I am posting below my hubby Alan’s article on the West Philippine Sea conflict that was published last month in D+C, the monthly magazine funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. I would also like to thank the magazine for allowing me to post it.
The international community needs binding rules on the use of the sea and the exploitation of maritime resources. Otherwise, military conflict will become ever more likely. The South China Sea is a case in point. By Alan C. Robles
In 1994, the Chinese set up an amateur wireless radio transmitter on Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) and claimed this as proof of its sovereignty.
Scarborough Shoal is an insignificant reef in the vast South China Sea. It was named after a British ship which sank there 228 years ago. Now, the same set of barely visible rocks could scupper something much bigger – peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Both the Philippines and China have long claimed the tiny triangular reef, which lies 220 kilometres west of Luzon, the largest Philippine island, and at least 800 kilometres from the nearest Chinese territory. The dispute suddenly flared up in April when a frigate of the Philippine Navy accosted Chinese fishing boats on the shoal. The encounter spiralled into a maritime standoff, heated exchanges between Manila and
Beijing and strained diplomatic relations.
There have also been far-reaching repercussions:
– a rift in the unity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
– the prospect of regional militarisation and
– a reshuffling of security arrangements and international alliances.
“Increasingly assertive positions among claimants have pushed regional tensions to new heights,” the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental think tank, argued in a report in July.
Manila said it sent the frigate to arrest Chinese fishermen who were poaching endangered species. China angrily asserted that its nationals were on sovereign territory, and accused the Philippines of provocation.
It didn’t matter that the Philippine ship was the venerable 47-year old Gregorio del Pilar, a recent hand-me-down cutter from the US Coast Guard. What mattered was this warship was the Philippines’ biggest and newest unit. In Chinese eyes, the response was military, even though the matter would have required at most the police.
Beijing reacted by dispatching civilian surveillance ships to prevent the arrest of the fishermen, and deployed armed Chinese on rubber boats to deny Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough. Manila withdrew the frigate, and sent a police ship and patrol aircraft instead. The standoff lasted weeks until the Philippine ship pulled out unilaterally.
Fortunately, the dispute only resulted in sensationalist media reporting on both sides, a few public rallies and a lot of internet agitation. The shouting match has so far not become a shooting one. Nonetheless, the incident saw relations between the two nations reach their lowest point since Manila recognised the People’s Republic of China in 1975.
In the course of the standoff, China blocked Philippine banana imports and warned its nationals against travelling to the Philippines. Unfazed, the administration of President Noynoy Aquino refused to back down from saying the shoal was sovereign territory, announced it was modernising the military and officially renamed the “South China Sea” the “West Philippine Sea.”
Overlapping and intertwined interests
Buying a few ships and renaming the sea will not make a real difference however. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea are serious because of the overlapping and intertwining interests of several countries. At stake are major shipping routes of global relevance, important fishing grounds and the promise of abundant oil and gas reserves (see box on
p. 411). The late Michael Leifer, a renowned international relations expert who specialised in the region, spoke of “the maritime heart of Southeast Asia”.
The sea is dotted with reefs, shoals and tiny island groups, some of which vanish at high tide. Most are not inhabited. Nonetheless, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia all claim some of these rocks as their national territory in order to extend their jurisdiction over the sea. All disputants, however, are outdone by China, which asserts ownership over the entire sea, what lies beneath and the airspace above.
Beijing bases its “indisputable sovereignty” on “historical grounds” and typically refers to a bundle of documents, the most notorious of which is probably the “nine-dash line” map. Taiwan’s government drafted this vague map in 1947 and the People’s Republic later adopted it. It does not offer clear indicators of where exactly China’s jurisdiction would end.
Beijing refuses to submit its claim to bodies such as the International Tribune of the Law of the Sea. The irony is that this tribunal was established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which China has signed. China has a track record of insisting on multilateral rules, but in this case, it will not be bothered by them.
Decades ago, ASEAN could mostly afford to disregard China’s vague nine-dash map, but that has changed. Since the 1990s, China’s economy has been growing rapidly. The country is now an aspiring superpower, and has built a formidable navy. Huang Jing of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy says: “China’s rise has fundamentally changed the landscape.” He argues that, even five years ago, the region was dominated by the USA and its allies. “All of a sudden, every country has to have a Plan B,” he points out because it is no longer possible to simply rely on the USA.
For many years, China cultivated a peaceful image of “soft power”, insisting it wanted to rise peacefully in a setting of international harmony. That attitude has recently changed. We are now witnessing the emergence of a great power bent on picking a fight with everybody – the Philippines, Vietnam, ASEAN and – most recently – Japan. At the time of writing in early October, the controversy over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea was heating up.
ASEAN divided
In July, China used its diplomatic influence to foil an ASEAN initiative on the South China Sea. The idea was to unite the 10 members of this organisation of developing countries and emerging markets behind a code of conduct for resolving territorial disputes. Cambodia, however, blocked the crucial meeting from issuing a communiqué. This country is an ASEAN member, but also closely allied to China.
Cambodia’s stance resulted in acrimony within the regional organisation, as some members are already at odds over claims to maritime space. According to the International Crisis Group, “China has worked actively to exploit these divisions, offering preferential treatment to ASEAN members that do not side with its rival claimants.”
China has several motivations for claiming the sea. One is nationalism and national security. Its most prosperous cities lie along the coast, and in colonial history, they were attacked from the sea by European powers and later Japan. When the government recently commissioned China’s first aircraft carrier, the state-controlled newspaper China Daily wrote: “From the Opium War in 1840 to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the country has suffered more than 470 offences and invasions that have come from the sea.”
Though any attack on mainland China looks absolutely unlikely anytime in the foreseeable future, Chinese military doctrine has evolved from simply defending the coastline to exerting “area denial” through a series of “island chains” expanding east out to the Pacific. The first island chain stretches from the Kurile islands in the north down to the South China Sea, following the contour of the famous nine-dash line.
Ominously, the second chain runs from Japan down to the east of the Philippines.
Another reason for China’s assertiveness is natural resources. The seabed could have vast reserves of oil and gas. Indeed, Luzon currently gets 40 % of its energy from a natural gas field off Palawan, another Philippine island. The country is facing the prospect of a more strident China eventually denying it exploration and exploitation of those fields.
The Philippines must cope with an unpredictable titan. Manila has already had one bitter experience. In 1994, China suddenly occupied Mischief Reef, a disputed atoll located in the Spratly Islands only 209 kilometres from Palawan. Just like Scarborough Shoal, the reef is well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as prescribed by UNCLOS.
That did not matter to China, which simply went ahead and built a shack on Mischief Reef, eventually expanding it into a military installation. The Philippine administration of then President Fidel Ramos protested, but did nothing else, wary of provoking an armed confrontation.
In such a confrontation the Philippines has no chance whatsoever; its air force is practically nonexistent, and its navy hopelessly outmatched by China’s. Domingo Siazon, a former foreign secretary of the Philippines, likens the situation to a match-up between “an elephant and an ant”.
The Philippines western coastline looks vulnerable. Any part of it could suddenly be claimed by China, which refuses to give precise coordinates to its nine-dash line. Some Filipino alarmists already worry about Palawan.
The only weapon
The Philippines dismantled the Chinese structures and planted the Philippine flag on Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc
The Philippines’ government really has only one weapon: words. One official who declines to be named indicates that sending the frigate to Scarborough was really only part of a strategy to draw international attention to the matter, cause a lot of clamour, and thus prevent something like another Mischief Reef takeover. “It so happened we had to be vocal,” he says.
The Aquino government maintains that the dispute must be resolved according to an international legal framework. In September, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said: “Our core interest lies in being able to contribute to ensuring that the global security and economic system is based firmly on the rule of law.”
This is diplomatic codespeak for international arbitration, precisely what China rejects out of hand – it wants to negotiate with disputants bilaterally. For the Philippines, the options are unpleasant: it can either acquiesce to its territory being steadily eroded, or stand up to China, which it can only do by looking for allies.
Although the country has a mutual defence treaty with the USA, it is unclear whether the agreement covers an attack on disputed territory such as Scarborough Shoal. Siazon, the former foreign secretary, says “the Philippines must strengthen its defence ties with the USA, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, India and Russia.”
He insists that the country must not reconcile itself to losing that reef, and agrees that multilateral diplomacy matters a lot. At the same time, he says: “Bilateral talks should also start; let a thousand flowers blossom.” The former head of Filipino diplomats expresses the hope that “China will realise that making friends among its neighbours is the best policy towards a prosperous and peaceful East Asia and Pacific region.”
In his view, territorial disputes are common among countries that are closely located to each other. The important thing, he insists, is that “relations should continue in accordance with international agreements.”
The strategic implications of China’s claim are not lost on the international community. As the scholar Leifer wrote about the South China Sea, its domination by a single power “could over time have far reaching strategic consequences affecting the geopolitical and economic interests of both regional and extra-regional states”. US President Barack Obama has already spoken of a “pivot to Asia”, which would include redeploying most of the US Navy to the Pacific.
Here is the link to the same article published on the online site of D+C.
Mel says
“Spanish Ambassador to Manila Jorge Domecq said his country was wiliing to turn over to the Philippines some 70 of the latter’s historical maps. ”
Mel says
Internationalizing the Spratlys At Home & Abroad – By Jun Abad
Mel says
Japan and Taiwanese vessels’ high seas water canons duel.
Play or warning, it wasn’t that bad. They’ll never ran out of water to pump at each other.
Who was watching and stayed dry on the side? China.
Japan halts Taiwanese activists’ trip to islands
Taiwan boat returns after Japan water cannon duel
Martial Bonifacio says
PH’s support to rearm Japan surprises China
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/15/13/phs-support-rearm-japan-surprises-china
1. Yes we should not forget what happened during world war II but we should not blame the current peace loving generation of japanese people. I believe its not right to pass the blame the sins of their forefather, to their children.
2. The question that still lingers my mind is this: Did the Philippines learn its lesson after being occupied by three countries? In my opinion the answer is NO.
Our leaders kept neglecting (except this current administration) upgrading the AFP to defend the Philippines. Even in budget allocation the education is always the priority.
In this instance, i agree to the proposal of Enrile that the constitution should be flexible. Ano nga ba naman yung use ng educational budget kung nasakop ka na naman uli ng ibang bansa? Mababa yung budget allocation for defense ng pilipinas compared sa mga neighboring countries natin.
Lastly ang problema naman sa proposal ni enrile is pag na elect na naman ang isang tulad ni GMA. Remeber the time when the arroyo sold helicopters for PNP?
Martial Bonifacio says
At 1:22 when did Renato Reyes apply to be a foreign affairs secretary/spokesperson of US? As far as i remember him and BAYAN MUNA are leftist chinese lackeys in the PH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLlwGI4Ig4
I really hope none of this leftist group wins this 2013 election.
raissa says
Bayan Muna is also against Beijing.
Martial Bonifacio says
I find it weird that they are against beijing yet “NONE” of them rallies in front of chinese embassy since the scarborough issue started. I never saw a news that shows a massive rally the same they always do against another world power unlike akbayan.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/36429/protester-arrested-over-attempt-to-burn-chinese-flag
Not to mention neri colmenares and teddy casino seek to probe why the PH government failed to assert its sovereignty (House Resolution 2330) yet they are the first ones to question government initiatives to provide AFP a modern technology to defend our countries sovereignty.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/06/20/12/corruption-fears-raised-fighter-jet-deal
“Do we really need 12 fighter jets sa kalagayang ang pinaka-malaking problema ng Pilipinas ay ang kahirapan,” – Casino from ABS-CBN article.
I dont even understand the rhetoric na baka mahaluan ito ng corruption yet they (Bayan muna) failed to appreciate the initiatives of the current government to be transparent enough to tell its people kung ano ano type ng ships or planes ang bibilhin ng gobyerno like the published deal on the maestrale class frigate from italy.
duquemarino says
My worst nightmare is becoming a reality.
During the early part of the Scarborough shoal stand-off I wrote in raissa’s blog that when the typhoon season comes the Philippine vessels will be forced to seek shelter while the Chinese vessels guarding the shoal will be able to stay.
Because of their more advanced capabilities they would be able to erect structures just like what they did in Mischief reef.
For a starter, they have roped the Scarborough shoal. Before we know it, they will erect stilts for anchorage, then they will reinforce these to build a platform with roof as shelter for their fishermen. And it won’t be long before they install a communications facilities with the Chinese flag in a mast.
That’s China’s creeping invasion. Can we stop it? I hope we can before it is too late.
Alan says
1. The Japanese now might be peace-loving but they’re also ignorant of what their country did. Government after government in Japan has made sure to edit all textbooks so Japanese students never learn of the savage brutality and atrocities which marked Japan’s effort to carve out its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. They destroyed cities, murdered and tortured native populations, dragged women to become sex slaves, used civilians for target and bayonet practice and carried out biological warfare tests on prisoners of war. By contrast, Germany has educated all its youth about the Hitler’s and the Nazi regime’s barbarity
2. The Philippines has had several militarization programs, one of the most noteworthy being that under the Ramos administration, which sold off Fort Bonifacio to raise money to buy ships, aircraft, tanks and missiles (the French wanted to sell us a flotilla of frigates). NOTHING HAPPENED. THE MONEY DISAPPEARED. There was also supposed to be a defense buildup under the Estrada administration. Again,NOTHING HAPPENED.
3. The government is right to prioritize education, it’s an investment in the future. Even from a militaristic point of view historical studies show that the best fighting forces in the modern age are those composed of soldiers with good education (literacy as well as an understanding of technology)
raissa says
Hi guys,
I’ve just posted a new piece on cyber adultery and the cybercrime law.
I’d like to know what you think of it.
Thanks,
Raissa
leona says
It took the PNP Chief to make this observation to his subordinates who are acting stupid,
“PNP chief orders ‘random’ checkpoints
Updated Monday, January 14, 2013 – 2:18pm
Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima on Monday told policemen to set up checkpoints at random and refrain from announcing these locations to the media to prevent criminals from taking advantage.”
You can see how we have cops’ brains are like. Who is the stupid criminals passing thru announced ‘check points’ stupidly announcing their locations, etc.!
Off topic but relevant to the kind of officials we really have in the law enforcement sectors.
How can we fight China on bigger issues? Here, a small delicadeza is broadcasted pa! Ayus! Stupid and intended!
Rene-Ipil says
In my reply to Alan on January 11, 2013 @13.1 of “Japan Foreign Minister wants to discuss with PNoy . . . .”, I said that China is employing the bullying tactics to us simply because it wants “to draw water from our well” or may be oil.
Joe America @ 4 of same article said on January 9, 2013:
“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.”
In today’s issue of the PDI TJ Burgonio wrote:
“Ma Keqing, the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, said both countries should push ahead with a plan to explore oil and gas in Recto Bank, which contained potential reserves of 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas and 440 million barrels of oil.”
Burgonio also reported that:
“President Aquino is open to the idea of a Chinese company joining an oil and gas exploration in Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) but says it has to comply with Philippine laws.
“The prospective partner, China National Offshore Oil Corp. or CNOOC, has to recognize that Recto Bank is part of Philippine territory, the President said.
“We’re talking about Recto Bank here. We can’t split Recto Bank with them. Recto Bank is ours. If they want to join, why not? We’re open to investors but they should comply with our laws,” Mr. Aquino said in Thursday’s dialogue with Radio Mindanao Network reporters.
“We believe in our own laws, that there should be dispute resolution. It should be clear that [what] we’re getting into is ours and we will respect what is theirs,” he added.”
Victin Luz says
@Rene,…….it’s true, harnessing ( makikiamot sa sa yamang kalikasan ng Pilipinas ) is one thing and OWNING or exercising sovereignty of the area to be develop or HARNISH is of one different thing, which should not be surrendered by the Filipino people at large.
baycas says
baycas says
This is the link to the above commentary…
http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/Perspective/RSIS1022012.pdf
baycas says
Perhaps, a summary of my previous posts (with hyperlinks to expert opinion) on the issue since last year:
Turbulent Confrontation
Both Philippines and China pushing for sovereignty issues will run the risk of turbulent confrontation.
Silent Cooperation
Setting aside the sovereignty issues in order to share what are contained within the disputed “five rocks” may result in silent cooperation.
baycas says
Comments that are in limbo at the time this posted…
saxnviolins says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 13, 2013 sometime before 8:31 pm
saxnviolins says:
January 13, 2013 at 8:31 pm
baycas says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 14, 2013 at 7:29 am
baycas says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 14, 2013 at 7:39 am
fed_up says
The way things are going on in our relationship with China, we might not know it but she’s “frying us with our own lard” (“piniprito tayo sa sariling manteka”) by buying “Made in China” products, or even doing her the favor of “digging our own grave” as a free nation.
There’s a commercial that is repetitiously being aired on TFC Channel which says: “All the balikbayan boxes (sent to the Philippines when put side by side) are (so many times longer) than the Golden Bridge and (when put on top of one another) are (so many times taller) than the Empire State Buiilding.”
I find this ad offensive for two reasons: 1. It promotes the Philippines as a landfill for “Made in China” consumer products (the U.S. is flooded with these items) mostly from garage sales or “clearance sales” of big department stores ; 2. It advertises for freights to be paid to COSCO (Chinese government-owned) ships for transporting the ‘balikbayan’ boxes to the country which revenues they spend to arm themselves against us.
After unloading containers of “Made in China” products at a U.S. port, mostly at Los Angeles, CA, it’s unprofitable that these ships go back to China without any cargo because of the distance between the U.S. and China and the high cost of bunker fuel.
What they do is to load the ‘balikbayan’ boxes for discharge in Manila port or for transshipment at a nearby Asian port.
How much is earned by COSCO ships from these ‘balikbayan’ boxes?
The cost for shipping a ‘balikbayan’ box from California to the Philippines is: $55 for a regular box, $65 for extend size, and $75 for jumbox size. The costs for shipping them from the interior and Eastern states are higher.
The 1990 records of U.S. Census Bureau has listed 1.4 million Filipinos and projected it to rise to 2.1 million in 2000.
Granting there are only 100,000 Filipinos who send six ‘balikbayan’ boxes to the Philippines each year. Each year, the COSCO ships earn as freight at least $39 million (100,000 x 6 x $65).
$39 million per year can be a big help for China in building a super oil rig (Loida Nicolas-Lewis video), or an aircraft carrier and jet plane for patrolling the Scarborough Shoals.
Digging our own grave?
It’s good that the NBN-ZTE Broadband deal (the project “which called for the installation of a telecommunications network linking government offices throughout the country”) did not go through.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/119639/what-went-before-the-nbn-zte-deal-2
Had it gone through, China could have unlimited access to all our government records on economic planning and otherwise for them to manipulate for their own purposes. It could have expedited the “digging of our own grave.”
I’ve started making overtures to the wife to stop sending “balikbayan” boxes to the Philippines!
raissa says
Wow. I didnt know that.
You have any links we can read further?
baycas says
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_declarations.htm
baycas says
:oops:
I replied to wrong mini-thread.
fed_up says
Based on the number of agents’ offices accepting/facilitating them worldwide, the obsession of sending ‘balikbayan boxes’ (BBs) to the Philippines by overseas Filipino has reached an epidemic proportion as to become one of pernicious Filipino habits (PFHs – sending home BBs) which is not conducive to nation-building.
Agents worldwide accepting BBs for sending to the Philippines:
1. Star Kargo, via sea shipment or air shipment: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – 9 agents; SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – 7 agents; CHICAGO & MIDWEST – 7 agents; ARIZONA, HAWAII & COLORADO – 1 agent each; TEXAS, ARKANSAS, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, TENNESSEE – 1 agent
http://www.abs-cbnglobal.com/Regions/USA/Products/StarKargo/AgentsandAreasCovered/tabid/628/Default.aspx
2. International Shipping to Philippines: Areas served – 22 states
http://www.balikbayanbox-shipping.com/philippines
3. Manila Forwarder: Northern California – 7 agents, San Francisco, San Jose, Vallejo, Central California – 5 agents; Southern California – 11 agents; Alabama, Atlanta, Arizona, Arkansas, AUSTRALIA – 3 agents; CANADA
http://manilaforwarder.com/affiliate.html
4. Forex Cargo UK Co. Ltd: “Trusted and proven – Since establishing in the UK in August 1999, we have now shipped more than 100,000 balikbayan boxes.”
http://www.forexcargouk.com/
5. Manila Express – Manila Cargo: “We have weekly sea cargo shipment from Vancouver, Canada to Manila, Philippines.”
http://www.manila-express.com/balikbayan.html
6. BMExpress International Servicers Pty Ltd: AUSTRALIA – 20 agents
http://www.bmexpress.com/bmexpress/agent-locator.php
7. One blog even spells out how to send a BB from Germany:
http://thelmaalberts.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Pack-And-Send-A-Balikbayan-Box-To-The-Philippines
According to the blogger, “This Balikbayan Box was founded in the early of 1980´s, during late President Marcos time to help the Filipino overseas workers to save money in sending goods to their relatives in the Philippines. It is a custom in my home country to bring gifts to relatives and friends when going back home. (These) gifts called “Pasalubong” can be anything you like to give. It could be perfumes, watches, electrical appliances and many other things from abroad. By sending this Balikbayan box home, you can save a lot of money because it is tax free and there is no weight limit.” The blogger attributed the Filipino habit of BB sending from “a custom in my home country to bring gifts to relatives and friends when going back home.”
Since the U.S., and perhaps throughout the word also, are flooded with “Made in China” products, I feel that China, in her confrontation with us, is “frying us in our own lard” (“piniprito tayo sa sariling manteca”), or even us doing her the favor of “digging our own grave” as a free nation.
fed_up says
Sorry, the above post is in reply to Ms Raissa query marked:
20.1
raissa says:
January 14, 2013 at 6:43 am
Wow. I didnt know that.
You have any links we can read further?
fed_up says
@raissa. May I amplify my piece on ‘balikbayan box’ (BB) sending issue. One blogger said it was began by Pres. Marcos in early 1980s, perhaps as a measure to appease the Filipino masses who were getting increasingly disenchanted with his administration; he was toppled down from power in 1986.
Marcos made the BB sending attractive (“tax free and and there is no weight limit”) and remains so until today. What started as a cosmetic measure to divert the attention of the people away from his evil designs has become so big now as to precipitate the swallowing of us all.
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
When my parents dumped me at Los Angeles Airport they told me I will never get los finding PHilippine Air Lines Check-in counter. JUST FOLLOW THE SNAKING BALIKBAYAN BOXES and I will find the PAL Check-in Counter.
As you are well aware, Cathay Pacific Check-in counter is just across PAL counter. I do not fly PAL because of ingay Filpinos. Inside their plane is a cacophony of unimaginable noise. It’s like mayhem. Somekind of unbelievable cruelty to my senses. I only flew PAL once in my international flights.
As always I fly with Cathay Pacific. I stood in line for check-in. Cathay Pacific ground crew came up to me “Sir, PAL is over there” pointing to PAL check in. I said I am flying with Cathay Pacific. She looked at me. She looked at my BALIKBAYAN BOXES. She thought I was lost!!!!
FROM THEN ON WHENEVER I TRAVEL I DONOT BRING BALIKBAYAN BOXES WITH ME.
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
ZTE didnot go through? Wasn’t benign0 planning to court ZTE again ?
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
Another reason why I do not fly PAL is because it is sooo masikip !!! DIOS MIO !!! Now imgine a Boeing 747-400 can fly 500 people. Imagine further each passneger allowed to carry two 50-lb balikbayan boxes. That is 100 lbs per Filipino. Each 500 Filipino passneger have a backpack full of carne norte in the overhead bin.
Let us calculate: 500 Filipinos x 100 lbs = 50,000 lbs that is 25 TONS !!!!!!
500 Filipios have average weight of 145 lbs = 72,500 lbs that is 36 TONS !!!!!
Each 500 carry backpack full of carne norte and chocolates at 10 lbs = that is 2.5 TONS
Their handbags has carne norte, too ……
JESUS MARY MOTHER OF GOD !!!!! THAT IS A DANGEROUS PLANE TO FLY ….
Another thing I do not fly PAL is because of the masungeit old stewardesses. Only old stewardesses get to fly international. And the only customer of PAL are Filipinos. ADD THAT TOGETHER …… IT’S A FLIGHT THAT YOU WOULDN’T BE IN ……
WELL, Filipinos fly PAL because of that COMFORT ZONE. They feel comfortable with their englsichtzes.
macspeed says
he he he he not anymore, we send the boxes via Sky freightr DHL he he he he
the modernized OFW just carry ipads and HTC or Nokia cell phones, each one has sim card, and some even dual sim card he he he
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
Philippine Customs Inspectors are now targeting OFWs carrying 10 iPhones. They better slip 20 Riyals in their passport so everything is fine and dandy else these inspectors will take these toys away from them.
macspeed says
he he he how did you knew that? he he he he one cp each to my 3kids, one cp to my wife plus perfumes he he he he that all, one time aOFW mate was asked to provide tax to his Picture tube type TV because he has 3, the guy said, it is second hand for my mom, still they insist asking fee, the guy held the TV up and dropped broken on the floor and he said, its yours ass holes!!!
OFW’s suffered emotional bruises with the employers, and away from love ones, problems in work, hence after that, OFW’s goes straight out no questions asked he he he
Customs, dont mess around with Homesex OFW,s or anyone would get raped!!!
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
@Mac, I have a question. Can an OFW bring a laptop in an unopened original packaging without being harassed by Philippine Custom? Or should they have to unpack the laptop and place it in their checked baggages along with their personal belongings.?
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
Do not believe Loida just because she’s wealthy which is the usual culture of the Filipinos
DO NOT BELIEVE LOID BECAUSE SHE MARRIED INTO WEALTH …
DO NOT BELIEVE LOIDA BECAUSE SHE SPEAKS GOOT ENGLISCHTZES
WEalth, style, english even makes FILIPINOS BELIEVE IN ME WITH MY PAKA-PAKA englishtzes.
So let us get down to what is real ….
IF WE BOYCOT CHINESE MADE OR CHIENSE ASSEMBLED products IT IS LIKE LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES IN STONE AGE …. because everything nowadays is made in the China.
So let us make price comparison: I only wear New Balance. Because New Balance is the sneakers of choice by the white americans. New Balance 992 sneakers are made in Made-in-U.S. but in reality it is assembled in the U.S. with materials made-in-China. New Balance made in the U.S. is $135.00. There are new Balance that are made in China. It is $65.00
Now if we bocot China, can we REALLY AFFORD TO BUY AS SIMPLE AS SNEAKERS OR T-SHIRT? OK, let us talk about T-Shirt. Ralph Lauren Polo T-shirt is $50.00. Made-in-China fruit of the Loom is 10 for $18.00 WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BUY? of course made-in-china Fruit of-the-loom !!!!
THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN BOYCOTT CHINESE MADE OR ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS even your iPhone is assembled in China.
macspeed says
perhaps there is no way to boycott china products he he he because it is always cheap he he he
got to go… pasok na po..
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
OK, sir @Macspeed, Godspeed to you and your pipelines ….
macspeed says
Thanks tol he he he
i always wear H2S detector on my knee, about 500mm from grade level, H2S are heavier than air hence goes down, one’s it beeps, we look for wind socks for wind direction and we run across the wind he he he he namumutla sa takot, one time we saw a British guy so arogant without the safety gadgets, hit by an H2S leak on the pressure transmitter his working with, falls dead. H2S is 10 x deadlier that cobra venom he he he
leona says
@Mariano…are you admitting your laptop or computer is Made in China? If you say “No” then why say “there is no way WE can boycott Chinese made or assembled products xxx. But if you say “Yes” then what then should we do if WE cannot boycott? Any good suggestion?
I like hear one.
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
40-foot container has a dimension of 40′ x 8′ x 8.5′ with a volume of 2,752 cubic feet
Jumbo Forex Balikbayan box has 1.67′ x 1.92′ x 1.42″ with a volume of 4.50 cubic feet
Let us extrapolate
2,752 cubic feet divided by 4.5 cubic feet you have = 611 BALIKBAYAN BOXES !!!!
611 BALIKBAYAN BOXES MULTIPLIED BY $65 FREIGHT PER BOX YOU HAVE = roughly $40,000 in freight per container.
leona says
@Mariano…you should be a customs commissioner…you can’t be fooled with such container sizes and Balik boxes arriving. More money revenues can be collected by you! Tama, MATH pala ang specialty mo.
Alan says
Math ba o meth?
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/mindfeeds/mindfeeds/view/20080116-112708/How-many-Filipinos-are-really-in-the-US
Lookit this condescending stuck-up accusation by Inquirer that the Filipnos in America are undercounted when the PHilippine Embassy in America cannot even know how many Filipinos there are except rely on U.S. Staticstics.
PHILIPPINE MEDIA IS TRULY GROOVY !!!!
IF INQUIRER WANTED to know how many Filipnos there are SHOULDN’T THEY ASK PHILIPPINE EMBASSY ? Why ask PHilipne Embassy when they themselves rely on American figures ? DUH !
Victin Luz says
Tell the Filipinos at USA to send dollars here in the Pilippines and let the receiver choose what to do or what to BUY in our country….. Even here almost aall are made in China but at least we will help our entrepreneurs/businesses earn more profits……..Who are those entrepreneurs/businessman here ,…mostly Filipinos of Chinese Origin…… Di bale kakampi natin sila di ba…….
@fed-up…..why not influenced those Filipinos at USA to send balikbayan boxes thru ship’s not owned by China?
@fed-up……why not ask LEWIS to lead your group to LOBBY for a USA based company to explore,develop and HARNISH JOINTLY our natural resources under Phil. LAWs at the sami time while throwing their NAVY patrolling the Western Phil. Sea……..the Philippines was USA trusted ally after 1900, BUT for USA are they our trusted ally in return?
fed-up@…….ZTE NBN was no much to USAs higly technical, modern and advance electrical and communication System manned by ultra Rich USA companies,….why not convinced them with LEWIS as your leader to invest here at reasonable prices/profit for an ALLY trusted since the year 1900.
macspeed says
@baycas he he he truth had you perfectly pictured out he he he, china products are so cheap that is why its being taken buy mostly those who dont want to spend much.
Herein KSA, there are stores called everything 10Saudi Riyal he he he, if you go inside 99% are chinese product from toys to towels and battery chargers he he he he
The quality from china is getting better, did you see iphone made in china? he he he he
Well we can stop buying these china items he he he he to give them a blow like an upper cut….
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
HA! HA! HA! @Macspeed you’d rather give up sleep than miss us.
leona says
@fed_up…you’re wrong…We are not ’emitting’ oil to fry us up but only ‘LAWAY!’ mixed with words which are only what we can do.
When fried up with our laway, we really smell like rotten BagoONG when cooked up! Nobody likes to get near us to help!
macspeed says
Those Disputed Rocks may grow as new LAND in the near future and some established Rocks may submerged beneath its current location. May lilitaw pero may lulubog…it may not be as quick as you think…this will take time…
The earths crust and its layers are continuously adjusting itself in equilibrum, some continents were beleive to have travelled unnoticed, you can google search if you want the details.
Those Rocks are not Laughing matter, saying the President is a mongoloid by one of the sorry chinese ass, as if he is sure his blood is pure Filipino and as if he is sure that tomorrow will be sunny and bright…
Good night everyone….
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
The first order of the day should not be about China but about those useless military arsenals that were bought which is goot only against the Filipos not against China.
benign0 Aquino should be investigated for incompetence wastage of OFWs money.
Maybe benign0 Aquino are preparing these military arsenals against the Filipinos once the Chiense are knocking on Malacana’gs doors.
These arsenals cannot fly to Spratleys and back. They do not have SAM, phalanx, AtoAir missiles. Night vision. mid-air refueling. SO THEREFORE, these will be used against the Filipinos who are against Chinese invasion.
These are not anti-personnel hellicopters ….. These are anti-Filipino hellicopters ….
COULD IT BE benign0 Co Juan Co a chinese puppet ?
macspeed says
I am supposed to sleep early tonight, but there goes you bro in USofA he he he he just arrived probably from church or perhaps from childrens park with your kids, what ever, good to see you back…
There are no Pure Filipinos>>>Malays originally raped by chinese during changed gift of the tradesman, then offspring were so strong came out Lapu Lapu looks like Limahong you knew what took place fighting yet with the Spaniards came out victorious and raped those chinese bred Malays, then came out mestisa, with chinita eyes, i really dont know the dates coz i dont memorize he he he as i understood, Americans also did some raping of our Filipina and as well as the land. In between, chinese keep on trading as well while there were troubles as well during WW2 with the Japoks…all in all, there are no pure Filipinos …but whatever the Philippines now is the race to be reconkened with…
he he he good nite really he he he i got a site visit at corridor pipeline tomorrow….
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
My early weekend ritual is hike Griffith Park where Manny Pacquiao runs in his every fight. After, I drive 4 miles for tinulang halibut and 1 and a half scoop of rice. Head home and watch Netflix. No! No! before anything else I check Joe America and Raissa. Then on to news sites. Google Philippine News. If news came from Philippne news sites that blocked and ex-communicated me I DO NOT READ AT ALL.
Majority of my news sources are from bloggers like Joe, Raissa and you and its commentators. I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE PHILIPPINE NEWS if it is not blogged to the hilt. I slowed down on my drinking since my Filipino doctor told me that I got a “bump” in kidney readings. My cholesterol is signifacantly down. My blood sugar went up from 92 to 126!!!!! I do not even like sugary stuff. I use honey for sugar. PhD (Philippine Doctor) told me it is hereditary. OK. I believe him my Nanay was diabetic. My PhD told me that I will live to be 100 !!!!
Women seems to be prized in wars. They get raped often. I do not know why men rape women. I do not get it at all. Maybe men like women that resist because women always play act in bed like they were in pain. They groan, they moan, they scream. They say “please huwag mo masyado isagad masakit” when they are the one making sagad.
The world is sick, NOT ONLY FILIPINOS but the world.
Easy on those pipeline, Mac !!! Remember that offshore oil rig in Mexico Gulf? They were Filipinos using blowtorch on oil pipeline. To this day the Americans are still piecing together these blown-up pinoys.
Goot night.
macspeed says
He he he he i dont believe its 1 1/2 cup only, you probably get more rice coz of the sugar level he he he he, after 6pm, you must only eat pipino and carrots, no rice. Also one secret is you need to perspire what you have eaten from breakfast to last meryenda which is 3pm, every night at least pawisan ka he he after 3 months, your sugar level will go down….
on newpapers, contents are edited per instruction from the topic personnel or per instruction from proponent he he he but here, it is always uncensored, truth and factual, bravo CPM’s
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
Since Spratleys is far far far away, the senate should also investigate benign0 and the P<MAyers and their consultants why they boughted helicopters not H101 and aircraft carrier to refuel them mid-air. The recent purchase of hellicopters are useless if used in Spratleys. If they flew from Subic to Spratleys they'd fall like flies before they even reach Spratleys because they ran out of av fuel.
WHO ARE THESE BRILLIANT GUYS? WHERE ARE THE BRILLIANT CONDESCENDING PHILIPPINE MEDIA WHO ARE AGOG OVER PURCHASE OF USELESS HELLICOPTERS ?
What they needed to purchase are F-16s but they have to pawn METRO MANIL to pay off the F-16s.
And why would America allow the PHilippines to purchase F-16s when Americans themselves stripped down these useless Hamilton class with weapons of destruction ?
WILL BRILLIANT PHILIPPINE MEDIA CONNECT THE DOTS ALL THE WAY TO SPRATLEYS PLEASE ????????
AKO NA LANG BA NATIRANG NAG-ISIP SA PILIPINAS ?
Alan says
How’s Ignacio the maid?
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
I’m still here. The old man is needing his diapers changed. I’ll go tend to him. Then feed him. Then on to latrines.
Alan says
mind the spittle
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
Ewwwww !!!!! That is gross !!! I’ll do anything that earns honest living :)
Alan says
that’s a statement of intent not accomplishment
Mel says
Nature calls, can’t help it and felt busting for some droppings.
As one friend once said of his Missus, “She’s a gold digger”.
Intrigued, he explained further for fear of being bashed by his kumander in chief. He sheepishly confides that part of her work duties is to swipe clean an aged client’s ar$e hole of waste.
There’s gold and silver minerals on those dungs.
Now, a source of fecal transplants that could save another man’s life. Cheaper and better than cell transplants. GMA and BAbalos can exchange gifts.
—
Source of mineral rich recycled pooh waste:
“… The study was small, but found 43 of 49 patients recovered very quickly after receiving IMT (intestinal microbiota transplantation), and showed no complications from C. difficile in a followup three months later.” – Use human feces to cure C. difficile: Study
–
“… doctors are taking a different approach. Instead of continued assaults on bacteria, “fecal matter transplants” recolonize the colon with new bacteria from a healthy donor.
“This is brand-new for most gastroenterologists,” said Dr. Suku George, Hunter’s treating physician. “We are very excited about this.” – Little-known fecal transplant cures woman’s bacterial infection
–
“… getting a “stool transplant” could become a standard treatment within just a few years. Just as blood banks and sperm banks are now commonplace, stool banks may soon dot the landscape.”
– Stool Transplants Could Soon Be Standard Treatment For Clostridium Difficile
macspeed says
he he he he he he, he he he he he, he he he
pambihira, pambihira hayyyyyy what ever, that is still medical technology to look into he he he he
Mariano Renato Pacifico says
benign0 should be investigated by Senate why he boughted two armed-less, harm-less, head-less Hamilton Class without weapons of destruction. this hamilton-class IS NOTHING BUT A MERE PASSENGER SHIP. Useless. Waste of Money.
BENIGN0 AQUINO SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE MEDIA ….. yuna … by the Media ? FORGET IT !!!!! The PHilipine Media covers-up the ARMED-LESS, HARM-LESS, HEAD-LESS Hamilton Class procurement that was pure waste of money.
Next President will investigate benign0 Aquino …. and I am hoping they will investigate these stuck-up arrogant condescending “brilliant” PHilippine Media for failure to analyze.