder people, China wants oil.

                I can’t vote, but I can influence. My wife worships the intellectual ground upon which I walk, and all her friends are in awe. Go figure . . .

                Glad you’re not running . . .

                Reply

              • Eh Joe, maybe you should watch Cloud Atlas and unwind.

                Yes Aquino’s running the show and we can only try to live with the results they create even if we don’t like it. What do you mean I’m the one who doesn’t?

                Will you risk your life defending your country? Your family, to some extent your property and your way of life?

                To avoid confrontation with China all cost? It’s okay to send marines to go after terrorist but it’s not okay to send the navy to protect our territory because it’s only potential oil underwater. Wow, I’m not aware there are levels of importance, tried to think about it, can you please enlighten me.

                I’m glad you’re glad I’m not running.

                Reply

              • Eric, I’m enjoying the discussion.

                I said Aquino can live with his decisions, but you cannot. I meant you are unwilling to grant the President the latitude to things differently than you would. It has to be your way, or it s the wrong way. Eh. I delegate upward to the President and give him some leeway to do things the way he wants because he has better information, good intent, and is incented to do the right thing because he does have to live with the results.

                I risked my life for my country when I was single (Viet Nam). Of course I would risk it protecting my family. What’s your point with that question?

                There are levels of importance to things. You simplify the complex and I don’t have enough time or space to explain how things like the global war on terrorism, driven by the US, is different from oil, which the Philippines pretty much has to figure out on its own. You need to think about it some more I guess. Read, too. You’re a smart guy. I’m confident you can sort it out.

                It’s good to be happy.

                Reply

              • Okay Joe, can I join your wife and her friends “In Awe of Joe Fan Club” and worship the intellectual ground upon which you walk? Please say yes before I hit the sack.

                Reply

          • @Joe America. Good job in defending the ranks of Filipinos who are not cowards and are worthy of emulation but are easily forgotten. Thanks.

            Sometimes I’d like to believe that majority of us Filipinos care only about the present and the future to come, never of the past.

            Unlike in in America where you have all sorts of museums (Museum of Tolerance, Museum showing the sites where the Japanese were garrisoned during WWII, all sorts of museums) to refresh one’s memory (and many Americans value going to them), in the Philippines, we’ve got practically nothing.

            Take the case of what happened during the Death March in Bataan; I don’t even know if we have a dedicated museum for this kind.

            Granting that we have a nicely organized Death March museum to go to for refreshing the memory, ony a trickle of Filipinos go there. What events are overflowing with crowds of all ages are the concerts of Hollywood stars coming to Manila to earn money. And high government officials and the country’s elite are tripping over each other in getting the front row seats as if to show that it is a status symbol to be seen there!

            Reply

            • Well maybe not all Filipinos are cowards, but most Pinoys have fragile egos. Any negative view and Pinoys are up in arms. Why can’t Pinoys handle criticisms like grown up men? Yet Pinoys are always ready to board the band wagon in praising American Idol finalists, a Fil-Am coach who won an NBA title (only because two and a half of the best players in the league are in his team), beauty pageant finalists, boxers, singers etc. … how proud they are of being Pinoys but not even making a token protest to China to at least avoid buying a can of Maling? You have to flatter Pinoys.

              A youtube video of an obscure tourist will generate demands of apology and so on and so forth.

              Why not ask for something substantial like a Nobel Prize for Literature?

              Reply

            • @fed_up…sad to share. We had a real museum…Corrigidor Island! But some ‘rats’ gnawed and sawed off the barrels of those cannon-mortars to sell at junk yards! No watchers there?

              Philippine AFP security at it’s best or worst! Filipinos are not yet [as I sense it] sold to putting our ‘museums’ like US and European countries, etc.

              We need a good education on this to and for our YOUTH. For us, some and many seniors who are corrupts, wala na yan pag-asa. See, lawmakers make more money specially X’mas times, gifts there and here atbpa!

              Reply

              • That’s bizarre to me. The schools spend time making kids memorize dates and heros but none of it seems to soak in as pride in who we are and what we’ve come through. Rather, that pride gets hung on Jessica Sanchez. There are a lot of complaints about the past, and it is leveraged for argument sake, but it is not preserved. Like I said, bizarre. The reason to preserve is to reflect. That is, to think.

                Reply

              • @Joe Am…scary the young generations…using these latest machines- gadgets to think for them rather than the machines asking “What do you think?”

                Reply

        • @Eric…that’s a long story to look “who’s to blame” which we all know who! It’s the “now” what to do and can do, and not what happened in the past.

          Reply

            • We, the people and our leaders, have no spirit! Lack of belief in country and Flag. Is it due to poverty and greed? Could be 85%. It will take a lot and long time maybe to re-instill the good and discard the bad in us.

              But we have to start one way or the other, like not voting for dynasties and the corrupts. So, can we tell the tangi-voters in our midst and yonder? Remains to be seen. The rich ‘n corrupt with their candidates will be there to block the movement for good and discarding the bad.

              A see-saw endeavor for all. Hope and Act on it.

              Reply

        • Filipinos are not revolutionary-types. Lookit the passport office. It is the BUSIEST GOVERNMENT OFFICE !!!

          Lookit all the embassy offices, Filipinos lined up to get out of the country.

          These “patriotic” Filipinos would rather be in Hong-Kong-run-by-Chinese than in the Philippines-run-by-Filipinos.

          Reply

          • @Mariano…Cannot blame them. Pragmatic actions rather than idealistic ones. Hunger hath no respect for anything or anybody. An empty stomach gets a lot of unbearable pains, even a good Army can surrender because of hunger, disregarding discipline. How much more ordinary citizens.

            Can’t blame them. Wish ’em luck swerte SWERTE as you say.

            Reply

      • @alan. I totally agree with you when you said “As for Japan — well, all of Asia (including China) remembers what they did during the Pacific War.”

        The Japanese Imperial Army who invaded the Philippines were extremely cruel as to “toss Filipino babies in the air and catch them with their bayonets.”

        I’m convinced, however, that the present generation of Japanese have evolved into a kinder one than the WWII generation because of the efforts of the Americans under one man (Gen. Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander of Allied Powers) who presided over the rehabilitation of Japan.

        MacArthur have endeared himself and the American people to the Japanese masses by shielding the Emperor (whom they love with blind loyalty) and retaining the monarchy from calls of prosecuting him as a war criminal and dismantling it.

        If the U.S. is flooded with “Made in China” consumer products, it is also inundated with “Made in Japan” cars which American cars like GM, Chevrolet, Chryster, etc. can’t compete against.

        To me today, there’s a greater trust between America-Japan than in America-China relationships.

        Reply

        • Yes. McArthur protected the monarchy like Admiral Dewey protected the Spaniards. If Dewey allowed Filipinjos to enter Manila, Spaniards are totally headless with their hands in the air.

          Americans are humanist people like all descendants from Europe.

          I do agree I trust Japan more than China.

          Reply

          • Any race of people can do its worst! Depending on the situation and reasons for it. The American Indians were almost wiped out by the White American leadership.

            European Kingdoms the same. African countries-dictators likewise.

            The human race is the most dangerous and cruelest beast on earth.

            Reply

        • the problem is, unlike Germany, Japan has not owned up to its guilt. For yers now, from the time they’re children Germans are taught all about the crimes of the Nazis in their schools. By comparison, Japanese schoolbooks are carefully edited to make no mention of Japan’s barbaric and brutal war of conquest, its crimes and atrocities, when it attempted to build its so-called “East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”. The Japanese war criminals are even venerated in Yasukuni Shrine, which many high-ranking Japanese politicians go out of their way to visit. I’ve noticed that during the anniversary of Hirsohima’s nuclear bombing, Asian countries are not loud and profuse in their expressions of sympathy to Japan

          Reply

          • Hmmmm ….. sounds like Philippine history textbook. It never told us that Aguinaldo sold out the Filipinos to the Spanish crusaders. Instead they make stories that Aguinaldo bought arms out of the proceeds to retake the Philippines. Japan must have took half a page from Philippine historians.

            The Philippine history book also did not tell us that it is inconceivable two expensive spanish books sparked the revolution within 7 years of its release. Maybe it was available at every corner Starbucks and Barnes&Nobles. No! NO! no! Make it 5 years considering travel time from German publishers to Manila unless it was FedExed 24-hours … whereas, internet has been with the Philippines for the past 20 years no rebolusyon yet, there will not be rebolusyon in the near future because the internet is now overtaken by Sotto cybercrime police.

            Filipino historians did a goot feel-goot history textbook.

            The Philippine history book also did not tell us that 1800 century Filipinos were more intelligent than the current breed Filipinos. Because in the 1800 century Filipinos did not require a Doctorate History Professor graduate from University of the Philippines to untangle the Noli me and El Feli whereas I kept repeating it so are my classmates. We are repeating the subject either the professor is pretty; we like Jose Rizal the Hero, or, we simply just cannot interpret what Jose Rizal was trying to say. But the 1800 century revolutionary Filipinos did understand what it meant without U.P. professors.

            The Philippine history book also made Lapu-lapu look like a giant with grecian physique, and, of course, naturalamente, LAPU-LAPU IS DEPICTED HAS NON-TRADITIONAL FILIPINO LOOKS. Even Cardinal Rosales warned Cebuano sculpturer to make Santos Calungsud to make him look like your typical traditional Filipino looks.

            WHAT IS WRONG WITH FILIPINO LOOKS ? HUH? WHAT REALLY IS WRONG WITH FILIPINO LOOKS ? WHY CAN’T FILIPINO JUST LOVE THE WAY THEY LOOK ? And the brilliant PHilippine Media is promoting the 2nd classness of brown-skin-punk’d nose. WHY ?

            Reply

            • My most immediate problem with history books here is how they’ve disgracefully ignored the Marcos dictatorship, its crimes, depradations and body count. As a result we have a generation of Filipinos utterly ignorant of the bestiality of the Martial Law regime and the Marcos family and its cronies

              Reply

            • @Mariano…like a gladiator? Yes, you’re right. I saw one statue of Lapu-Lapu like he came from a Arnold Z.’s gym! ala Mr. Universe.

              What about putting here a photo of him, if you have, that Lapu-Lapu look lilliputin…4’5″ small, weigh 98 lbs, brownish skin, long or brush-cut hair [like Arnold Z] black eyes, no bandana on forehead, one hand with forefinger pointing at Magellan and saying “C’mon! I’m herrrr…Do itch…Do shitch…Dooo etch..” of course in Cebuano translation. [Arnold otra vez]. Do you or can you have that photo?

              Reply

    • Yes I agree we don’t have to go into a war with CHINA……..of all our ASIAN neighbors by blood ,percentage wise ” mas malapot ang dugong intsik na nakapulupot sa ating dugong Filipino ” at present. Joint ventures in extracting natural resources at CHINA SEA and other contested areas ( south china sea ) was one of the best solution of all our trouble with CHINA. But we have to build and develop our own military defense and strength by not relying to much from 1st world countries like USA or if we relied like now , it should be in addition to our already developed defense /strength , in case if attack or provoke by our neighbors later on, even by JAPAN itself.

      What i am trying to point out was Japanese manufactures/producers, BASED on MY OWN personal experience with MARUBENI CORP., TOSHIBA , and other Japanese contractor’s including there subsidiaries , when they supplied us QUALITY GENERATOR’s , TURBINE’s and/or the electronics and electrical components of the specified POWER EQUIPMENT’s on building/erecting/commissioning of the TIWI GEOTHERMAL PLANT, TONGONAN GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT, MAKILING BABAHAW GEOTHERMAL so as MAGAT HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANT, they brought with them CAPABLE MEN , PATIENT and KIND enough in teaching their FILIPINO counterpart to construct, install and maintain such EQUIPMENT’s.

      In ALL ASPECT’s of the CONTRACT entered into by Philippine Government were followed , COMPARED to the Contract entered by us with CHINESE FIRM’s in constructing and maintaining our TRANSISSION LINES FACILITIES wherein thhe Chinese even brought in and employed Chinese Nationals on a TOURIST VISA status.

      Filipinos are not coward , if only USA give us the technology needed to Build anything like airplanes and destroyer after world war 2 , who knows we might be competing with the best countries in the world right now.

      Reply

        • Btw, just a good reminder…not “all” Filipinos are “cowards” as you gave it. If you are a Filipino, at least say it fair and square. Some or a lot many are or maybe! But not all as understood in your words. Do you know some cowards become courageous later? Audie Murphy’s first initial combat, he ‘appeared’ one but was awarded Cong.Medal of Honor in the end.

          CJ Jose Abad Santos, never blinked or showed fear infront of the Japanese firing squad.

          Dr. Jose P. Rizal wrote beautifully Mi Ultima Adios without tremor in his hand on the eve of his last day.

          Sen. Ninoy Aquino insisted to die by coming home knowing he would be killed upon arrival.

          Gabriela Silang fought the longest revolution against the Spaniards here.

          Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, all garroted. Many Filipinos are braved, in the past and now heareafter. The list of names how long I don’t really know.

          Reply

      • … IT IS OK TO DREAM …. dreaming is escaping from reality …..

        DREAMS MY COME TRUE in other countries but NEVER CAN HAPPEN IN THE PHILIPPINES ….

        Come to Papa ….

        Reply

          • Not until we can manufacture our own Noodles instead of importing it from Korea, I’d be fairly comfortable doing R&D on nuclear sub. But to make nuclear sub quiet, we have to tap state-of-the-art propeller that is to-secret manufactured by GE.

            I doubt U.S. Defense Department would allow GE to sell this top-of-the-line state-of-the-art super-secret submarine propeller to Philippines. Philippines leaks like a sieve. We’ll never know, Philippines might hire a Chinese guy to install it for us.

            I went to SM last night, they have batchoy noodles FILLED WITH MSG. Yech !!!!

            Reply

            • @Renato Mariano Pacifico

              I thought you said in your posts that you are living abroad (?) and send remittances to your relatives here in the Philippines. But only last night you said you went to SM for batchoy noodles, nasaan ka ba talaga? Your claim of living somewhere is as confusing as your posts and claim of being nationalistic and patriotic.

              I recall some of the trolls during the corona impeachment who kept posting confusing messages.

              Reply

                • HA! HA! HA!

                  I WAS ABLE TO pry baycas from his all-seriousness demeanor. baycas has sense of humor after all.

                  Let us loosen up. because if we are all serious here, people really get scared. They might think we are all geniuses here autopsying what is wrong with this country. Let us just have little fun so other people wouldn’t get intimidated with our brilliance.

                  I read this story about Jerry Yang of Yahoo! when they were start-ups. Some stiff investment bankers in crisp suits from SanFo went to Silicon Valley to offer their investment services. They were looking for Jerry. Jerry said, “I am Jerry”. They did not believe him. He was wearing cut-off denim jeans and smelly t-shirt long hair and surfboard.

                  second time around the stiffs came back and hang loose and they clinched the deal. The rest is Philippine history.

                  Reply

              • If I tell you where I am at currently would have a bearing of what I have to say ?

                This answers Alan’s confusion about my post on domicile .

                Now, Alan, you got your answer.

                Reply

            • @Macspeed, please, if you love your family keep away from Maggi, Lucky Me Batchoy and other Filipino products including Papa ketchup.

              Slurping on these noodles is slurping mega-grams of MSG. My stomach is very touchy to MSG. It turns it upside down. Papa ketchup has plenty of preservatives.

              No wonder there are very few Filipino products in Filipino grocery shops in America because they cannot pass Food and Drug Administration health standards. As simple as Buko Juice comes from Bangalore and Bangkok. Of course, when it comes to ketsup nothing beats garlic catsup from Thailand.

              Oodles of Manila noodles help blue poodles mit der strudel.

              Reply

      • Who said Filipinos are cowards? In all the Spanish conquests throughout the Western Hemisphere, only the Filipinos did kill the Spanish Ferdinand Magellan. How about all the Latin Countries in South Americas? None I heard of. First landing by the Spaniards the met LAPU-LAPU and he finished the day! He’s probably said “Tapos na ang araw ng Kastila!”

        Taga Cebu Island si LAPU-LAPU. I haven’t plied any boulevard or highway here in Metro Manila named after him! Maybe I need to ply around to find out.

        But traitors and corrupts, many have their names on streets, atbpa! Ultimo ‘Ad signs’ of “Welcome” and “Good Bye” signs in towns, they are there!

        Reply

        • Pigafetta said, Magellan step off the Galleon :) Totally false. I checked Google Map, Mactan Island and Cebu is so close that you do not even need Galleon to go there just outrigger and you’d be there in 5 minutes.

          What actually happened was Magellan tripped over and was shotted by Lapu-Lapu.

          HERE IS ANOTHER MUST READ FROM ME.

          Filipinos are MALAS because Lapu-lapu killed the Messenger of Jesus Christ without provocation. From then on, THE MALAS PERPETUATED ITSELF, because Filipnos celebrate the killing of MESSENGER OF JESUS CHRIST by THEIST LAPU-LAPU.

          THAT IS WHY MALAS TALAGA ANG MGA FILIPINOS.

          Reply

          • …Wrong again! Pigafalsetta is or was a friend of our bishops and priests here. So, he wrote erroneously to embarrass Lapu-Lapu! LL said “MALAS TALAGA YUN KASTILA!” The sands here in Mactan when one steps on it, sinks you! That’s why MagDellan tripped! Pigafalsetta never deboarded from the galleon.That’s why he didn’t know about the Mactan shores.

            Try going to Mactan Island shores, try the sands. I did. It’s like the Sands of Iwo Jima! You sink stepping on it!

            Ha ha ha! …said Lapu-Lapu.

            Reply

            • [email protected]

              Tama ka Leona. Si Lapulapu naka-yapak o naka-paa lang. Si Magellan kuntodo boots. Bakal pa yata. Pagyapak sa buhangin eh hindi na makakilos. Yun kinawawa ni Lapulapu. Engot kasi si Magellan. Hindi muna inalam ang “terrain”. Si Lapulapu naman eh dumistansya sa hindi abot ng bala ng kanyon. Kaya yun napilitang bumaba mula sa barko de giyera si Magellan. And the rest is history.

              Reply

              • @Rene…bakit si LL di lumubog sa buhangin kung si Magellan lumubog sa bakal na boots nya?

                …kasi ang mga paa ni LL ay kasing LAPAD …L A P A D ng isang dangaw ng kamay mo! ‘rehas ng snow shoes gamit walking on snow!

                Reply

      • @Victin Luz . You said “Filipinos are not coward , if only USA give us the technology needed to Build anything like airplanes and destroyer after world war 2 , who knows we might be competing with the best countries in the world right now.”

        Technologies are not sold to countries who want them, they’re protected by the countries who developed them through cutting-edge research and experimentation.

        In the country, we have the DOST (Dept. Of Science and Technology) to discover new technologies for us. I’ve not been reading any new discovered technologies from them to improve the way we do things. I hope they’re not one government office that is corrupt.

        I don’t know if the Patents Office is under them. We can verify their records if there have been lately new discoveries made by intelligent Filipinos.

        Along this line, what happened to the much touted miracle rice discovered by IRRI (Int’l Rice Research Institute) in Los Banos, Laquna, decades ago? Why are we still importing rice, the staple food of the Filipinos?

        Reply

        • USA layed down NUCLEAR TECH. To JAPAN after world war 2, only guarded them not to make or developed nuclear bomb’s.

          USA teaches ISRAEL how to further improved and developed FIGHTER JET’s and war armament’s like tank’s, weapon carrier’s , guns like the GALIL assault rifles and others.

          When the Vietnamese were taken as refugees to US , they were given at least 600$ us government aid ( ano bang tawag nila dito ? ) while still jobless. Filipinos who fought with them side by side on world war 2 against Japan and fought side side with them against North Korea during Korean War,,,, anong AID sa atin , re conditioned ships, soon to expired oat meals and other foods…. TNT Filipinos are still TNT’s although some were given permanent residency by OBAMA….USA …hilaw pag nagbigay ng tulongbsa atin…. If they can gave some of their hidden technologies to those countries , why not US @ fed-up?

          Reply

              • @joe

                Let me share my take on this.

                After WWII, Philippines was reconstructed and given our independence. Economy was booming and we were one the progressive countries in Asia. But we were still quasi colony, Americans still had plenty of clout in the govt as well as in the economy. The Philippines played a great geographic and strategic base of US Navy for it is within reach of the important sea routes. They knew that even before the war but was surprised by the Japanese cunning Pearl Harbor attack and the fall of bataan.

                US also knew that there would be a New World order where after defeatibg the Nazis they will be fighting the Russians. Revolutionary Mao almost had an alliance with the US but the deal did not go through. The Reds are coming!

                Then there was the Vietnam War. US bases in the Philippines played an important ole in the supply of American hardware as well as soldiers. So US bases needed to stay in the Philippines, by hook or by crook.

                Growing and improving economy and nationalistic fervor in the Philippines in the early sixties posed a threat. Any hints of nationalism were suspect, Philippines might turn red. It was not only in the Philippines, crimson was looming all over the Latin and South American countries. In US perspective and interest, they need to check and insure that communism should not have a foothold in these countries, hence the polciy changed. The icon of democracy need to be a hypocrite. They need to suppress the infant democracies of Asia as well as the Americas. US backed dictatorships mushroomed, and Banana Republics were established.

                Among the countries, Philippines was screwed. We were gang banged by Marcos dictatorship, our economy went down to the toilet, the influence of the Catholic Church made us apathetic and left our destiny to God, made us even more reliant to the US economically through aids and in the defense of our sovereignity. There was no Marshallplan in the Philippines, there was no need, they were paying Marcos peanuts hewas their puppet. They did not give a f–k about human rights, freedom, and democracy. Democracy was reserved for Americans and the first world countries, Philippines can have it later depending on US timetable.

                Then we have a new generation of Pilipinos who adores anything made and from America. We became Pavlov’s dogs. American policies and treatment of the Philippines setbacked our political and economic progress. They know that Marcos was a son f a bitch, but he was their bitch same of all the dictators they installed all over the world. When the dictators were toppled, Most of these countries were bankrupt. America tolerated the heist for even when the dictators were replaced by the so called democratically elected new leaders, one thing remains, they will still be relying on America, he was the only game in town economically.

                These so called new democraces have different cultures. Some were really nationalistic and lovevtheir countries. Let us take South Korea. They have ther wn corruptions but Nationalism trumps corruption so their stashed were reinvested in their own country, not sleeping in some Swiss banks, and created more jobs. They are not bound by religion, no monks or high priest whi were telling them to multiply their population irresponsibly. They are hardworkers, they value education, they value their self worth, they work and stick to long term goals of improving their industries, they do not have to shout and announce to the world bat he love their country, their deeds speaks greater volume , they live it everyday.

                On Marshall plan in Japan, America needs a stronger Japan as well as South Korea to balance China’s looming communism. Both these nations have something in common, they are not Catholics! Catholism taught Pilipinos to be passive, taught us to irresponsibly multiply, and taught us tbat sufferring is bliss(?). We were taught that we the meek w ill inhert the earth and be in heaven. They have a blessing for us to suffer. We ate these teaching hook line and sinker and we are suffering for it.

                For which I can say we were Dictatorially, flawed-democracy, culturally and piously screwed!

                Reply

              • Parekoy, I appreciate the history snapshot. I’m part way through a journey of self discovery on this, provoked by Raissa’s comment, and you fill in a lot of the blanks for me. I may take some excerpts for the blog I’m doing on it. Right now, I’d say post WWII is characterized by the meddling hand of America (MacArthur, for one) and the endless and violent divisions within the Philippines. Thanks for the briefing.

                Reply

              • In the book Under the Stacks, President Roxas didn’t keep his end in prosecuting Japanese collaborators and instead gave them amnesty. General MacArthur didn’t like this.

                Reply

            • What have we done to Americans that we are not worthy of respect? Why was TQM introduced to Japan by McArthur but not to Filipinos not until in the late 90s? Why were we given a GE Nuke plant that straddles earthquake fault? Why are we sold Armed-less Harm-less stripped-off Coast Guard Cutter? Why Senate not investigating these procurement of useless piece of junk?

              In Inquirer in the heydays of Gen Garcia, it was mentioned by slipped of editorial censorship, that he received a commission from Israeli-made unmanned drone. Where is the drone now? Why the PHilippine Media did not make a follow-up? Is it covered up?

              Malas talaga tayo pagka Pilipino. This is our destiny. Philippines could be a purgatory to those souls waiting to be judged.

              Reply

                • I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU, ALAN.

                  Since I left the Filipinos exponentially improve from 64,000,000 to squabbling backstabbing 94,000,000 in a matter of 7 years despite their tearing down of sexy billboard along EDSA.

                  Are babies n the PHilippines manufactured in the same messy dirty traditional way? Or, are they delivered by FedEx ?

                  Reply

              • …@Mariano…USA do not like us. We have no need for their VIAGRA which make ’em a lot of money! We’re natural in…natural out! We increase more without that V. That’s ‘Vevil’ for simple ‘Pinoy folks! Mahal pa!

                Reply

            • ..How? Imagine, 1 can of Salmon sardine for 29 Filipino soldiers while each American G.I. had one for him! Pres. Quezon yelled…PUNETA! [enye yun ‘N’…Kastila kasi si presidente.]

              Why treated shabbily? ‘Cause many Filipino soldiers disobeyed the order to surrender. They went to guerrilla warfare instead. The majority of Americans surrendered, so many of them died in Capas, Tarlac, POW camp.

              Reply

    • ULTRA-QUIET SUBMARINE ? Meaning it runs on nuclear power ? Filipinos research and develop nuclear powered ultra-quiet submarine ? ARE YOU DREAMING ?

      In 1964 India has nuclear research school in New Delhi when Philippines inhabitants were debating to move their INdependence day from July 4th to June 12.

      Let us stop dreaming. Let us get down to reality. NOW, TOGETHER, “WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND NUCLEAR PHYSICS” Stop reaching for the stars … The farthest we can reach is scarborough shoal. THAT IS THE REALITY.

      We cannot even manufacture a variant of catsup and noodles which are still imported how much more talking about fantsy of NUCLEAR PHYSICS !!!!

      WEK AP! WEK AP! Open yor ays !!!! Smel da kafe !

      Reply

  28. The Philippine defense strategy seems to have four prongs. (1) Develop major alliances which can backstop the Philippines if things get rough: U.S., Korea, Japan, Australia. (2) Recruit sympathetic partners from ASEAN, such as Viet Nam, to not let China’s divide and conquer approach prosper, (3) firm up fighting abilities with equipment and training, and (4) stand firm against China’s territorial aggression while keeping it in perspective.

    I particularly like the latest response to China’s initiative to support joint development in the Spratleys. The response, in effect, “Sure, if it follows Philippine law.” The point being this is Philippine territory.

    This is a superior strategy and Secretary Del Rosario and President Aquino deserve strong praise. I doubt you’ll hear that praise from Binay and his band of merry and self-engaged UNA troops, so I’ll offer it.

    Reply

    • The previous administration couldn’t wait to give away our territory. Arroyo even got Estelito Mendoza to testify in the Senate that it was pointless trying to defend the islands, we should just give them up. If Arroyo — or trapos like her — were still president, in a few years we’d have Filipinos being required to pay a Chinese gatekeeper for the privilege of swimming in the waters off Luzon’s western beaches

      Reply

      • That is well said Alan, the administration of GMA really was visibly trying to sell our assets to the Chinese. I would not blame them if they are trying to align with China. They may have a good reason. Joint venture may also be good but at least the definition and delineation of boundaries must be straightened out first so that we will know our sovereign rights.

        Reply

        • I believe that the Philippines and China have very close historical ties and should be working together in friendship.. The matter of the islands and maritime boundaries should be cleared up to the satisfaction of both sides so that we can resume these close links

          Reply

          • This I agree, Alan. The Filipinos should stop huffing and puffing. Our military do not have intellectual strategic capacity to attack Chinese with flotilla of pumpboats.

            We just, like, work with them till they get tired.

            Barack is not even interested with the Philippines. He flew by bypassed us several times in his jaunt to Asia.

            Reply

              • Alan, you do have a sense of humor. No! Barack did not tell me so but his action speaks louder than my voice.

                Double date? Ewwww !!!! Never do that. It is against my religion. I may be anti-RHBill but when it comes to marriage I am pretty much conservative: “Thru sickness and health, Till love do us part” Oooops !!! Isn’t that the slogan of Divorce proponents ?

                Reply

      • Interesting alliances shaping up. I’ve argued that the four forces intent upon undermining President Aquino and Philippine development are: (1) the anti blogs, (2) China, (3) the Catholic Church, and (4) the chronically corrupt. Looks like the only missing partner of UNA might be . . . hmmmm.

        No missing partners?

        Reply

        • @Joe Am…China now will ‘use’ her size and weight, knowing her good economy and $$$ worth plus 1B 300M people, she’ll bully all other nations in the area, abandoning all past good relationships with others. It is not only about this Panatag Shoals as Phil territory but all other islands even that possessed by Japan, Senkaku islands. It is more than that – PACIFIC POWER covering South China Sea up the Pacific Ocean’s limits!

          What’s in there? Guam and Hawaiian islands. Japan Sea too as it will claim it belongs to them. The Chinese leadership, as Chinese character, are used to well planned patience, they wait, wait and will act when waiting is enough. They’ll get more air-craft carriers soon.

          If China is not faced and stopped now, all ‘cards’ in the area will crumbled for their taking! She must be stopped at her mainland shores.

          Reply

        • That’s an intriguing analysis. Over the last 20 years, the standard way to displace Presidents has been to work on the military, but I’m not sure if that’s going to fly now. As for the anti blogs I think most of them are financed by the Marcos and Arroyo groups as well as entities looking to the 2016 elections

          Reply

        • @Joe Am…may I guess?….the LP congressmen who were Kampi-Lakas GMA then…if something happens, they’ll all again reverse their coats for UNA in due time! They always do that! How time makes one reverses the coats! Like the ‘jackets’ before – reversible, remember?

          Reply

          • Reversible jackets. Nice description. Gadzooks, so the best President the Philippines has had since forever risks getting ganged up on by those who want their bread buttered with distillates of pork.

            Reply

            • Art, my wife has one that she picked up at Bench or Guess or one of those modern, stylish places. THAT’S the jacket I was thinking of, not that dorky thing with blue on one side and grey on the other that I wore in Junior High School. I can’t even remember that far back . . .

              Reply

    • Joe [email protected]

      “I particularly like the latest response to China’s initiative to support joint development in the Spratleys. The response, in effect, “Sure, if it follows Philippine law.” The point being this is Philippine territory.”

      Yes, that is a superior strategy. And the best economic policy vis-a-vis China which all Filipinos must support if pursued by the present government.

      Reply

  29. I am a peaceful man because I am a Buddhist. Christianity and Muslims are still locked in marketing wars for world sole religious dominance. Muslims offering 75 virgins for blowing themselves up while Christians are offering Heaven. But the pull of 75 virgins is stronger making Muslims the most increase in religious conversion. But I stay with Buddhism. We do not have quarrel with other religion.

    So much for that, I AM A PEACEFUL MAN. I donot like wars especially if we are not capable of winning it at all WHICH IS OBVIOUS. The Philippine government has to rob each Pepes and Pilars of their dinner to buy exotic military hardwares and another 20 years to train them how to operate it and another 10 years to replenish what they have stolen. By that time the Chinese has already taken over every Sari-sari store in every neighborhood in every island.

    So let us get real, STOP THIS ACQUISITION OF MILITARY ARSENALS. Why not quietly surrender. I know! I know! It is embarassing. Let us just say Filipinos are OFWing to China when actually they are surrendering and Chinese come to Philippines as eco-tourists. THAT WILL SAVE US FACE.

    Reply

      • I am not taxpaying because I live abroad. My “taxes” is in the form of remittances to my relatives which is more than enough, a thousand enoughs, to float the catsup-and-noodles economy.

        Reply

          • I do send money back. The money I sent has trickle down effect on Chinese economy. Because the money I sent they buy it on Chinese-assembled iPhones. The profit that Chinese made they use it against us.

            Reply

    • @Mariano Renato Pacifico

      With due respect, saan na po napunta ang nationalistic at patriotic spirit mo?

      Reply

      • I am patriotic and nationalistic. That is why I care about the Philippines and the Filipinos. But my goat is why buy multi-million-dollar military arsenals that would not be enough to vanquish China over dead hungry Filipino children?

        Look, this is only a speck of island. Would you want to kill 25,000,000 children to go hungry over speck of islands that 99.9999% of the filipinos cannot even see and pinpoint in the map?

        LET US BE REALISTIC. Let them have it. ONCE PHILIPPINES BECOMES 1ST WORLD, it is our turn to grab it from them.

        NOW IS NOT THE TIME. Filipinos are just huffing and puffing ….. The chinese are already here. Majority of the Filipinos work for the chinese in slave-condition with slave pay …..

        When the girl arrives, she notices that her grandmother looks very strange. Little Red then says, “What a chinita voice you have,” (“The better to greet you with”), “Goodness, what small chinky eyes you have,” (“The better to see you with) “And what big hands you have!” (“The better to hug you with”), and lastly, “What a big mouth you have,” (“The better to eat you with!”) at which point the Chinese jumps out of their corporate towers, and swallows her up too. Then he falls fast asleep. – THE STORY OF THE SLEEPING GIANT

        Reply

          • Funny I mentioned latrines. Whenever I come home, yes, I still call Philippines as my home no matter what, I clean latrine first because in any Filipino household toilets are the grossiest part of the house.

            First I plug in that hole. Fill it with water to the brim. Thrown in Dutch Cleanser Powder (even toilet cleanser is made from Dutchland, jeeez). Let it soak to loosen the barnacles. Reach in start scrubbing it with Scotch Brite (Not again!!!! made from SCOTLAND). Flush. Do it several times until the water stain is gone. Dab it with Clorox (of course made by Dow Industries) to whiten the ceramic. Flush again.

            To take out the smell, squeeze a lemon into the water. Charcoal in netted bag placed below the water tank to sop up the bad smell.

            See? I’ve been doing that in the U.S. until I got my papers. :)

            Reply

  30. Scary news. Japan is up to something. They are making Philippines a pawn and testing ground of their State-of-the-Art Coast Guard Ships. Japan must be thinking like this, so you want war. Your are shopping for military arsenals. Here take these state-of-the-Art and see what you can make out of it.

    I prefer a flotilla of pumpboats owned and operated by Philippine Navy made out of bamboo assembled in Tarlac.

    When Philippines purchased a certified pre-owned, second-hand, hand-me-down Hamilton-class Coast guard ship, the clueless PMAyer made a brief press briefing that this Coast Guard ship was stripped off lethal weaponry by the U.S. NOW CHINA KNOWS THAT THIS SHIP IS NOTHING BUT A MOSAIC OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH FILIPINO COMMANDERS AND PHILIPPINE MEDIA. China need not FOI to know its capability of Hamilton Class. All they have to do is listen to PMAyer vomiting informations what was supposed to be a National Security Secret: THAT HAMILTON-CLASS WAS HARMLESS PIECE OF JUNK.

    When Rommel was hunted down in the Desert of Africa, what Rommel did was he had his meager number of tanks run up and down the desert to make it appear from american planes above that they had that many tanks based on tank tracks when after all Rommel had only 5 clunky rusted useless Panzers in their pantsuits.

    FOI anyone? Just listen to this driver/commander when he was met in Pier 13. No need of FOI. Just go to some bars, hang-out with these commanders and they’ll tell you the 1st and 2nd Hamilton class purchase was useless with Batangas lantakas powered by kerosene.

    What a waste of resources over the dead carcass of hungry Filipino children to pa-bilib to Chiense that they have bapor-de-guera. These commanders just do not know how to keep National Secret secret. They are all national security threats.

    If it were to happen in America, they’d be cleaning my latrines.

    Reply

      • @begal…that’s a nice warship! But what really happened during the purchase and haggling of the price by our PN Chiefs et al.? Why no arsenal and ammo? Do you know? They brought enough money for that purchase. I know if you don’t know.

        Story: PN buyer: Hi cheap! Wanna buy old warcheap. You gotta any?
        USN seller: Sure buddy! We gotta lot of em. What kind?
        PN buyer: Basta! warcheap, any kind will do! Aw much?
        USN seller: W’atcha ‘er budget buddy ‘oh?
        PN buyer: ‘No problema budget. ‘Dis one [looking at one photo] I like.
        USN seller: Ah! that’s Hamilton! $25 milyon dollars…it’s what we call
        cut…
        PN buyer: ‘ner mind. I know what cutter is! I take it.
        USN seller: Eh? you wanna that cu….
        PN buyer: Yea, man. that’s fine. Make ‘d contract…send ‘d boat ASAP to
        Philippines, 10 days okay?
        USN seller: Sure. Boy! You sure ‘n hurry buddy boy!

        Ten days the boat arrives at Pier 13, Manila. PN buyer goes on board, see and inspect, get into Unit Cannon 1…no barrel, no ammo…no seats for gunners, only peep hole! What the f…ck!

        PN buyer calls US Navy, tells what he found. US Navy says “Buddy boy, I wanna tell you Hamilton is a cut-up cutter class, but you didn’t let me finish saying it….yooo in a hurry to buy it…soooo, no problema, gave it to yoooo! Go tell the Chinese Spartan abo…it! And he did via Phil MEDIA!

        F….ck!

        Reply

  31. The Japanes PM is also engaging in billiards diplomacy?

    But it should be a very welcome aid to our country – it will definitely bost the navy patrol capability to safeguard our coastal areas.

    Reply

    • @chit navarro
      In the short term, provision of coast guard ship under a development aid package is really a welcome “gesture” pero ano kaya ang kapalit.

      In the long term, our government should consider domestic fabrication of military seacrafts. We boast of one.of the best in ship building but our navy is in miserable state. Also island local government units should be equipped with similar seacrafts for internal maritime security.

      Reply

      • Is there any difference between the PNP cops and PN personnel? Cops are grabbing the confiscated firecrackers for themselves for next year. Navy, ano? Baka nag a-agawan ng salbabida!

        Reply

        • by the way, why hasn’t anyone mentioned about Enrile giving of Christmas gift amounting to 1,6 Million Pesos to the senators except f some 4 senators namely, Trillanes, Miriam, Pia Cayetano and another senator who ONLY got 240 K. I think this is quite interesting too.

          Reply

        • No Ma’m. PNP confiscate firecrackers and give it Philippine Navy for their arm-less waste-of-money stripped-down Hamilton class cutter.

          IN EFFECT, THOSE HAMILTON CLASS COAST GUARD CUTTER is nothing but just a PASSENGER SHIP plying between Manila-Scarborough Shoal-Spratleys.

          Hurry, Hurry, Step right up !!!! Tickets on sale to pristine islands of Spratleys jointly administered by China-Vietnam-Philippines-Thailand-Taiwan

          Reply

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