Shift the China burden to the US; take care of the Philippines . . . and look east

Posted by JoeAm on April 19, 2015 · 236 Comments 

The Society’s Chief Wildman, formerly known as Pinoy in Europe, drops off more insight in a day than most of us can do in a month. Well, I suppose it helps that he types 200 words per minute and his brain runs at 500. My keyboard is smokin’ at 50 WPM and my brain starts rattling and vibrating … Continue reading →

Category China, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

The elegance of China’s island strategy

Posted by JoeAm on April 11, 2015 · 185 Comments 

It was reported by US intelligence services that China is actively building Coast Guard ships. It is likely that these ships will be deployed to the reclaimed “islands” that formalize China’s “sovereign domestic territory” in the South China Sea. That territory includes contested outposts within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. By using Coast Guard ships, China accomplishes … Continue reading →

Category China, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, USA/Americans

The raging of the righteous: Senator Alan Cayetano

Posted by JoeAm on March 17, 2015 · 138 Comments 

right·eous ˈrīCHəs, adjective, (of a person or conduct) morally right or justifiable; virtuous. “He is a good, righteous man, I am sure”, synonyms: good, virtuous, upright, upstanding, decent.   We have a condition, a rather unnerving one, that seems to be arising more frequently within democratic institutions lately. Let’s call it “the raging of the righteous”. Reader mcgll wrote: “. . . it … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics, USA/Americans

How the left lost me, and how I lost respect for Gabriela

Posted by JoeAm on March 5, 2015 · 145 Comments 

By Ezekiel de Jesus (Mami Kawada Lover) The radical left and I actually go way back. But to understand my past and present feelings for the radical left, I need to give some background. The Arroyo administration I remember the days of the Arroyo administration. At the time, I was pro-Arroyo. I was aware of … Continue reading →

Category China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Philippine Politics, USA/Americans

The Philippines’ myth of sovereignty

Posted by josephivo on March 1, 2015 · 272 Comments 

by josephivo I was so fortunate to have had a very motivating history teacher in the last years of high school. Sovereignty was one of his favorite subjects. Luckily there is Wikipedia and Peter Watson’s book “Ideas” to refresh some events and concepts. Sovereignty might have a precise definition in international legislation, but the meaning changed over … Continue reading →

Category China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government, USA/Americans