Ever since President Diosdao Macapagal changed Philippine Independence Day from July 4th to June 12th because of outrage over the United States' failure to pay the Philippines a $73 million debt it owed the entire nation has been celebrating a lie and has forgotten its true history. As the story goes Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12th, 1898 and the nation has been independent ever since by virtue of that fact.
It is true that Aguinaldo declared independence on June 12th 1898 but that independence was never recognised by any nation nor was it ever realised by the Philippines. Later during the Philippine-American war Aguinaldo, President of the First Republic, was taken captive and swore an oath of fidelity to the USA thus ending any notion that the Philippines was independent. June 12th, 1898 was most certainly not the day the Philippines became an independent nation.
Flag flown by Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12th, 1898
Let us look briefly at the Philippines' road to independence. To keep this post orderly I will only look at a few key events: Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration of independence, the Philippine Organic Act of 1902, the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934, and the Treaty of Manila of 1946. Many interesting facts of history will necessarily be skipped over but I hope that you the reader will be motivated to take the time to research and read them for yourself.
1. Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration of independence
Independence was proclaimed by Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12th, 1898.
And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name and by authority of the people of these Philippine Islands,
That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased to have any allegiance to the Crown of Spain; that all political ties between them are and should be completely severed and annulled; and that, like other free and independent States, they enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and do all other acts and things which an Independent State has a right to do,
And imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our most sacred possession, our Honor.
Oddly enough Aguinaldo recognised the Philippines as being both independent and under the protection of the United States. It should also be noted that in this document Aguinaldo is referred to as "our famous dictator" and the Philippines as a dictatorship. It's as if dictatorial government is part of the DNA of the Philippines.
BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to proclaim and solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued by the Egregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy...
We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we revere as the Supreme Head of this Nation, which today begins to have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has been the instrument chosen by God...
Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable him to discharge the duties of Government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty...
Ninety-eight people were signatories to this declaration. One of them was a United States army officer, Col. L.M. Johnson. The presence of this lone American solider is significant because Aguinaldo wanted the presence of the Americans at the event. He even invited Admiral Dewey, the man who promised him the US would recognise the Philippines' independence, but he did not attend nor did he report this event to Washington.
As everyone knows this declaration of independence did not fulfil its promise because the United States took full control of the Philippines with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Shortly after the Philippine-American war broke out which resulted in Emilio Aguinaldo's capture and his swearing an oath of fidelity to the United States. If it was ever alive the First Republic was now dead.
2. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902
Though the US had full control of the Philippines such control was never meant to be permanent. The goal of US policy according to President Theodore Roosevelt was to make Filipinoscapable of self-government.
In the Philippines our problem is larger. They are very rich tropical islands, inhabited by many varying tribes, representing widely different stages of progress toward civilization. Our earnest effort is to help these people upward along the stony and difficult path that leads to self-government. We hope to make our administration of the islands honorable to our Nation by making it of the highest benefit to the Filipinos themselves; and as an earnest of what we intend to do, we point to what we have done. Already a greater measure of material prosperity and of governmental honesty and efficiency has been attained in the Philippines than ever before in their history.
It is no light task for a nation to achieve the temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery. Our people are now successfully governing themselves, because for more than a thousand years they have been slowly fitting themselves, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously, toward this end. What has taken us thirty generations to achieve, we cannot expect to have another race accomplish out of hand, especially when large portions of that race start very far behind the point which our ancestors had reached even thirty generations ago. In dealing with the Philippine people we must show both patience and strength, forbearance and steadfast resolution. Our aim is high. We do not desire to do for the islanders merely what has elsewhere been done for tropic peoples by even the best foreign governments. We hope to do for them what has never before been done for any people of the tropics—to make them fit for self-government after the fashion of the really free nations.
"The temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery." That sentence, that analysis, that truth is the key to understanding why Philippine government, as much as it appears to be like that of the West, is so riddled with corruption and so different from anything in the West. Filipinos lack the temperamental qualities conducive to free government. We see this in the corruption that is endemic to Philippine government at every level.
Only seven months after this speech the Philippine Organic Act of 1902 was passed on July 1, 1902. This law created a bicameral Filipino legislature. As soon as the insurrection ended a census was to be taken. Two years after the census a general election was to be had for delegates to the lower House known as the Philippine Assembly while the upper house, the Philippine Commission, had its members appointed.
Section 7. That two years after the completion and publication of the census, in case such condition of general and complete peace with recognition of the authority of the United States shall have continued in the territory of said Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes and such facts shall have been certified to the President by the Philippine Commission, the President upon being satisfied thereof shall direct Commission to call, and the Commission shall call, a general election for the choice of delegates to a popular assembly of the people of said territory in the Philippine Islands, which shall be known as the Philippine Assembly. After said Assembly shall have convened and organised, all the legislative power heretofore conferred on the Philippine Commission in all that part of said Islands not inhabited by Moros or other non-Christian tribes shall be vested in a Legislature consisting of two Houses - the Philippine Commission and the Philippine Assembly.
In addition to the creation of the Philippine Assembly two Resident Commissioners representing the Philippines in the US Congress were to be chosen. This office of Resident Commissioner lasted until 1946. While there is a lot more happening in this law we must move to the next stop on the road to independence. What is important to know is that this bill was the first step towards autonomous Philippine government.
3. The Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916
Also known as the Jones Law, the Philippine Autonomy Act was passed into law in August 1916. This law superseded the Organic Act of 1902 and allowed for a fully elected bicameral Congress.
The law begins thusly:
WHEREAS it was never the intention of the people of the United States in the incipiency of the war with Spain to make it a war of conquest or for territorial aggrandisement; and
WHEREAS it is, as it has always been, the purpose of the people of the United States to withdraw their sovereignty over the Philippine Islands and to recognise their independence as soon as a stable government can be established therein; and
WHEREAS for the speedy accomplishment of such purpose it is desirable to place in the hands of the people of the Philippines as large a control of their domestic affairs as can be given them without, in the meantime, impairing the exercise of the rights of sovereignty by the people of the United States, in order that, by the use and exercise of popular franchise and governmental powers, they may be the better prepared to fully assume the responsibilities and enjoy all the privileges of complete independence: Therefore...
The intent to eventually withdraw American sovereignty from the Philippines and recognise the Philippines as an independent nation was now explicitly enshrined in law. The law goes on to state:
Section 12. That general legislative powers in the Philippines, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be vested in a legislature which shall consist of two Houses, one the Senate and the other the House of Representatives, and the two Houses shall be designated “The Philippine Legislature”...
Manuel Quezon who was a Resident Commissioner to the United States helped author this bill writing several drafts before it was finally ratified and signed into law. The Jones Law was in effect until 1934 when the the Tydings-McDuffie Act, successfully lobbied for by Manuel Quezon, was passed.
4. The Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934
The Tydings-McDuffie act is a Unites States federal law which created the Commonwealth of the Philippines and provided a final pathway for the Philippines' independence. Between 1918 and 1934 there were yearly "independence missions" from the Philippines to the US. The hope was that increased political pressure on the US government would lead to full independence.
One such mission lead by Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas led to the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act of 1932. Though ratified by Congress the President vetoed the bill. Manuel Quezon was also not a proponent of this bill. In 1934 Quezon led an independence mission to the US and the end result was the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934.
This law provided for a constitution to be written which was to be approved by the people through a plebiscite. If the constitution was approved the United States would take that as the will of the people and a ten-year transition period to full independence would begin.
Sec. 4 ...If a majority of the votes cast shall be for the constitution, such vote shall be deemed an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence, and the Governor-General shall, within thirty days after receipt of the certification from the Philippine Legislature, issue a proclamation for the election of officers of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands provided for in the constitution.
One interesting provision of this law is the section on immigration which limited the number of Filipinos allowed into the US to 50 per year. They were also not allowed to become naturalised citizens.
Sec. 8. (a) (1) ...For such purposes the Philippine Islands shall be considered as a separate country and shall have for each fiscal year a quota of fifty.
This provision was later overruled by the Luce-Celler Act of 1946 which increased the quota to 100. That act was overturned by the Hart-Celler Act of 1965 which abolished the quota system thereby completely transforming American immigration policy and subsequently altering American demographics and culture by allowing anyone from anywhere entrance into the United States. Whole enclaves of Filipinos have settled in cities across the US as a result of this law.
What is important to glean from the Tydings-McDuffie Act is that it allowed Filipinos to choose independence themselves. A vote for the constitution was to be "deemed an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence." Independence was never granted to the Philippines. It was the goal from the beginning of the US' acquisition of the islands and when Filipinos were finally given a chance to vote on the matter the US respected the outcome of that vote.
The resultant 1935 constitution ends with these words in Article 18:
Section. 1. The government established by this Constitution shall be known as the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Upon the final and complete withdrawal of the sovereignty of the United States and the proclamation of Philippine independence, the Commonwealth of the Philippines shall thenceforth be known as the Republic of the Philippines.
This constitution written and approved by Filipinos states categorically that the Philippines was not an independent nation at the time of its writing. Independence did not come until 11 years later in 1946 with the signing of the Treaty of Manila.
5. The Treaty of Manila of 1946
Originally independence was to be recognised in 1945 but World War 2 put a damper on those plans. It was on July 4th, 1946 that the Treaty of Manila was signed.
The United States of America agrees to withdraw, and surrender, and does withdraw and surrender, all right of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control or sovereignty existing and exercised by the United States of America in and over the territory and the people of the Philippine Islands, except the use of such bases, necessary appurtenances to such bases, and the right incident thereto, as the United States of America, by agreement with the Republic of the Philippines, may deem necessary to retain for the mutual protection of the Republic of the Philippines and of the United States of America. The United states of America further agrees to recognize, and does hereby recognize, the independence of the Republic of the Philippines as a separate self-governing nation and to acknowledge, and does acknowledge, the authority and control over the same of the Government instituted by the people thereof, under the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
Even though this treaty was signed on July 4th it was not ratified by the Philippines until September 30th and it was not signed by US President Truman until August 14th. The treaty did not come into force until October 22nd. Perhaps then the Philippines true independence day is October 22nd, 1946.
As you can read above the US relinquished all control of the Philippines except for necessary military bases to protect the Philippines and the United States. The issue of American military bases would come to a head in 1991 when all US military bases were closed. This withdrawal does not mean the US military has left the Philippines entirely. They have not. Continued US military presence and political influence has led some to believe that the Philippines is not independent but only a puppet of the US. However that is another story for another time.
Conclusion
The Philippines has not been independent for 121 years. The fact of the Philippines subjugation to the United States is ensconced in both United States law and the Philippines 1935 constitution. To deny this history is to deny the history of the Philippines. It is to silence the voice of the people who ratified the 1935 constitution and which the US recognised as "an expression of the will of the people of the Philippine Islands in favor of Philippine independence." It is to deny a place in history to Manuel Roxas, Manuel Quezon, and Sergio Osmeña all three of whom worked tirelessly to make the Philippines an independent nation. All three of whom are now largely forgotten.
Today July 4th is celebrated as Philippine-American Friendship Day. It is also known as Philippine Republic Day. On a now deleted government page about this day the facts related above are spelled out quite clearly.
On July 4, 1946, the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. This was the culmination of the process that began in 1916, when the Jones Law pledged the eventual recognition of Philippine independence, and the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1933, which provided for a ten-year transitional period to prepare for independence. The independence of the Philippines was marked by Manuel Roxas retaking his oath as President of the Philippines, eliminating the pledge of allegiance to the United States required prior to independence. Independence thereafter was celebrated on July 4th of every year until 1962.
Thereafter, the Congress of the Philippines passed Republic Act No. 4166 in 1964, formally designating June 12 of every year as the date of Philippine independence. The date commemorates the anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, because the date remains the foundation date for the modern, independent Republic of the Philippines and of our independent nationhood, as recognized by the world community. From 1964 until the 1984, Philippine Republic Day was celebrated as a national holiday.
The origin of Philippine–American Friendship Day dates to 1955, when President Ramon Magsaysay, by virtue of Proclamation No. 212, s. 1955, established the observance of “Philippine American Day.” The following year, by virtue of Proclamation No. 363, s. 1956, the celebration became a yearly event.
Sometime during the Marcos administration, Philippine–American Day was renamed Philippine–American Friendship Day and moved to July 4, overshadowing the observance of the date as Philippine Republic Day. Since the Third Republic and the 1935 Constitution were discarded by Martial Law, it was impolitic to remind the public of the old republic. This is why, when President Marcos issued Presidential Proclamation No. 2346 s. 1984, reference was made only to Philippine–American Friendship Day, which was relegated to a working holiday.
During the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino, the practice of celebrating Philippine–American Friendship Day and Philippine Republic Day as a non-working holiday was formally abolished. The Administrative Code of 1987 specified a list of non-working holidays that did not include July 4.
In 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos would once again commemorate the anniversary of Republic Day through Proclamation No. 811, s. 1996, not with a holiday but with public celebrations to commemorate 50 years of independence. On June 12, however, the country observes the anniversary of the proclamation of the independence that was lost after the defeat of the First Republic, and restored in 1946.
After moving Independence Day to June 12th President Macapagal declared that July 4th would be celebrated as Philippine Republic Day. This was celebrated as a national holiday until 1984. In 1996 President Ramos observed July 4th to commemorate 50 years of independence
WHEREAS,July 4, 1996 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine-American Friendship Day which ushered the beginning of Philippine political independence from the American colonial rule;
What more proof is needed that June 12th, 1898 does not mark the beginning of Philippine Independence? A Presidential Proclamation from 1996 declares to the entire nation that July 4th, 1946 "ushered the beginning of Philippine political independence from the American colonial rule."
To end allow me to relate a story. I was asking some people if they knew who Manuel Roxas, Serge Osmeña, and Manuel Quezon are. A young man listening in on the conversation began telling us which peso bills their faces are on. Other than that he knew nothing about the accomplishments of those three men nor did the person I was speaking with know about them. Such is the state of ignorance which Filipinos have of their nation's history.
Traffic isn't awful in the Philippines solely because people drive with no regard for safety or laws. Traffic is also bad because of lack of planning on the part of the DPWH who when building the roads decides to pave right around electrical poles and the engineers and architects who construct buildings which have immediate off street parking rather than a separate parking lot away from the street. I am talking about this:
That is a brand new building constructed at a very busy intersection. The architects who designed this building took no consideration of the heavy traffic in the area and decided parking right off the street was a good idea. Anyone who parks here is going to have to back into a traffic jam and will hold up traffic themselves. The risk for accidents in this kind of set-up is very high. That is why there are so many men you have to pay P5 for backing you up.
Some of those who back up cars are even children who should be in school.
Imagine an entire black market economy of these workers who back up cars because of bad planning. They might not make much but at least they don't have to pay taxes on it. Many cars that park in these kind of spaces end up obstructing traffic because part of the vehicle juts into the road.
Those are not cherry-picked pictures. That is a standard day in the Philippines. Cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles with their tail ends hanging into the street causing obstructions. But you know what? That's actually not their fault because the most of these spots are not large enough for a car or truck to fit!
Does not fit!
I notice there is also a penchant for backing into a parking spot rather then pulling right in headfirst. This happens even in safe off street parking spots like at Jolibee. Sometimes drivers decide to back into immediate off street parking spots which also causes a bit of a traffic jam. Then you have these thoughtless idiots:
In the Philippines any space automatically becomes a parking space as long as you turn on the emergency flashers. Who cares if you are blocking parked cars or impeding the flow of traffic? Tricycles also block parking spots. Just look at all these tricycle lined up in a row blocking the parking spaces. Cars cannot get in or out without a big commotion.
Do you want to see just how stupid and dangerous immediate off street parking is in action? Watch as this SUV backs across three lanes of traffic.
Pretty stupid and needlessly dangerous. Now let's compare a supermarket parking lot in the Philippines with one in the USA.
Robinson's Supermarket parking lot
Kroger parking lot
See the difference? To be fair the Robinson's Supermarket does have an underground garage. That is a good thing. They should have left the parking entirely in the garage and forgone the immediate off street parking which is simply stupid and dangerous.
Mindanao has been under martial law for two years now and apparently it's getting on Mayor Sara Duterte's nerves. Why should Davao remain under martial law? The city is quite peaceful. All the violence is in Western Mindanao. That's why she is lobbying for a partial lifting of martial law.
OFFICIALS OF Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, have called for the lifting of the Mindanao-wide martial law declaration, citing its adverse impact on tourism as well as investments.
“That (exception from Martial Law) would be very good because there are countries like Japan that hesitate to send tourists here,” City Tourism Operations Officer Regina Rosa B. Tecson said Monday. Ms. Tecson was echoing the call of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio during the Davao Investment Conference 2019 last week.
"We had the opportunity to talk to Japanese tourism associations and they said that one factor of the hindrance of coming over to Mindanao, even here in Davao, is martial law,” Ms. Tecson said. She added that travelers from countries that have issued travel alerts against Mindanao are also lost opportunities.
The city tourism office reported about one million visitors as of end-May and is targeting three million for the year. Ms. Carpio said during the investment conference that she will formally make the request through a letter to the President, her father.
The Davao mayor said there is a consensus among local officials in Mindanao that Martial Law has already stabilized peace and security in most of the southern island, and that it would be better to have the declaration localized in certain areas.
The City of Davao wants martial law lifted because of its adverse effects on tourism and investments. This is in direct contradiction to the AFP's claim that martial law has increased tourism and investments in Mindanao.
The best thing that ever happened to Mindanao, despite some opposition, is the enforcement of martial law in the entire region, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez said yesterday.
In a press briefing, Galvez pointed out that martial law in Mindanao has led to increased tourist arrivals and economic activities in the region.
Surely the AFP will disagree with Sara Duterte and point out that martial law has not been adverse to investments and tourism. Right? Wrong.
“The Department of National Defense takes cognizance of Mayor Duterte’s desire to lift martial law in Davao City and other areas that are relatively peaceful,” Andolong said in a statement sent to reporters late Tuesday afternoon.
“We value the wisdom and firsthand knowledge of our local executives of the prevailing security environment in their respective communities and we always take their observations and recommendations into consideration,” he added.
According to the official, they, too, wanted to lift martial law in Mindanao “as soon as possible” but added that such can only be done “after a complete assessment and validation by the security sector and local governments.”
Earlier, the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), which has military jurisdiction over Davao City, expressed openness to Mayor Duterte’s request.
“For Davao City, there would be no problem [if martial law is lifted] but in other areas, we’ll reassess if what recommendation we can give,” said Lieutenant General Filemon Santos, EastMinCom commander.
Funny how the AFP was so quick to report that tourism and investments were up in Mindanao when they needed justification to extend martial law last year. But not so funny when one remembers that they could not give any specific numbers when testifying before Congress. Looks like the AFP was probably lying. What a farce!
Perhaps Davao is safe enough to have martial law lifted but Sulu is certainly not.
Two alleged suicide bombers, not a grenade-throwing assailant, rushed one after the other into a military camp in Indanan, Sulu at around noon Friday, June 28, 2019, and detonated the bombs they were carrying, killing themselves and three soldiers.
All units under the Joint Task Force Sulu were immediately placed on red alert and ordered “to enact preemptive measures.” Troops from the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion and 6th Mechanized Battalion reinforced the 1st Brigade Combat Team.
Checkpoints were set up and a roving patrol was immediately implemented in Jolo, the capital of Sulu.
The Sulu Police Provincial Office said the two alleged suicide bombers barged into the military camp and blew themselves up shortly before noon Friday. Body parts were recovered inside the camp.
Police did not say whether the attackers were members of the notorious Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group.
A firefight ensued as the bomb explosions were followed by mortar and sniper fires from the companions of the two suicide bombers. The gunfight lasted about an hour.
If the attackers were not members of Abu Sayyaf then who would it be? Suicide bombing is a definite ISIS tactic so we can all rest comfortably knowing that ISIS is alive and well in Mindanao.
The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which that monitors online communications among Muslim militant groups globally, reported that the IS East Asia Province had issued a statement claiming responsibility for the explosions hours after bombers attacked a military camp in Jolo.
“Following IS East Asia Province claim responsibility for a two-man suicide raid in Sulu, Filipino Jihadists took to Facebook to discuss the attack, best areas to conduct operations and how to join the group,” the SITE cited.
This suicide bombing also means the likely presence of foreign fighters in the country. Just last week a Pakistani terrorist was nabbed in Zamboanga.
A Pakistani man who is suspected to be a member of the Dawlah Islamiya terrorist group was arrested on Tuesday in Zamboanga City.
The Dawlah Islamiya allegedly has links to the terrorist Islamic State and the Maute group.
Waqar Ahmad, 36, was arrested by joint operatives of the Mindanao Intelligence Task Group (MITG) of the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“He (Ahmad) will be deported as his presence here is inimical to national security. He also violated our immigration laws by working here without applying for an employment visa,” the Morente said in a statement.
According to the records of the BI, Ahmad arrived in the country last April 19 and worked as a storekeeper and collector in his uncle’s appliance center in Zamboanga City even without the proper work documents.
Hopefully they will shake Ahmad down for all the information they can before they deport him. Who else connected to ISIS is in the country? What are their plans? Will there be more suicide bombings? The recent suicide bombing puts the E-CLIP program and the government's treatment of surrenderees in a sickening light.
Over 200 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members who surrendered to the government have received aid from a non-government organization in Isabela City, Basilan, military said.
Balay Mindanaw, a peace and development foundation primarily engaged in promoting equity-based development and sustainable peace, initiated the project that aims to prevent and transform violent extremism in Basilan.
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said Balay Mindanaw launched the project Monday, June 24, at 4th Special Forces Battalion, Cabunbata, Isabela City where food packs were distributed to the 214 ASG surrenderors.
Among those who attended the event were Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr, Bangsamoro government interim chief minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, Basilan Governor Hadjiman Hataman Salliman, and Westmincom deputy commander for operations Brig. Gen. Generoso Pinio.
This food aid program is part of a larger effort at "rehabilitating" ex-ASG members.
The Prevention and Transformation of Violent Extremist program was crafted when Mujiv Hataman, former regional governor of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), invited the non-government organization Balay Mindanaw to come up with a holistic program to help the returnees integrate into mainstream society.
The program aims to provide a platform for a comprehensive reformation for former extremists who decided to return to the folds of the law. It will also develop a template that will guide the crafting of regional and national policies for reformation which will benefit provinces which are confronting the problems of violent extremism.
The components of the program include psychosocial debriefing, religious re-education, exposure tour (changing the mindset and offering possibilities), research and family profiling, coordination work, and regional learning and sharing. This program will also include assistance to former victims and affected communities.
Charlito Manlupig, the chief executive officer of Balay Mindanaw, admitted that the task in helping former ASG members is very “delicate but rewarding."
The success of the program eventually led the Australian government to support the initiative through its embassy in Manila.
The program, according to Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson, is "fundamental to the future of peace in the Bangsamoro."
Robinson flew here, defying the advisory of western countries against traveling to Basilan, to witness the remarkable progress in the national government's deradicalization efforts.
"The turning away from the Abu Sayyaf is an outstanding accomplishment, and we should think now on how to sustain the success," he said.
Robinson then talked to former members of the Abu Sayyaf, and encouraged them by saying, "You are essential to the future of peace in this region and your participation in this program shows that there is great hope for the future of the Bangsamoro and Basilan."
"Turning away from such a powerful force, such as violent extremism, takes a great deal of courage. And I applaud you for what you have done," he said.
While 2 sucicide bombers, likely members of ASG, were killing AFP personnel 214 former ASG members were receiving food aid at a military base as the Australia ambassador, the head of the BARMM, and the deputy commander of Westmincon looked on and applauded. None of those 214 fighters will ever be held accountable for their crimes against the state and people but they will all get a lot of freebies.
MILF fighters will also never be held accountable for their crimes.
A total of 12,000 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members have laid down their arms for reintegration into civilian communities, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.
The figure represents a third of the weapons of the country's largest Muslim rebel group, which authorities say ranges from 30,000 to 40,000.
"The President has directed all of us to focus on and step up normalization programs because he knows the success of these efforts is the key to establishing lasting peace in Mindanao,” Nograles said.
MILF fighters who have surrendered their firearms will receive livelihood and housing assistance, scholarships, and employment opportunities, among others, Nograles said.
The Cabinet official explained that the government aims to have 35 percent more of MILF fighters commissioned by next year and the remainder by 2022.
"Among others" in the benefits received includes amnesty from past crimes. That is part of the normalisation process which has been detailed on this blog previously.
2. To facilitate the healing of the wounds of conflict and the return to normal life, the Government shall take immediate steps through amnesty, pardon and other available processes towards the resolution of cases of persons charged with or convicted of crimes and offences connected to the armed conflict in Mindanao.
Perhaps this explains why the government is so eager to give ex-terrorists freebies instead of absolutely destroying them. Perhaps this explains why even though the President has threatened all out war with the NPA such war has yet to manifest. Perhaps this policy explains why the Philippines seeks to use a more enlightened method of dealing with terrorists than killing them with guns.
More local government units (LGUs) are getting enlightened against the lies and acts of deception by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), hence the spate of persona non grata declarations against the communist rebels.
This was the reply of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato when asked to comment on the matter Thursday.
"LGUs who declared the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) persona non grata are those who are enlightened on the negative effects of the terror group," Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency.
Also, the decision to declare the CPP-NPA persona non grata can be attributed to the communist rebels' negative impact on the business climate.
"(The LGUs decision to declare the CPP-NPA also has something to do) on its impact on the growth and business climate of their communities," Detoyato stressed.
First of all why not have the House and Senate draft a bill condemning the CPP-NPA to persona non grata status? Why seek to have them labelled a terrorist group? It's been almost two years since the DOJ has sought that status to be applied to the CPP-NPA and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
Second of all both the declaring of the CPP-NPA as persona non grata and Davao's desire to lift martial law in the city have one thing in common. Economics! Martial law and the CPP-NPA are both bad for business.
"First, more and more LGUs are declaring the CPP-NPA as persona non grata because they are finally realizing the deleterious effect of the presence of NPAs in their community. The NPAs prevent development by burning equipment and extort from businessmen," Lorenzana said in a message to the Philippine News Agency.
Truly when a man's pocketbook is affected he will take action. Maybe all AFP Officers' pay should be slashed in order to get them to perform their duties better.
In a rare act of candor, the outgoing commanding general of the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas admitted he fell short of eradicating insurgency in the region during his nearly three-year tour-of-duty.
But Maj. Gen. Raul Farnacio said he had made significant achievements that weakened communist rebel forces.
“It was not mission accomplished but, modesty aside, we’re able to contain the insurgency,” Farnacio said on Monday (July 1).
"It was not mission accomplished" but they were able to contain the insurgency. A stunning admission. All the talk from the DND about making the CPP-NPA insignificant and ending them and all it amounts to is simply containing the problem. When will the AFP get off their butts and destroy the insurgency? Fifty years is long enough!
Signs, signs, everywhere signs! Let's look at some signs.
First up this lovely gem.
I did a double take when I first saw this sign. Sewer wanted? What? Like pipes for the toilet? Oh! They mean seamstress wanted. Apparently that word is not in the vocabulary of whoever wrote this sign.
Just one!
This sign was hanging from the window of a bar during a fiesta. All the fun is in not knowing what it means. That is clearly a Nazi swastika and not a Buddhist swastika. What about the 'gator? What does he represent? Sunog Baga means fire lungs which only adds to the mystery. There were people wearing t-shirts with this design so there is a group but I will never know just what they are representing. Motorcycle gang perhaps?
This ironic sign is hanging inside an elementary school classroom. Amazingly enough even after years of schooling Filipinos will still be ignorant about basic history such as the real history of independence. June 12th, 1898 is not it.
Someone is offering lessons in dance, music, modelling, and singing. Whoever they are must be a real all round artist. How would dance and modelling classes be properly taught outside of a studio and at the student's home? It's too bad this sign got torn down after the election. Likely caught up in the tearing down of campaign posters by which it was surrounded.
Everyone knows Filipinos love to appropriate American pop culture iconpgraphy. Here we have a moving homage to the Godfather. The Godfather is a man obviously. Jefe means boss and is a masculine noun. So why is the definite article "La" instead of "El"? If the Jefe is a woman the word would be rendered Jefa and preceded with La. Maybe the bad grammar is part of the charm? Something to ponder as you eat your food porn.
This sign is high up on the ceiling. Why would it be placed there? Who looks at the ceiling when they are at the mall? More importantly how necessary is this sign? Do I need to be thanked for not smoking in the mall? Does anyone smoke in the mall? Have you ever seen anyone light a cigarette inside the mall? Of course you haven't because people don't do that.
I was going to write a review of this restaurant but I never got around to it. Suffice it to say coffee and baby back ribs do not pair well together. There was also nothing special about the ribs or the coffee. Note the incorrect spelling of backribs.
In his December 1901 State of the Union Address President Theodore Roosevelt had plenty of things to say about the Philippines. The Philippine-American war was still raging and questions lingered about the fate of the Philippines. What did the United States intend to do with this newly acquired territory? Roosevelt answered those questions.
In the Philippines our problem is larger. They are very rich tropical islands, inhabited by many varying tribes, representing widely different stages of progress toward civilization. Our earnest effort is to help these people upward along the stony and difficult path that leads to self-government. We hope to make our administration of the islands honorable to our Nation by making it of the highest benefit to the Filipinos themselves; and as an earnest of what we intend to do, we point to what we have done. Already a greater measure of material prosperity and of governmental honesty and efficiency has been attained in the Philippines than ever before in their history.
It is no light task for a nation to achieve the temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery. Our people are now successfully governing themselves, because for more than a thousand years they have been slowly fitting themselves, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously, toward this end. What has taken us thirty generations to achieve, we cannot expect to have another race accomplish out of hand, especially when large portions of that race start very far behind the point which our ancestors had reached even thirty generations ago. In dealing with the Philippine people we must show both patience and strength, forbearance and steadfast resolution. Our aim is high. We do not desire to do for the islanders merely what has elsewhere been done for tropic peoples by even the best foreign governments. We hope to do for them what has never before been done for any people of the tropics—to make them fit for self-government after the fashion of the really free nations.
History may safely be challenged to show a single instance in which a masterful race such as ours, having been forced by the exigencies of war to take possession of an alien land, has behaved to its inhabitants with the disinterested zeal for their progress that our people have shown in the Philippines. To leave the islands at this time would mean that they would fall into a welter of murderous anarchy. Such desertion of duty on our part would be a crime against humanity. The character of Governor Taft and of his associates and subordinates is a proof, if such be needed, of the sincerity of our effort to give the islanders a constantly increasing measure of self-government, exactly as fast as they show themselves fit to exercise it. Since the civil government was established not an appointment has been made in the islands with any reference to considerations of political influence, or to aught else Save the fitness of the man and the needs of the service.
In our anxiety for the welfare and progress of the Philippines, may be that here and there we have gone too rapidly in giving them local self-government. It is on this side that our error, if any, has been committed. No competent observer, sincerely desirous of finding out the facts and influenced only by a desire for the welfare of the natives, can assert that we have not gone far enough. We have gone to the very verge of safety in hastening the process. To have taken a single step farther or faster in advance would have been folly and weakness, and might well have been crime. We are extremely anxious that the natives shall show the power of governing themselves. We are anxious, first for their sakes, and next, because it relieves us of a great burden. There need not be the slightest fear of our not continuing to give them all the liberty for which they are fit.
The only fear is lest in our over anxiety we give them a degree of independence for which they are unfit, thereby inviting reaction and disaster. As fast as there is any reasonable hope that in a given district the people can govern themselves, self-government has been given in that district. There is not a locality fitted for self-government which has not received it. But it may well be that in certain cases it will have to be withdrawn because the inhabitants show themselves unfit to exercise it; such instances have already occurred. In other words, there is not the slightest chance of our failing to show a sufficiently humanitarian spirit. The danger comes in the opposite direction.
A close reading of this text by any modern liberal would immediately have them crying foul. Here the President of the US refers to the Americans as a master race and the Philippines as a nation of people in various stages on the path to civilisation. He is literally calling Filipinos savages who are unfit to govern themselves and need the tutelage of the superior Americans!
What about the revolutionaries led by Aguinaldo? He declared independence on June 12th, 1898, organised an entire government with a functioning cabinet, and sent representatives around the world to gain recognition of the new Philippine Republic. Surely he is no savage? What Roosevelt is affirming here is that not even Aguinaldo and his government were fit to govern. How awful! What an evil, racist white man! All men are created equal you bigot!
Fast forward 118 years later to 2019 and we can understand just how prophetic and true Roosevelt's words are. The US was quick to relinquish sovereignty over the Philippines as it relived them of an expensive financial and humanitarian burden. But Roosevelt was concerned that Filipinos might be given an independence for which they were not ready. In the second paragraph he mentions "the temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery."
Do Filipinos possess the temperamental qualities necessary for free government? What do we see today in the Philippines?
Political dynasties strangleholding the nation thinking they are owed by the people just by virtue of their name.
Unqualified film actors and comedians occupying the highest offices of the land.
Politicians shifting from House to Senate and back again to hold on to power.
A government at every level populated with thieves, plunderers, and even murderers.
Rampant nepotism and cronyism.
A nation and a political class (what a loathsome thing that is!) which does not understand the function of government or its obligations to the people.
A people who are actively calling for a new dictatorship and who paint the old one under Marcos with rosy hues.
Constant political assassinations and violence.
The need to deploy the military during every election.
Politicians putting their faces and names in all kinds of places in a never ending self-promotion and election campaign.
Do Filipinos have "the temperamental qualities without which the institutions of free government are but an empty mockery?" Ask yourself that honestly. Think about it. Look at the reality around you. The answer is not yes. Some have those qualities more than others but the overwhelming answer is, "No!"
