Thursday, January 30, 2020

Forgotten History: The 1820 Massacre of Europeans in Manila

Historian and professor Ambeth Ocampo recently published a column about the cholera epidemic and subsequent massacre of foreigners in Manila in 1820. His intent was to draw parallels between the misguided and irrational fear of foreigners and diseases in the past with the fear of the Chinese and the coronavirus today. I think he fails miserably but the story he brings up is rather interesting. It is noteworthy that Ocampo wrote about this same incident from a different perspective in 2005. He quotes a few eyewitnesses but gives no sources which is terrible. However if you are studying the history of the Philippines there is no better place to look than The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898.



All 55 volumes can be found online at the University of Michigan. The 1820 Manila massacre is recorded in volume 51.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898
First a general telling of the tale.
In October of the year 1820, Manila was ravaged by a terrible epidemic of smallpox, which was especially fatal in the villages along the Pasig River; the corregidor of Tondo therefore issued an edict prohibiting the use of the river water. A public relief committee was organized to give the sick medical treatment and to furnish food to the poor; and the friars and the private citizens vied with the authorities in ministering to the victims of the pest. The medical men belonging to the ships anchored in the bay came to the city, and did all in their power to aid these benevolent efforts; but all these things only confirmed in the ignorant natives the fatal idea, already spread among them, that the disease was caused by the foreigners having poisoned the waters and used to this end the specimens of insects and other creatures which they had collected for scientific purposes. A crowd of armed Indians therefore gathered in the square of Binondo on October 9, attacked the houses of the foreigners, and murdered twenty-seven persons—among whom was not one Spaniard; nor did they, in plundering the houses, rob any Spaniard. The governor sent out some troops, but they accomplished nothing in checking the riot, which ended only at nightfall; and he did nothing to prevent further crimes of this sort, so that the mob renewed their acts of violence the next day, plundering and killing many Chinese of the suburbs. This aroused Folgueras to activity, and he sent out a large force of soldiers to pursue the assassins; but the latter at once dispersed. A council of the authorities was called, but there were discordant opinions among them, and they seem to have taken no definite action. The municipal council of Manila called upon the governor for the proper legal proceedings in regard to this scandalous and lawless uprising; and for this purpose he appointed a commission.
Vol 51, pg 39-45
This account mentions smallpox but elsewhere we read only of a cholera epidemic.  The above account also gives no inkling of where the notion originated that foreigners poisoned the waters. Note carefully that no Spaniards were harmed and the governor did nothing to stop the riot or prevent further killings. That is important because one eyewitness, who's testimony is appended as a footnote, declared it was the Spaniard's jealously of foreigners establishing economic enterprises in the country and becoming wealthy which caused them to spread the rumor of foreigners poisoning the water. This man's name is Peter Dobell. He was an Irish born American businessman and the first envoy from Russia to the Philippines.

https://web.archive.org/web/20100723134209/https://philippines.mid.ru/relations.html
An interesting account of this event is furnished in a letter by Peter Dobell, then Russian consul in the Philippines, which is preserved in the New York Public Library; it is printed in the Bulletin of that institution for June, 1903, at pp. 198–200. Dobell went to Macao for medical treatment in July, 1820, and this letter was written from that city, on November 28 of that year. 
He thus writes: “I arrived with my wife and daughter at Manilla last March, was received with great apparent attention, politeness & hospitality. After living there a couple of months, however, I perceived that there existed a vast deal of jealousy and envy, against all strangers, and particularly those who resided or intended to form establishments in the country. Those ignorant people could not divest themselves of this feeling, even toward those, whose capitals, talents and industry, were directed to the most laudable pursuits, and promised to produce great public as well as private advantages to the colony. 
At this crisis several french ships were in the port, one or two Americans and a English ship from Bengal. In the French ships, had arrived a naturalist sent out by the government to make collections, and some persons, who intended to remain in the Philippines to cultivate sugar, cotton &c. &c. In the month of July last, I discovered that I had in my travels, contracted a disease, called by the Doctorr Hydrocele and becoming very troublesome to me, I determined as there are no good surgeons in Manilla to pay a short visit to Macao with my family & return to my post, as soon as circumstances would permit, after the operation. This I found, I could do the more conveniently, as my Nephew, a fine young Man of 23 years, had joined me at my arrival and I left him, in full charge of my office &c and departed. 
This envious disposition, on the part of the Spaniards, increased daily, against the Strangers, until an opportunity presented itself of gratifying their malignant hatred, in the most cruel & bloody manner & without themselves appearing to have any thing to do in the business. It is necessary first to tell you, that the new constitution, had been received during the prevalence of this feeling, giving extensive privileges & liberal encouragement to foreigners, who might think proper to settle in the Philippines & rendering the natives as free & equal, in rights, etc. as their former masters. This certainly made them a little unruly, but, if not secretly instigated, it would never have induced them to commit a crime, that makes humanity shudder. 
The ship from Bengal, was the Merope Captain Nichols and it was supposed she had brought into the colony the epidemic, that has ravaged all India, this year, under the name of the ‘Cholera Morbus.’ It made its appearance, in the beginning of October last, carrying off great numbers of the Indians every day. 
The humane French & other Strangers, who beheld these miserable wretches, dying around them without any medical aid, freely administered what medicines they had, and were actively & daily employed, in endeavoring to alleviate; the distress & cure the complaints of all those, who lived within the sphere of their exertions. This also became, a cause of jealousy and hatred and the villains, began immediately to exasperate the Indians by saying, ‘this poisonous disease, was introduced by the French & the other strangers, they have poisoned even the waters, and they administer poison to the sick, purposely to exterpate the whole race of Tagalians.’ 
The ferocious Indians wanted nothing farther to excite them to deeds of blood & plunder. On the 9th of October about 10 or 11 in the morning they collected, to the number of about 3,000 Men armed with pikes knives and bludgeons and proceeded coolly and deliberately to plunder and Massacre all the Strangers on whom they could lay their hands! 
I have not time to give you the details of this shocking business, but you will certainly read them in the gazettes as I have sent both to England and Russia very full accounts for publication. Suffice it now to say that the Governor & the authorities were vainly implored for assistance. They came, it is true, with the troops, but it was only to behold with sang froid the horrid spectacle. Not a musket was fired to save the lives of those unfortunate and defenceless strangers, who to the number of 39 were plundered & cruelly massacred; some of them were so cut up & mangled it was impossible to recognize them. 
As the most of them were Roman Catholics, they were all collected and thrown into a hole together without the shadow of a ceremony or a stone to mark their graves! What is worse, the last accountts from there down to the 9th of November mention that not a Spanish life was lost, nor has a single native as yet suffered punishment for this most atrocious & horrible deed. My house was attacked & pillaged, my Nephew & a Mr Prince of Boston, who lived with him, made prisoners, and, after being near two days in the hands of the Indians, suffering the most abominable treatment, they luckily escaped Death. Eighty five Chinese & 11 English seamen were also plundered & assassinated. 
I have been obliged to represent this affair in its full suit of Black to my Government and have at the same time declared my intention of going back to Siberia, next April, where I shall await the orders of His Imperial Majesty …. I leave the place & those miscreants to themselves, from the conviction, that its commerce is ruined forever. In the first place they held their productions too high & paid too low for European commodities, so that, when the allowance of the half duties granted to the importers of sugars shall cease, no french ships will visit the Philippines to pay from 7 to 9 Dollars a pecul for Sugars. The Cadmus, you say will make money. If she does, she will I fancy be the only American ship that profits by its trade to Manilla. All those, who came out last year lost money on the sales of their cargoes, &, from what we hear of prices in America, and on the Continent, they must lose by the returns. 
But what will give the death blow to the prosperity of the Philippines, is the late horrible massacre. All those french and other foreigners, who were anxious to have established themselves in commerce or on estates in the country, are now frightened off and certainly no one will find himself, confident enough to trust to a Government, which could permit such a massacre to take place, immediately under its eyes, when it had 5,000 men in arms, ready at a minutes notice to disperse the Mob. 
Thus situated, Manilla offers no chance of profit or Speculation; and I confess, however my hopes and wishes may have been disappointed, I turn from them with disgust & horror, better pleased to be ordered to live, in some remote corner of Siberia, on black bread & salt, than roll in wealth, amidst such an inhuman, illiberal and unchristianlike race of Men …. I must close my letter by informing you that the Captain General has refused all the applications for indemnification, from those who have been plundered; so that as yet, neither the punishment due to the assassins has been inflicted, nor redress made to the unfortunate people who were robbed.”
Vol 51, pg 40-43
Russian ambassador Peter Dobell says with no compunction the Spanish spread a false rumor about foreigners and gleefully looked on as the natives, Indians he calls them, massacred and plundered them. A second footnote from this section tell us just how the natives substantiated this rumor.
By the kindness of James A. LeRoy, the Editors have in their hands a copy (furnished by Dr. Pardo de Tavera from the original in his possession) of a decree issued by Governor Folgueras (dated at Manila, October 20, 1820), addressed “to the natives of the Filipinas Islands, and especially to those of the district of Tondo,” in which he rebukes them severely for thus violating the law of nations, under the influence of “a general frenzy,” and “led astray and infuriated by certain malicious persons.” He characterizes their belief that the strangers had poisoned the waters as a foolish and absurd notion, which “the mountain Negritos or the Moros of Joló and Mindanao would be ashamed to entertain;” and reminds them that the strangers whom they have plundered and slain were not only friends and brethren, but the very persons on whom the prosperity of the islands must depend, since they supplied a market for the produce of the country. 
He then presents the report which has been made by an official whom the governor had specially appointed (October 13) to investigate this idea of the foreigners’ crime, which is to the following effect: “As the evidence of guilt [cuerpo de delito, the same as the Latin corpus delicti] in the poisoning which is charged, the Indians have brought to us, among the spoils which they plundered from the houses of the Frenchmen, various animals of different forms, and among them a serpent, of quite the usual size, one of those which they call ‘house-snakes,’ in a dissected state; others, with some little shellfish, preserved in spirits of wine, in a crystal flask; in another, two granos of muriatic baryte; a quantity of Peruvian bark, which in my opinion would weigh about an arroba and a half; and a box of sheet-tin about a vara long, one-fourth as wide, and six dedos thick, in which also was found a mass of insects, but already decaying; and finally, in the house of a woman who had been accused of being an agent of the French for the alleged poisoning, a little package of some black powders in China paper [i.e., rice paper].” The official states that these animal specimens have evidently “no other object than to enrich cabinets of natural history,” and could not in any way have been used for injuring human beings. The muriatic baryte was for use in analyzing mineral waters, and was, moreover, useful in various diseases. The Peruvian bark was, as all might know, a useful medicine and had often been helpful in checking the cholera itself. The black powders, it was also decided, were also of medicinal value; and the entire story is characterized as a fiction and delusion. The official regrets that it was believed by so many persons who should have known better than to accept so gross an error; “but it is certain that they did, and, among them, many of the clergy; and with this the delusion attained such power that it has caused the very scandalous deeds which all good persons lament; for it is certain that there is no better way of propagating an error than for persons of authority to adopt it. 
There is no doubt, it appears, that this foolish idea of poisoning had its origin in the ignorance of the Indians; but there is as little doubt that malicious persons, imposing upon this folly and lack of knowledge in the Indians, incited them to perpetrate the assassinations and robberies of the disastrous days, October 9 and 10.” He adds that one of the books brought to him by the Indians, which they had taken from the house of the French naturalist, was filled with sketches of fishes, mollusks, and birds peculiar to the country, which plainly showed that he was only making zoological observations. In view of all these things, Folgueras calls upon the natives to repent of their sin, to surrender to the authorities the instigators of the tumult, to restore to the plundered foreigners what had been stolen from them, and to denounce the authors of the murders, that justice might be done to these evil persons. These exhortations are especially addressed to the inhabitants of Binondo, “which has been the theatre of the most horrible tragedy, and has covered itself with blood and ignominy.” This decree is published by Dr. Pardo de Tavera, from the original printed edition, in his Biblioteca filipina, pp. 45–47.
Vol. 51, pg 43-45
Native Filipinos pointed to items they plundered from naturalists as evidence that the water had been poisoned. Likely these same kind of items, various flora and fauna, were used by them to cast spells against their enemies so they figured foreigners would use them likewise. Cholera, however, is not the result of magic spells or poisoning. It is the result of unsanitary living conditions. From the Facebook page "Ka Totoy Talastas Philippines & World History Tell" we read the following.
It would seem that cholera also be attributed to the unsanitary conditions in Manila and the communities that surrounds it. The Pasig River which is the source of potable water and is used in the daily activities of the suburbs is also the place where garbages, human waste and other trash are dumped. In addition, Manila and its suburbs during this time do not have any systematic collection of garbages. It would therefore safe to argue that these unsanitary conditions existing in Manila aggravated or worsened the cholera.
https://www.facebook.com/katotoytalastas/photos/philippinescholera-epidemic-and-the-massacre-of-foreignersthe-cholera-epidemic-o/2207307312639761/
Still water is also a major breeding ground for Cholera and we read this description of the streets of Manila from an Englishman.
The streets of the city are narrow and dirty; and the middle being a hollow, in rainy weather forms a continued puddle. They are paved at the sides with granite from China, the stone in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila being too soft. The pavement is not in good repair, and in some streets only occupies one side; the other, which is generally occupied by a large house, or the wall of a convent, being heaped up with dirt, rendered solid by long accumulation, and forming a hill against the wall, the receptacle of …. This is not confined to bye-lanes, but is most common in the great square (Plaza Constitucional) in front of the cathedral!
Vol. 51, pg 167-168
Muddy streets with pools of still water as well as garbage all over the place do not make for disease-free conditions. This same Englishman laments that the authorities allowed the natives to massacre foreigners freely and opined that it will one day be the undoing of the Spanish.
The 9th of October, 1820, has given a fatal blow to the power of Spain in this country; for much as has been written and said on the subject, it is questionable whether there exists any country of black men, where the white is not looked upon as an intruder; and “the country belongs to the Indians,” “La tierra es de los Yndios,” is a common remark, even amongst the lower orders. Moral or political injustice seldom fails to recoil on the head of the oppressor; and when the government of Manila allowed an indiscriminate massacre and pillage of European foreigners by the mob, and by their shameful lenity gave a tacit sanction to it, they taught the Indian, that he might with equal impunity attack them. The plunder then obtained is a premium to future violence; and perhaps the day is not far distant, when they may bitterly repent the hour in which they allowed the Indian to feel his physical superiority.
Vol. 51, pg 179-180
Was the massacre of Manila a precursor to the revolutionary movement of the later 19th century? 

Let's distill this long story into a few major points and we can see that there are parallels though not the ones Professor Ocampo makes. Honestly the Philippines has a lot to fear from the Chinese from encroaching on territory in the WPS to importing criminality of all kinds via POGOs. How can Professor Ocampo not understand that?

1. Foreigners were being allowed to establish economic enterprises in the Philippines.

2. These foreigners were becoming wealthy.

3. The Spaniards became jealous. One has to wonder why they did not develop the country after 300 years. From the same Englishman we read the following analysis.
Their position, whether in a political or commercial point of view, is strikingly advantageous. With India and the Malay Archipelago on the west and south, the islands of the fertile Pacific and the rising empires of the new world on the east, the vast market of China at their doors, their insular position and numerous rivers affording a facility of communication and defence to every part of them, an active and industrious population, climates of almost all varieties, a soil so fertile in vegetable and mineral productions as almost to exceed credibility; the Phillippine Islands alone, in the hands of an industrious and commercial nation, and with a free and enlightened government, would have become a mighty empire:—they are—a waste! 

Vol. 51, pg 74-75
That this colony, the most favoured perhaps under heaven by nature, should have remained till the present day almost a forest, is a circumstance which has generally excited surprise in those who are acquainted with it, and has as generally been accounted for by attributing it to the laziness of the Spaniards and Indians.
Vol 51, pg 91
The Englishman then goes on to demonstrate that it is not the laziness of the Spaniards and Indians that kept prosperity at bay but that is for another time. However if you take the whole of the Spanish empire in the Americas and Philippines and contrast that with the United States which is a nation carved out of the wilderness you can see the difference. It's as if the Spanish did not take the time to develop those lands. No wonder they were jealous of successful foreigners! 


4. The ruling Spaniards utilized the ignorance of the natives for their own purpose.

5. The authorities looked on and did nothing while people were massacred.

We see a lot of the same things happening today. A need for foreign capital, jealousy on the part of the natives who make it almost impossible for foreigners to do business in the Philippines (think red tape and the 40/60 law which prevents foreigners from owning businesses), a mass of ignorant people manipulated by those in power to achieve their ends, and authorities who cannot or will not do their jobs.

The more things change the more they stay the same! 

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Hi, My Name is...14

It's a new year and there are plenty of new people to meet!

Hi, my name is Felix Garganian and this is my wife Avelina. We were driving to Bayawan City when suddenly a motorcycle pulled up and the rider pulled out his gun and killed up both! At least we died together.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/278988/couple-shot-dead-in-bayawan-city

Hi, my name is Ray Moncada and I am a lawyer. Being a lawyer is one of the most deadly and dangerous occupations in the Philippines. I know this now by experience. One morning a visitor was pressing the buzzer at my house. I wandered out there to see how it was and when I saw he had a gun I ran back to the house. The man fired six times but only hit me once. I have no idea who it was but it was probably "The Punisher."
Relatives also gave police investigators a letter from a certain “The Punisher” addressed to Moncada.  
Entoma, in an interview with CDN Digital, part of the letter read “I-uli ang imong kinawat kay kung dili amo…..kuanon ang imong….pamilya.”  
(Return what you stole because if not, we will.. your.. family.)
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/278974/police-say-lawyer-shot-in-dumaguete-received-death-threats

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1208696/lawyer-73-shot-outside-home-in-dumaguete-city

Hi, my name is Noriza DeLuna. In 2008 I filed an application for permanent residency in Singapore for both me and my daughter.  I submitted a fake college diploma and transcript for myself and was not caught until 2017.  But through their internal investigations the came up again and now I have been sentenced to 7 weeks in jail and will probably be deported to the Philippines and separated from my family.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/722306/pinay-in-singapore-gets-7-weeks-in-prison-over-fake-diploma-grades/story/


Hi, my name is Lawrex Roy Marinda and this is my live-in-partner Moriel Sola. We were sitting in our house enjoying the evening when gunmen suddenly barged in through the door! They shot use dead right where we were sitting. Shot us down like dogs for no reason.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1215677/couple-shot-dead-in-sorsogon

Hi, my name is Jacques Francioly. I am a Frenchman visiting the Philippines for a little hiking in the mountains.  On January 13th I left my hotel to do a little sight seeing but I did not return. Nine days later on January 22nd the authorities began a search and rescue operation. Thankfully the found me alive and emaciated in a ravine. It took them 5 hours to transport me to the hospital. This is a vacation I will never forget.

Hi, my name is Romulado Pace.  I was walking with my carabao when all of a sudden we were both zapped with thousands of volts of electricity. Killed us pretty much instantly. The authorities say we must have stumbled upon electrical wires which were downed last month during typhoon Ursula. Why weren't they fixed and how many more lines are still down in the area?

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Insurgency: Scrap VFA

A new year means new kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091641
The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has confirmed that the five Indonesian fishermen seized on January 16 off Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia, were taken to the province of Sulu. 
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief, said Wednesday two of the six gunmen involved in the kidnapping, who turned out to be Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits, have been killed in an airstrike off Sulare Island, Parang, Sulu. 
“Initially, they abducted eight, but the three were immediately released and they were the ones who reported to the incident to their superior, who in turn reported to Malaysian authorities,” he said. 
The six ASG bandits, who staged the abduction, forced the five Indonesian fishermen onto their twin-engine speedboat and sped off leaving behind the other three on a tugboat. 
Sobejana said they immediately deployed forces to prevent the entry of the ASG bandits to the territorial waters of the Philippines upon coordination by their Malaysian counterpart. 
However, he said the incident happened at 3 p.m. but they received the communication from Malaysian authorities at 6 p.m. 
“There was a three-hour gap. In those three hours, they were able to slip through (the Philippine territory) bringing the kidnap victims,” he said.
The last kidnapping happened in October when a British national and his wife were abducted in Zamboanga. They were safely recovered but Abu Sayyaf is at it again abducting fishermen. Why are they able to continue with their kidnapping activities? There are two answers.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/trilateral-patrols-01222020162726.html
Kidnappings in Malaysian waters bordering Indonesia and the Philippines – largely blamed on Abu Sayyaf militants – are still happening despite joint air and sea patrols launched in 2017, a Filipino military official conceded Wednesday, saying it remains a challenge to secure the local seas because of their sheer size. 
While the Trilateral Maritime Patrols (TMP) launched in 2017 have had some effect in combating the threat, the region is lawless as pirates and militants reign with impunity, said Maj. Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the Philippine military’s Western Mindanao Command. 
“We have our ongoing operation right now. We cannot just do it alone – it’s coordinated with our counterparts,” Encinas told BenarNews. “It’s effective, but it’s not enough since the area we cover is too big.” 
His counterparts in Indonesia and Malaysia offered similar comments. 
They spoke about strengthening patrols to protect civilians, less than a week after suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen abducted five Indonesian fishermen from a fishing boat in Malaysian waters in eastern Sabah state, close to Tawi-Tawi province in the southern Philippines. 
A spokesman for the Indonesian military (TNI) said the countries were hampered by boundaries. 
Indonesian Security Minister Mahfud MD said he planned to discuss maritime security concerns with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, adding there was a reason for why the kidnappings were still happening. 
“Because Abu Sayyaf has not died,” he told reporters.
The size of the ocean to patrol is too big and international boundaries must be respected and Abu Sayyf, despite their dwindling numbers, is not dead. Any assertion to the contrary is premature as seen by this recent kidnapping. This is no time for the AFP to let down their guard or think the fight is almost over. 

Newly installed AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. has bared his plan for protecting the nation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1217825/afp-chief-seeks-an-end-to-local-armed-conflict-before-shift-to-territorial-defense
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said he would prioritize on ending local armed conflict during his term before they can finally shift their full focus on a territorial defense role. 
(We’ve always said that we need to end the local terrorist armed conflict. Business and economy will boom, all of us will be united for our country. Then we could focus on the real threat against our territory.) 
Communist insurgency and the neutralization of terrorists in Mindanao continue to be a hindrance to the military’s total shift to external defense. 
(My priority is ending local armed conflict. If we finally end it, the groups that establish hate against the government will go away. Hopefully, we will be one as Filipinos. If we have done that, the territorial defense role would be easy.) 
Even with the current focus on internal security challenges, the military has started to develop its capabilities for territorial defense through the AFP modernization program. 
Santos said they are aiming “to be a credible armed forces” before the decade ends. The modernization program is divided into three phases called “horizon,” and the last phase is from 2023 to 2028. 
“Hopefully, we’ll attain that objective,” he said. 
The need to shift to territorial defense is highlighted by China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea. But Santos would not say what they are specifically preparing for in terms of territorial defense. 
(It’s for a potential threat. We can’t predict the alignment of the superpowers. Our (modernization) goal is not for offensive but to protect our country.)
AFP Chief Santos wants to end the local terrorist armed conflict before the AFP focuses on the real threat to the nation. What is the real threat to the Philippines? Is it China? Santos says China is only a potential threat not an actual threat.  Two weeks ago he said the very opposite.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1090510
"Similar to my predecessors, my tenure as Chief of Staff will be grounded on the realization of the AFP's vision to be world-class armed forces that are a source of national pride," Santos said in a statement late Thursday. 
He called for the continued protection, defense, and security of the country against foreign intrusions, and the extraction and exploitation of natural resources. 
The AFP chief called for the sustained support to national policy and defense agenda that aim to develop a credible force and strengthen capabilities on occupied features in the Kalayaan Island Group. 
Santos also ordered the reinforcement of maritime and air domain awareness particularly in sea lanes of communications, Philippine Defense Area of Operations, and Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone. 
"The AFP shall also continue to monitor developments in the Spratlys particularly the facilities and structures constructed and military hardware and defense systems installed/deployed in these areas," he added. 
To achieve this, Santos called for the creation of an intelligence network and communication system for timely reporting of the situation in the West Philippine Sea. 
He added that AFP troops should support national efforts in territorial waters against illegal fishing, poaching, and island taking/building, and support law enforcement against transnational crime. 
The AFP chief also called for the expansion of existing international military engagements; strategically shape the security agenda, and promote defense and security cooperation through international defense and security engagements and peacekeeping operations. 
This includes the enhancement of border security using existing cooperative agreements such as the TCA with Malaysia and Indonesia and increases coordinated patrols with other ASEAN militaries to prevent the use of common maritime borders for the transit of terror groups, transport of contrabands, and conduct of other illegal activities. 
For internal security operations, Santos directed all AFP commanders to build upon gains of the Development Support Security Plan "Kapayapaan" and finish targeted goals related to the defeat of the communist terrorist group (CTG). 
On this, he said the AFP's five primary tasks: Decisively engage CTG armed groups; Clear priority guerilla fronts; Dismantle regional guerilla units; Neutralize key leaders, officers, and HVIs; and Conduct resource-control operations and increase the tempo of clearing guerilla fronts, pursue localized peace initiatives.
It is only China that is taking islands and poaching fish and other natural resources. So why would Santos call China only a potential threat?  AFP Chief Santos also links the defeat of the local terrorist groups with a necessary booming in the economy saying, "Business and economy will boom, all of us will be united for our country." Some LGU's agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091077
The presence of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has been one of the contributing factors of this city’s progress and development, Mayor Oscar Moreno said during the occasion of the division's 50th founding anniversary on Wednesday. 

Because of the region's stable peace and order, Moreno said investments have been poured into Northern Mindanao, especially in Cagayan de Oro, its capital, as well as the city's neighboring towns.
Sometimes it appears that the only reasons to end the local armed conflict are purely economic. Newly installed commander of East Mindanao Command is dead set on destroying the communists and not for economic reasons.


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091972
The newly-installed commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) vowed to put an end to the communist insurgency and bring genuine peace in his area of responsibility. 
"Anchoring on the intent of the Commander in Chief to end local communist armed conflict, as stated in the Executive Order 70, the Eastern Mindanao Command will remain resolute in its commitment to comply and endeavor to defeat the communist terrorist group and to finally declare the Filipino people as victors against these menace of the society which has been causing chaos, economic sabotage, and exploitation of the vulnerable communities for more than 50 years now," Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino said in his speech during the change of command ceremony held here on Saturday. 
"The Eastern Mindanao Command has spearheaded the fight against the communist terrorists for several years already, and our efforts and innovations in ending local communist armed conflict have become the benchmark of success for the whole AFP," said the 55-year-old official, who once served as chief of the 11th Intelligence Service Unit in Davao City. 
"We will continue to do so. Not because it is part of our mission, but because it is the righteous thing to do in my almost three decades of service to the nation," he added. 
"I have come to understand not just the ideology behind this communist terrorist group but also the endless manipulations, the deceptions, the utter horror brought about by this group to our children, to our families. Countless innocent children have died, families broken, and parents suffering from the loss of their loved ones. Enough is enough. this has to end," he pointed out. 
Faustino, whose area of responsibility covers half of Mindanao's land area, said he will "take the fight to the heart of their ideology, to the center of their comfort zones, and to the deepest and remotest guerrilla bases." 
"We will not tire. We will not falter. We will break them hard so that no Filipino will become hostage to this godless communist ideology ever again," he said.
His remarks are reminiscent of the "We shall fight on the beaches" speech of Winston Churchill. Nothing about economics in his motive to defeat the communists. Of course one of the ways to end the local armed conflict is purely economic.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091930
Police and military authorities have issued a guide for local businesses in Bukidnon province in dealing with the extortion activities of the communist New People's Army (NPA). 
The guide, 8IB said, is contained in a simple infographic detailing the process that each business operator must do if they received a demand for "revolutionary tax" from the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). 
According to the infographic, business owners should preserve the letters, text messages, or phone calls of actual extortion demands, immediately report these to authorities, who will then verify, investigate, and provide relevant feedback. 
The 8IB said the NPA's extortion schemes involve sending out demand letters to local businesses to pay revolutionary taxes. Those who fail to pay up usually get their facilities or equipment burned down. 
Authorities added that the scheme is more common among contractors of government infrastructure projects, who often face delays due to the constant harassment from the NPA. 
“We are urging everybody to help us stop the finance of the NPA by reporting and preserving all calls, text messages and CCTV’s images because we need them to identify the suspects, report it to nearest Army and PNP offices," said Lt. Col. Ronald Illana said, commanding officer of the 8IB. 
Buklod president Doy Lopez has called on his 21-member businesses to post the "extortion guide" on their establishments, including the police and military hotlines to generate awareness and among their employees. 
“Being the president of this organization, I am encouraging everybody to help our Army and PNP, and do not be afraid to report and cooperate with them. It’s not only the NPAs who are doing extortion but there are other criminal groups and individuals also," Lopez said.
Last year the DILG said they had a list of 349 government execs who were paying NPA extortion money in order to campaign. They made it clear that they had a list and new names and were watching.
"We now have a watchlist, we know you. So if you are supporting communist rebels, in any way, you ascertain yourself as a supporter of terrorism and an enemy of the state, you establish yourself as an accomplice to their cause," he says. 
“We cannot win the war against terrorism if these local officials continue funding the very source of terrorism in the first place," he adds. 
The DILG Secretary says that of the 349 officials, there are 11 provincial governors; five vice governors; 10 provincial board members; 55 mayors; 21 vice mayors and 41 councilors.
https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-349-government-execs-pay-CPP-NPA-extortion-money-permit-to-campaign/NC-2019-1060
What happened to these people? Probably nothing. Which is why the DILG is touting a new list of NPA supporters.

https://mindanaodailymirror.ph/Main/full_article/malacanang-watchlist-shows-npa-supporters4866
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 11 has revealed that Malacañang has provided it with a watchlist containing names of politicians, government workers, and business owners allegedly providing support to the New People’s Army (NPA). 
Speaking to reporters at a briefing on Wednesday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, DILG 11 director Alex Roldan refused to reveal the names of the individuals, saying his office wants to take the most peaceful approach in dealing with the situation. 
(We don’t want to make the issue bigger and to shame the officials who are still giving support to the other side.) 
Roldan said the task of the DILG is to talk to those who are in the watchlist and ask them to stop supporting the activities of the rebels. 
(What we want to do is urge them to stop supporting the Left.) 
Roldan said Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año has already signified his intention to talk to the concerned personalities if needed. 
“If ever they cannot stop because of threats from the Left, talk to the Secretary or even President Duterte on how to go with it or what they can help,” he said. 
He said some mayors, vice mayors, barangay captains, barangay councilors, and other government workers and business owners in the region are in the watchlist.

Funny how the government knows who these people are and nothing is done about them. The same could be said for lists of alleged narco-cops and narco-politicians.

NPA extortion activites are very profitableFrom PLDT and Globe to local politicians the NPA is rolling in cash. They extorted P900 million in N. Samar alone. It has been an uphill battle for the AFP, DILG, and DND to dry up the financial resources of the NPA and apparently a futile one. Most probably think the way Duterte does, or once did, which is it is better to pay them.

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/new-peoples-army/npa-taxation-a-reality-just-pay-them-says-duterte/
“It’s a fundamental question for business: is it good to do business in the mountains? Do we give in to them?” the mayor asked. 
He said as mayor of a city in Mindanao dealing with “revolutionary” and “ideological” groups such as the Communist Party of the Philippines and Moro revolutionary groups, the way to deal with them is to talk to them. 
“It’s a matter others want to avoid. But it’s a reality that has to be talked openly, since the NPA is more active now in Region 11, notwithstanding the statements from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” Duterte said. 
December last year, Duterte drew flak when his pronouncement during a visit at the Communist Party of the Philippines quoted him as saying that he pays revolutionary tax. A youtube video later circulated accusing him of giving P125 million as annual revolutionary taxes. 
He clarified that he attended the CPP anniversary at a Typhoon Pablo-affected area where he gave some amount for the typhoon victims; the funds were sourced out from private donors. He said he merely kidded that the funds were the taxes that he would pay to NPAs, but because there was no barangay captain around to receive the donation, he coursed it through local NPA leaders. 
As to the NPAs asking taxes he said “I cannot put it to a stop. So factor that in your investments. If you pay to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), you prepare also for the NPA.” Some participants giggled and smiled on this remark.
None of those remarks are funny or helpful in the least. In fact they are very damning on his part. Not much of anything Duterte has done about the communist and Islamic terrorist problems has been helpful.  From freeing several NDFP members to flip-flopping on peace talks to making sure MNLF founder and leader Misuari remains free to falsely praising China for helping out in the Marawi siege most of what Duterte has done has been rather backwards. Now he is threatening to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States because Senator Bato's US visa has been cancelled.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1218839/duterte-threatens-to-scrap-vfa-if-us-doesnt-rectify-batos-visa-cancellation
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday threatened to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if the United States does not “correct” its cancellation of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa. 
“I’m warning you. This is the first time. Kapag hindi ninyo ginawa ang correction diyan [If you do not correct that], one: I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. Tapusin ko ‘yan pu**** in*** yan [I’ll end that son of a bitch],” Duterte said in a speech in the province of Leyte. 
The President said he is giving the US government one month to reverse its cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa.
Despite giving time to correct the cancellation of Bato's visa the administration says they have already begun the process of terminating the VFA. It is not clear what the result would be if the VFA were to be scrapped since the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) would still remain in force. At a bare minimum it would mean no more shore leave in Manila and Angeles. But since the VFA is a vital part of the MDT and EDCA which regulates US troops in the Philippines it could also mean no more US military activities in the Philippines and the effective cancellation of those prior agreements.

While all of that remains to be seen the most interesting thing to come out of this situation of Bato's visa cancellation so far is his admission that he has worked with the FBI and CIA.
I’ve been helping my counterparts from the US government, particularly their enforcement—the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation], the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency], and other agencies ng [of] US. We’ve been working together, ngayon  after that ganito, tanggalin nila [but now this, they’ll just have to cancel it]? It’s quite  bad.”
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1218210/bato-on-us-visa-cancellation-what-a-good-birthday-gift
How has Bato been helping out the FBI and the CIA? What other US agencies has he been helping? Those questions demand answering especially in the face of the administration excoriating Robredo for looking to the US for help in the drug war. Now that the whole nation knows Bato is a CIA asset it just goes to show how hypocritical these people are.

Just as unhelpful as Duterte's intention to scrap the VFA is his mishandling of the Marawi rehabilitation.  From delays in clearing and rebuilding because a blacklisted Chinese contractor was initially hired to delays in appropriating funds to approved projects the rebuilding of Marawi is a huge mess.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1219861/p406m-in-marawi-funds-for-2018-expire
At least P406.5 million in funds allotted in 2018 for the rebuilding of Marawi City expired and reverted to the national treasury mainly because of the slow approval of the national disaster agency and the Office of the President. 
The Marawi funds were included in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said acting Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado. 
“[But] the [Department of Budget and Management’s] (DBM) releases are contingent on the NDRRMC’s endorsement and the Office of the President’s approval,” Avisado said. 
Under NDRRMC rules, the NDRRMF can only be disbursed after implementing agencies submit project proposals that have been evaluated by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) that serves as the secretariat of the NDRRMC, which subsequently endorses the project to the Office of the President, Avisado explained. 
The government also struggled to use the P3.5 billion in Marawi funds appropriated under the 2019 spending bill, which will expire at the end of the year. 
The latest DBM data showed that P5.1 billion was allotted for the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (MRRRP) in the 2018 national budget and P4.4 billion was released as of Dec. 31, 2019. 
Of the P717.6-million balance, P311.1 million was earmarked for several projects but P307.9 million remained pending for approval by the Office of the President, on top of P3.3 million already approved by the Office of the President for issuance of the special allotment release order. 
Thus, P406.5 million expired despite the flurry of fund disbursements in December.
Given the problems in approving funds for projects it's about time a Marawi Rehabilitation Oversight Body has been proposed.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091654
Security and local government officials have proposed the creation of oversight committees to promote transparency and alignment of operations in relation to the rehabilitation of Marawi City. 

The proposal was presented in a dialogue by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Tuesday where they discussed resolutions for issues affecting Marawi City’s rehabilitation. 

Sobejana said issues concerning the rehabilitation scheme, including cyber propaganda, were discussed during the dialogue attended by traditional and elected leaders at the headquarters of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade in Marawi City.
It's too bad such an oversight body was not established immediately when the rehabilitation efforts began.

Monday, January 27, 2020

The Royal Institution Singapore Is A Scam

The Royal Institution Singapore is a scam...of sorts. It's not a diploma mill but it sure looks like one. At its core RIS is really a networking organization disguised in the most outrageous and gaudy fashion imaginable as a Royal Institution. The RIS came to my attention after reading in the news that Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia had been conferred with three honorary degrees from the RIS.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091550
Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Tuesday said he is inspired by the honorary titles conferred to him by Royal Institution (RI) of Singapore in rites held on Monday. 
“This award will be a source of inspiration for me and will be our standard by now, and we hope that we will be guided with this henceforth,” the mayor said. 
Leonardia was the top honoree among the 45 professionals, who were bestowed various titles during the Royal Institution’s 29th International Conference and Conferment Ceremony, led by founding chairman FDr. Prof. Dr. ATS Ang and chancellor FDr. Prof. Dr. Samuel Salvador in the L’ Fisher Hotel here. 
“I am so happy that I am now part of this institution,” he said. 
Leonardia was granted the title “Doctor Fellow” in recognition of his “meritorious professional experience and academic achievements,” and is hereby authorized to use the designation “FDr.” before his name. 
He also received the title “Honorary Fellow” in recognition of his “exemplary achievements, distinguished expertise, remarkable services, and contributions to society as a brilliant lawyer, outstanding legislator, illustrious public administrator, and transformational leader.” 
He was bestowed as well the title “Doctor Fellow of Royal Institute of Public Administrators” of Singapore for “having successfully fulfilled the requirements for membership” and in recognition of his “meritorious professional experiences and academic achievements” and is hereby authorized to use the designation of “DFRIPAr” after his name. 
Royal Institution is a global professional, multidisciplinary, membership and accrediting institution that serves as a premier platform for smarter and more effective and efficient international networking and collaboration. 
Previously, the Royal Institution had also honored former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Senator Richard Gordon, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, and renowned urban planner Arch. Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr.
According to their own website the mission of the Royal Institution Singapore is
To recognise the contribution, experience, academic and professional achievements, qualifications, talents and skills of all those who deserve recognition and who want to be distinguished and to continuously provide opportunities to enhance skills, competitive advantages, academic, professional and entrepreneurial status and profiles of RI members.
And their vision is
To be a world class global multidisciplinary professional membership and accrediting institution to level the playing field by recognising people and organisations who deserve to be recognised and be the premier platform for smarter and more effective global networking, connecting education, businesses, commerce, industries and facilitating collaboration, innovation and perpetual learning for more opportunities, benefits, privileges, excellence, global recognition and status.
That is a lot of mumbo-jumbo. Let's cut to the chase. The RIS is not a school. They do not confer degrees. There are no classes or professors. School's out forever! Instead you join as a member and pay them to confer an honorary degree upon you depending on your background. But it's not as simple as that either. Much like Skull and Bones you have to be tapped. Except you can also tap yourself by sending in an application.  Here is the membership flowchart:


https://www.ri2020.com/individual-membership/membership-process

On the membership application you have to choose your preferred Royal Institute.  You can choose from such wildly disparate classes as Royal Institute of Event Management, Royal Institute of Appraisers, Royal Institute of Doctorates, Royal Institute of Body Care, and Royal Institute of Air Conditioning and Heating Engineers. The list is very long so surely you will find a place for yourself.

Now that you have been accepted for membership you need to pay your fee which is based on the Professional Title for which you have qualified.

https://www.ri2020.com/individual-membership/membership-fees

All the qualifications for the titles listed above can be found here. Along with the membership title you also have to choose the appropriate robe and accoutrements. Each title has a different style of robe.

https://www.ri2020.com/individual-membership/ri-robe

And that's it. Nothing to it. You pay your money. You get your robe and your title and if you want to stay a member you pay the annual fee. It's hogwash, malarky, poppycock! You are paying big bucks to wear a fancy robe, get a silly title, and network with other people. Networking is the most important thing RIS offers. Nobody cares about the frivolous titles the RIS bestows upon people. Just take a look at these clowns.


No, not those clowns. These clowns!


What is the point of what they are doing? They are not graduating from a school. They are not receiving a degree. They are parading around in colorful robes and patting themselves on the back.  Even former President Gloria Arroyo is a member of RIS.

https://www.ri2020.com/about-us/governing-council/patrons

GMA actually does have a PhD in economics which is why the economy was so robust during her term as President. Everything after the BA is an alphabet soup related solely to the RIS. HonFRI means Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institution. Honestly no one cares. Royal Institution Singapore sounds very much like The Royal Institution which is a much hallowed scientific society in Britain and has been around since 1799.  The RIS is a pay for play show and has only been around since 2003.

Another thing RIS does is have monthly international conferences. Most of these seem to be located in the Philippines.

https://www.ri2020.com/upcoming-events

It's a money making scheme. They have to have conferences to accept new member's fees and confer upon them silly titles which mean nothing in the real world. Why do Filipinos eat up this tripe like it's the greatest thing in the world? I think the Augustinian friar Gaspar de San Augustin can shed some light on the matter.
49. They are very vain, and they spend their money never more willingly than in functions of vanity; for they consider themselves highly; and wish to be esteemed without doing anything worthy of esteem. The men especially, even though they do not have anything to eat, must not for that reason fail to have a shirt and a hat, and to dress in style. They give banquets very frequently, for very slight causes; and everything resolves itself into eating, drinking, and great noise. Their vanity is the only thing that causes them to lessen their laziness, in order to get the wherewithal to keep up this esteem, and applause from their compatriots. 
http://www.philippinehistory.net/views/1720sanagustinb.htm
You would think a man who used to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines wouldn't fall for this nonsense but you'd be wrong.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/129339/honorary-titles-conferred-former-cj-davide-lawyer-go
I have had received 14 honorary doctoral degrees, mostly doctor of laws honoris causa, but they were conferred on me months or years apart from each other during my tenure as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” Davide said in his acceptance speech. 
“I thank the Royal Institution for placing me in the honored ranks of its many awardees,” he said. 
Davide was conferred Honorary Fellow and Doctor Fellow of RIS, and Doctor Fellow of the Royal Institute of Lawyers, Singapore. 
“This is the first time in my life that on the same occasion, I got conferred with three awards,” the 20th chief justice said.
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide thanks the RIS for placing him in the honored ranks of its many awardees. Is he saying that tongue in cheek? Notice that he mentions his other honorary degrees are "honoris causa" which means they are real honest to goodness honorary degrees granted by legitimate universities. 
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, a dissertation, and the passing of comprehensive examinations. It is also known by the Latin phrases honoris causa ("for the sake of the honour") or ad honorem ("to the honour"). 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree
This means that RIS does not bestow honorary degrees upon anyone! They only confer titles of rank within their organization. And you must pay a fee for those meaningless and worthless titles.

President Duterte sent the RIS a congratulatory letter last year in celebration of their 15th Global Conference.

https://www.facebook.com/ri2020/photos/a.2434303239980725/2434304059980643/?type=3&theater

Manny Pacquiao, DND Sec Lorenzana, Senate President Sotto, Sen. Lacson, and a few other politicians also sent congratulatory letters. Are they all members of this group?

The Royal Institution of Singapore is pretty ridiculous. The fees, the titles, the regalia....it's all so comical.  But if you think it can't get any more insane, well hold onto your chair.

https://www.apolloquiboloy.com/news/pastor-apollo-crowned-patron-by-royal-institution-singapore/
Reverend Executive Pastor Doctor Fellow Apollo C. Quiboloy was conferred Patron status in a Special Global Convocation and Investiture Ceremony and Crowning by the Royal Institution Singapore (RI), September 3, 2019. 
RI Singapore is a prestigious international accrediting body that recognizes exemplary professional, social and civic achievements by individuals around the world. 
The special event was held at the KJC Hall, Jose Maria College Compound, in Davao City, Philippines, with the theme “Global Citizenship as a Platform for Universal Peace.”
To witness the special investiture ceremony, gracing the event was 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 4th Conferred Patron of RI Singapore, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
 
During the event, Pastor Apollo’s 11 Honorary Doctoral Fellow titles were recognized in the fields of Education, Environment, Human Resource, Humanities International Relations, Management, Mass Communication, Philanthropy, Social Work, and one special citation as Ambassador for Peace. 
The title of Patron is the highest appointed titles that Royal Institution Singapore can confer to any person. It is awarded to individuals who possess, among others, exceptional ethical leadership skills, is at the epitome of success in their field, and thus worthy of emulation by humanity. Awardees must also be concerned with the quality of life of the masses, and must support programs for the protection and the preservation of nature and the environment, all of which Pastor Apollo checks all boxes and more. 
Anyone who takes the Royal Institution Singapore seriously is a grade A idiot.