Good Morning Judge: Presidential Ambivalence

THE recent state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping has been dubbed by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte as “historic” and “landmark moment.” Reportedly, the President “vows to work closely with the Chinese leader to deepen the relationship between our countries so we may together secure a peaceful and prosperous future for both our peoples and the entire region.” Print media and TV reports are that the Philippines and China signed 29 agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development. It may be recalled that China has gained control of some islands in the South China Sea and turned them into military fortresses and reports are that 87% of Filipinos indicated that “it is important for the Philippines to regain control of these islands. Some political analysts have expressed the fear that the Duterte administration’s refusal to immediately demand Chinese compliance with the arbitral ruling from the Hague which invalidated China’s sweeping claim to the South China sea may result in negating the ruling in favor of the Philippines. Be that as it may, we hope that President Duterte who himself is a lawyer realizes the dire consequences of his ambivalence.

Last November 11, thousands of people across the world gathered around monuments to mark the l00th anniversary of the end of the First World War. French President Emmanuel Macron made a speech that was interpreted by many as a criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump who attended the event in Paris at the Arc de Trompe. The French President said “nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. In saying ‘our interests firsts, whatever happens to the others,’ you erase the most precious thing a nation can have, that which makes it live, that which causes it to be great, and that which is most important; its moral values.” It was a moving remembrance of our hope and continuous work for elusive world peace.

TRIVIA:

The AdeNU high school batch ‘54 will sponsor the Alumni Eucharistic Celebration this coming Sunday, November 25 at the Ateneo’s Christ The King Church. The event is a yearly sponsorship by AdeNU batch ‘54 way back since this writer was the Alumni president. The batch, together with their spouses, will have luncheon-fellowship at the Bob Marlin resto-bar after the mass.

Belated birthday greetings to our family friend Ms. Neneng Carius who celebrated her Nth birthday anniversary last Tuesday, November 20. Ms Carius works at the Provincial Assessor’s Office

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“THERE CANNOT BE TRUE DEMOCRACY UNLESS ALL CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE LIVES OF THEIR COUNTRY.”

HILLARY CLINTON

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“THE SOULS OF THE JUST ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD, AND NO TORMENT SHALL TOUCH THEM.”

WISDOM 3:1