Vin Diesel Visits the Philippines

Apparently Hollywood action star Vin Diesel loves visiting the Philippines.

Here he is all happy and smiley in the City of Smiles, Bacolod City after getting a massage at Sabai Rak Thai Massage Spa.

Who would have thought he would know about or desire to visit this beautiful city deep in the Western Visayas?

Mabuhay, XXX!

Duterte Capitulates to China's War Threat

Looks like the mystery has been solved as to why Duterte has been so easy on China.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/world/asia/philippines-south-china-sea-duterte-war.html

China’s president warned the Philippines that it would go to war if Manila insisted on enforcing an international arbitration decision rejecting China’s claims over disputed areas of the South China Sea, the Philippine president said in a televised speech on Friday. 

In a landmark ruling last July, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague, delivered a sweeping rebuke of China’s behavior in the South China Sea, including the creation of islands that could be used for military purposes, and found that its claim of sovereignty over the waters had no legal basis. However, there is no legal mechanism for enforcing the decision, and Beijing has refused to abide by it. 

In a speech on Friday to the Philippine coast guard, in the southern city of Davao, Mr. Duterte claimed that President Xi Jinping of China had cautioned him against trying to enforce the ruling. Mr. Xi said the two countries could eventually discuss it, “but it cannot be done now,” Mr. Duterte said.Continue reading the main story“We intend to drill oil there, if it’s yours, well, that’s your view, but my view is I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth, because it is ours,” Mr. Duterte quoted Mr. Xi as telling him.
Mr. Duterte described Mr. Xi’s position as, “We’re friends, we don’t want to quarrel with you,” but “if you force the issue, we’ll go to war.”
Both sides affirmed the importance of “maintaining and promotion of peace and stability, freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, addressing their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means,” the ministry said.
Mr. Duterte has played down the conflict since assuming office last year, taking a much less confrontational stance toward the disputed waters than his predecessor, Benigno S. Aquino III. He has drawn closer to China, in the hopes of attracting more Chinese investment, and has also distanced itself from a traditional ally, the United States.
On Friday, however, he warned that a war with China would “result in massacre” and “destroy everything.”

“We intend to drill oil there, if it’s yours, well, that’s your view, but my view is I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth, because it is ours,” Mr. Duterte quoted Mr. Xi as telling him. 

Mr. Duterte described Mr. Xi’s position as, “We’re friends, we don’t want to quarrel with you,” but “if you force the issue, we’ll go to war.” 

Both sides affirmed the importance of “maintaining and promotion of peace and stability, freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, addressing their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means,” the ministry said. 

Mr. Duterte has played down the conflict since assuming office last year, taking a much less confrontational stance toward the disputed waters than his predecessor, Benigno S. Aquino III. He has drawn closer to China, in the hopes of attracting more Chinese investment, and has also distanced itself from a traditional ally, the United States. 

On Friday, however, he warned that a war with China would “result in massacre” and “destroy everything.”

No doubt Duterte does not wish to engage China in war.  He has his own battles to fight at home including both the drug war and the on-going decades long war against Muslim and communist terrorists.  The Armed Forces of the Philippines also lack the numbers and the firepower required to face down a well-equipped and well-staffed enemy like China.

But this begs the question why would Duterte offer to send troops to defend Qatar and not use those same troops to stand up for the sovereign land and sea rights of the Philippines.

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/04/18/we-will-die-them-philippines-duterte-offers-deploy-troops-middle-east/

Remember one of Duterte's campaign promises was that he would stand up to China and claim the Spratly  Islands for the Philippines (to whom they already belong) by jet skiing across the ocean to plant a flag in the sand.

From day one of his campaign his lips have been dripping with nationalistic and jingoistic slogans. What is going on here with his capitulation to China? Why does he tell the USA, a long-time ally, goodbye but welcomes China, who threatens the country with war over a few islands, with arms wide open?

One need not send in troops to fight a war.  There is always economic cold war. The easiest way to fight China would be to do it economically and yet Duterte does not even want to do that.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/05/18/china-loans-philippines-raise-fears-542484

THE $6-billion official development assistance (ODA) obtained by the Duterte administration from the Chinese government has raised fears among some, who believe this might turn out to be disadvantageous to the Philippines rather than beneficial.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/05/15/1700181/china-offers-500-m-arms-loan-philippines

The Chinese government has offered a $500-million loan to the Philippines, which can be used to procure defense equipment, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed Sunday. 

On the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Lorenzana said that the Philippines might procure defense equipment from China. 

This announcement comes after representatives of Chinese arms manufacturer Poly Technologies Inc. paid a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte in Beijing. 

"We are not saying that we will buy from them or we will not buy from them but if we need anything from the Chinese defense industry, we are going to procure using the loan that they are going to offer to us," Lorenzana said. 

Lorenzana noted that the loan from the Chinese government will be on standby as the Philippines will only use it once the military's modernization fund has been used up. 

On Monday, the Philippine government will sign a letter of intent to deal with the Chinese arms company.

6 billion dollars to develop infrastructure?  500 million dollars to purchase arms??  Why would Duterte continue to do business that puts the Philippines in massive debt to China when China is belligerently threatening war if the Philippines drills for oil in it's own territory??  

This is madness!  Or is it?  

You know what they say: "Cui bono?"  Who benefits? So, aside from China, who benefits from these loans? 

Duterte and his cronies.  That's who.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2093566/dutertes-dilapidated-hometown-get-makeover-chinas-belt

A flurry of Chinese-invested projects is poised to turn Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s dilapidated hometown of Davao into a Southeast Asian springboard for Beijing’s grand “Belt and Road Initiative”. 

The projects, ranging from an expressway to port development and railway construction, mark an improvement in Sino-Philippine relations following prolonged tension over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/anderscorr/2017/05/13/new-philippine-debt-of-167-billion-could-balloon-to-452-billion-china-will-benefit/

Dutertenomics, fueled by expensive loans from China, will put the Philippines into virtual debt bondage if allowed to proceed.

Duterte and his influential friends and business associates could each benefit with hundreds of millions of dollars in finders fees, of 2-7%, for such deals. Duterte reportedly sought to fast track some deals, and has publicly mooted the possibility of declaring martial law for a wide range of issues, including drugs, traffic, and the situation on Mindanao. Debt imposed on the public through corruption, fast-tracking or under martial law should be considered odious debt, and not repayable. The only way to stop such unjust debt is for the terms to be entirely transparent to the Philippine public in advance, for full cost-benefit analyses to be done by an independent authority on each deal, and for the Philippine Congress to vote on whether each deal proceeds. Failing that will lead to virtual Philippine debt bondage to China.

So much for Duterte's plan to end corruption in the Philippines.  It's the same system that's been going on since the beginning: make and fast-track unscrupulous financial deals and skim off the top.

If Duterte's nationalism meant any thing he would not be doing business with China at all. Placing the Philippines "into virtual debt bondage" with China will not help the country one bit.  It won't give people jobs and it won't transform the country into a middle level economy.

Why not just take the grants the EU offered?  Despite allegations of EJK's they are still offered interest free and without conditions to the Philippines.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/170183-philippines-refuses-european-union-grants

The European Union on Wednesday evening, May 17, confirmed that the Philippines has decided to no longer accept new EU grants, pegged at around 250 million euros or P13.85 billion. 

"The Philippine government has informed us that they no longer accept new EU grants," the EU delegation to the Philippines said when sought by Rappler for confirmation Wednesday. 

Jessen stressed that the EU was not "imposing" human rights conditions on the Philippines, and it was the Philippines that signed 27 labor and human rights conventions under the United Nations system.  

The EU, in any case, is one of the Philippines' biggest donors.

That's  a lot of money to give up.  So why do it?  What's the official explanation?

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/05/18/ph-only-refusing-eu-aid-that-affects-internal-affairs.html

The Philippines will only reject aid from the European Union (EU) that meddles with the country's internal affairs, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Thursday.  

"When (the aid) begins to impose certain conditionalities that will interfere with the way we handle things, then we consider that objectionable," Abella said in a Malacañang press briefing. 

His statement comes after the European Delegation to the Philippines confirmed that the Philippines will be refusing aid from the EU.  

"They have conditions, but there are certain items, for example, that we cannot totally accept," Abella said. 

These conditions involve grants that entail a review of the Philippines' adherence to the rule of law, officials said.

But the EU isn't imposing any conditions: "Jessen stressed that the EU was not "imposing" human rights conditions on the Philippines."

Abella added that the move is part of the Duterte administration's "independent foreign policy."

If that was true then Duterte would not be so casually placing the Philippines into "virtual debt bondage" to China.

But  finally we hear from a man who really knows Duterte and how childish he can be.

Before the Palace briefing, National Economic and Development Authority head Ernesto Pernia dismissed the decision – which he said was made before a Philippine delegation went to the United Nations in Geneva on May 8 to defend the country's human rights record – as a mere response to criticism. 

"We have to parse this carefully because our President has a style of doing something and then taking it back later," Pernia said Thursday.  

"He is very sensitive and he usually takes it back later on," he added, speaking to reporters after a briefing on the Philippine economic growth figures for the first quarter of 2017.

If only Duterte would take back his decision to work with China and repudiate all ties with China until they cease threatening war because of the Philippines actions in the Spratly Islands which is it's own sovereign territory.

Jeepney Art

The jeepney is the cheapest and quickest form of public transportation in the Philippines.  Some drivers take real pride in their vehicle and install loud sound systems, glow lights, and decorate it in a way that stands out.  Here are some examples of jeepney art.

Dutertenomics Won't Cause OFWs to Return En Masse

"Dutertenomics" is president Duterte's "5-year plan" to turn around the economy of the Philippines and bring the nation up to a middle level income.  It is an ambitious plan.  Perhaps TOO ambitious.

https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS/status/864053998235594752

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Monday said the Duterte government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure campaign will generate no less than 12 million new jobs over the next 5 years. 

"They call it golden age Build, Build, Build means golden age of Jobs, Jobs and Jobs," he said. 

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Chief Ernesto Pernia, however, clarified the infrastructure boost will add more than 1 million new jobs to the usual 1 million jobs created per year, resulting in 12 million jobs for the 6 years of the Duterte administration.  

Bello shared, most of the new jobs will be in the field of manufacturing and construction, including carpenters, welders, plumbers, and electricians.  

"This will also address the final goal of the President, to repatriate Filipinos who are now in different parts of the world…. The President wants to provide jobs with decent pay so eventually, all Filipino workers will come back,” he said.  

There are an estimated 10 to 12-million Filipinos overseas, a tenth of the Philippines' total population. 

http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/15/17/dutertenomics-seen-to-create-12-million-jobs-make-ofws-come-home

12 million jobs!

Bringing all OFW's home!

But wait a second:

Bello shared, most of the new jobs will be in the field of manufacturing and construction, including carpenters, welders, plumbers, and electricians.  

Those sound like very specialised jobs. Are these the kind of jobs most OFWs have?

https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/article/TABLE%20%202.4%20Distribution%20of%20Overseas%20Contract%20Workers%20by%20Major%20Occupation%20Group%2C%20Sex%20and%20Area%20%202015.pdf

This statical table from the 2015 OFW survey tells us that the majority of OFW's are female unskilled labourers. Are these unskilled ladies going to rush home to take part in the promised construction  boom which needs "carpenters, welders, plumbers, and electricians?"

How about all the professionals, service workers, farmers, technicians, nurses, and white-collar government workers? Will they be rushing back to the Philippines to take part in the construction boom?

Will anyone be rushing home to the Philippines so they can work long days earning a currency that is worth less than what they are currently earning elsewhere?

Will anyone be rushing back from the comforts of the first world to deal with the corrupt third world that is the Philippines?

And for those that do return to take part in the construction boom, what happens after the construction is over?  The jobs will be no more and they will be forced to go back to being an OFW or to being idle and broke.

OFW's send BILLIONS of pesos to the Philippines each year.  Is that something Duterte really wants to stop?  Does any family member want to see an end to the regular flow of cash and "pasalubongs?" Plenty of sons and daughters are working hard to support their sick parents or to help their family in some way. And many of those people have their own families to support in their new country. "Utang na loob" is a way of life in the Philippines.

The statistical table shows that there are 2,377,000 OFWs so where does ABS-CBN pull the 10 - 12 million figure? And even if there were 12 million OFWs to fill 12 million jobs what about all the unemployed workers here already?  Having OFWs come home to fill jobs Filipinos already in the country can fill is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

What about Dutere's plan to build hospitals for OFWs in the Middle East?  How can he be said to desire the repatriation of all OFWs when he wants to build OFWs in the Middle East a hospital to cater to their needs?

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/04/17/Duterte-hospital-OFWs-Middle-East.html

Dutertenomics' plan to save the economy is ambitious. With the right planning and with an honest bureaucracy that will not plunder the funds it could work. Anything is possible.

But the Duterte administration needs to be realistic. Whatever the amount of jobs a construction boom will create they will all be temporary and they will all need highly skilled workers.

And most importantly these jobs will not bring all the OFWs home. 

Philippine Judge Lets Murderer Travel Abroad

More proof that Duterte has certainly not ended corruption in the Philippines. Will we hear his thoughts on this egregious injustice? Will he toss this judge from a helicopter?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/896885/cebu-judge-oks-road-rage-suspects-bid-to-travel-abroad

A Cebu City judge has granted the request of Cebu road rage shooting suspect David Lim Jr. to travel abroad for a weeklong cruise with his family in the United States and Canada. 

In his order dated May 10, 2016, Judge Alexander Acosta of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 found no problem with the suspect’s plea as long as he would return to face the charges against him. 

“The crime charged against herein accused is not among those that affects the interest of the national security, or public health, wherein the right to travel could be impaired as provided under section 6, article 2 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines,” he said. 

Before leaving the country, the accused was mandated to post a bond of P300,000 in court and to submit a certified true copy of his valid passport. Within three days after he returns to the country, Lim was ordered to personally report to the court. Acosta set Lim’s arraignment on June 16. 

Lim’s lawyers Gilbert Viloria and Conrado Sarmiento Jr. earlier asked permission from the court to let the accused join his family for a trip abroad. 

A year ago, they said Lim and his family already booked a cruise tour from Alaska, USA to Vancouver in Canada from May 29 to June 2, 2017. 

Lim and his family are set to return to the country on June 8. 

They said the family purchased airline tickets for their trip abroad in December last year. 

The request was opposed by lawyer Mundlyn Misal-Martin, the counsel of the victim, who earlier filed a motion for the issuance of a Hold Departure Order (HDO) against Lim. 

An HDO, she said, would ensure that the accused won’t leave the country to evade criminal prosecution, and to guarantee that he is properly brought before the bar of justice. 

Martin said Lim has not yet been arraigned, and if the latter leaves the country, he might be placed beyond the reach of the courts. 

“Without being arraigned, and much more that he is allowed to travel abroad, justice can never be attained considering the wealth and influence of his family, he can surely sustain himself in another country thereby leaving his victim without a chance at justice,” she said in a pleading filed in court. 

Lim earlier surrendered to Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, two days after he shot and wounded Ephraim Nuñal following an altercation along F. Sotto Street in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City last March 19. 

He was charged with frustrated homicide and illegal possession of ammunition. The gun he used in shooting the victim was purportedly lost. Lim secured temporary liberty after he posted bail in court.

I quote the article in full because the whole story is fully messed up.  

This guy is charged with homicide, has not even been properly arraigned, is out on bail, and is now allowed to go on a cruise to the USA that his family planned last year and the sound legal basis for this is:

“The crime charged against herein accused is not among those that affects the interest of the national security, or public health, wherein the right to travel could be impaired as provided under section 6, article 2 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines,” he said. 

Killing citizens definitely affects public health. Why not let every criminal go on holiday abroad as long as they can pinky swear they will return to face justice.  And as long as they can pay a few hundred thousand pesos bond.

Could it be that the reason this alleged murderer is allowed to go on holiday is because he is the nephew of businessman and reputed drug lord Peter Lim? Does Peter Lim have the court in the palm of his hand?

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/12/07/1651133/hunt-alleged-drug-lord-peter-lim

Drug lord or not, money talks and now this killer walks.

Missionaries: World Race

Missionaries abound in the Philippines.  Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, independent men and women with no particular calling except a "mission from God." Any and every sort of orthodox and heretical Christian group is in the Philippines on the hunt for converts. 

It's always easy to spot a missionary. Even more so if they are Mormons since they do wear a distinct uniform. If you see a large group of young white men and women playing basketball with Filipino children at a Baptist school during summer break then you can be sure those people are missionaries.

Definitely missionaries

It was a few days later that I was able to talk with a few of the girls from this group and ask what religious organisation had sent them.

"World Race."

Huh?

The World Race continues to change. It is expanding overseas and in the States, yet its foundations stay the same. It is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve "the least of these" while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith. 

https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=about

World Race is a missionary organisation that reduces the call of missionary from "man sent by God to spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ" to a gap year adventure around the world.

They are a subsidiary of Adventures In Missions.

Since we were established in 1989, we have taken over 100,000 people into the mission field, some for as short as a week and others for as long as a year or longer. In several places around the world we minister year-round to "the least of these". We believe that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed.

https://www.adventures.org/about/?iname=about#welcome

This whole endeavour is rather unbiblical and sickening.  Read that paragraph again: "We believe that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed."

Not a single word about Jesus Christ. Not a single word about Christ dying for us according to the scriptures and how with faith in his name and his blood we have remission of sins and eternal life. Instead holding orphans and praying for the sick is what will transform lives.  Whose lives?  The missionaries of course.  These missions are self-centred and not Christ centered at all.

Is this what the Philippines need?  Short-term missionary work centered around good works and charity?

The girl I spoke with told me she had preached in one country she visited.  I asked for her thoughts on what the Apostle Paul said about women preachers in 1 Timothy 2.  Her face went blank and she asked, "What did he say?"

With such stunning Biblical illiteracy I can only imagine the content of her "sermons."

Missionary work is hard work. It involves years of work making connections with the people, learning the language, preaching and teaching, baptising, distributing the Lord's Supper.  It involves lots of prayer and the moving of the Holy Spirit.  If the Holy Spirit did not send you through the calling of a Church then you are not a missionary.

Turning missionary work into a glorified tourist activity and gap year does no good for anyone involved.  Well it does some good for the "missionary."

https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=about

I did the World Race five years ago and still say that it changed my life. It is the most epic, challenging, unforgettable thing I have done! -Neil Bruinsma

Since going on the race this sums up what life was like. It was the hardest, most challenging, best, craziest and Jesus loving year of my life. This trip was epic! -Jillian Paul

Did these people go on a humbling missionary trip to spread the Gospel or did they go on an epic trip to several countries in a few months?  I wonder which of Paul's three missionary trips was the most epic. The one where he was almost stoned to death?  

Read more of these "testimonials" here: https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=testimonials&subtab=from-world-racers and see that they are all self-centred and about how the trip changed them and was totally awesome.

I have seen firsthand that Bible knowledge is dismal in the Philippines.  Filipinos are ensnared in the superstitions of the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholics make up the majority of Christian believers and it is towards Rome's flock that missionaries direct a lot of their work. Of course there are many irreligious and "unchurched" Filipinos that also need converting. But even those that do convert to Mormonism or the Jehovah's Witnesses or even the Baptists do not fully understand the doctrines of those organisations. What kind of lasting spiritual direction will Filipinos receive from tourists masquerading as missionaries? Here today, gone tomorrow and no time for discipleship.

What Filipinos need in the way of missionary work is dedicated men sent by the Holy Ghost and called through the Church who can teach sound Gospel doctrine and who will disciple them according to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. They most certainly do not need bourgeoisie, virtue signalling hipsters pretending to be missionaries for a few weeks doing fly-by night charity work.  

Canadian Blogger Dismisses Terrorism in the Philippines as a Stereotype

You remember that song "I think I'm turning Japanese?"  Well Canadian Kyle Jennermann is definitely turning Filipino. His Facebook page is even titled "Becoming Filipino."  Take a look at his apology for Mindanao and his dismissal and scoffing of the latest terror warnings.

https://www.facebook.com/becomingfilipino/photos/a.1390947454503789.1073741828.1381220285476506/1875593106039219/?type=3

That is complete and utter madness!!

The terrorism threat throughout the entire country is very real.  It is not a stereotype.  And he wants to bring up his personal experience as the measure of what's happening in Mindanao? How about the personal experience of his fellow Canadians whom Abu Sayyaf beheaded?  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-26/philippines-militants-behead-canadian-tourist/7356888

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/robert-hall-executed-abu-sayyef-1.3632166

This guy certainly is becoming Filipino with his head stuck in the sand.

Remember last month when the US Embassy issued a terror threat in Bohol and both Duterte and AFP Chief Eduardo Año dismissed the threat and then people ended up dying?

http://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2017/04/willful-ignorance.html

Not a single time in his apology does this guy use the words terrorism, crime, piracy, or kidnappings which are the reasons why the Canadian government is cautioning against travel to Mindanao.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/philippines

Instead he thinks the entire problem is a PR issue.  Read his solution:

"So what can we do!? Well, we can share realistic talk and education about the word "Mindanao" and what it really is. I think that is something that has always been missing from National Media here in the Philippines. I believe that the first step is changing perception here in the Philippines"

This is just plain stupid.  He wants realistic talk?  Someone show him the video of the German getting beheaded back in February.  Someone show him the long trail of corpses Abu Sayyaf, MILF, Maute Group, NPA and all the rest have left behind in the Philippines.  How can this guy think the terrorism problem is a stereotype that can be defeated by "changing perception?

It's incautious and ultra-liberal attitudes like his that have destroyed Europe and are currently destroying Canada and the USA. 

Contrary to this guy the first step in ending terrorism in the Philippines is to napalm the jungle and kill them all.