The West Philippine Sea

It has been reported through the TV/Radio and other broadcast media earlier this evening that a combined Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources team had successfully driven away seven (7) Chinese fishing vessels out of the West Philippines Sea and escorted them out of the area. Further reports also indicated that the leadership of the PCG will continue to maintain its surveillance of the area particularly the Scarborough shores and Bajo de Masinloc which are part of the Philippine sovereign territory as previously held by the UNCLOS. Indeed, this writer is consoled by this positive report as we are able to show our Asean neighbors, particularly the Chinese Leadership, that we can rightfully assert our valid claim and jurisdiction over the disputed area. On the other hand, it is quite discouraging to note that President Duterte, by his non-proactive and mild approach on the issue has given the impression to most of the Filipinos that he favors the Chinese leadership because of his friendship with Chinese Chairman Xi Jin Ping and free Sinovac vaccines given to the Philippines. Thus, he ordered Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin who earlier reportedly lambasted the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines to go slow on China. On the other hand, in his State of the Nation report to his Cabinet Secretaries last Monday, he unabashedly cursed former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and another private individual who are widely known in their stand for the assertion of Philippine ownership and sovereign rights over the West Philippines sea. This column wishes to extol these two nationalists for their worthy stand.

In the local scene, we commiserate with City Councilor Buddy del Castillo in his reported misunderstanding with Naga City Health Officer Butch Borja for his alleged attendance of the SB Session even before his four-week vacines protocol expires. As a consequence, the Sangguniang Panlungsod Office and the individual offices of the SP members were ordered to lockdown for disinfection. Hopefully, the issue settles down by the next session of the SP. As they say, all’s well that ends well.

TRIVIA:

Through this column I wish to express in my own behalf and that of my spouse Minda our profound and most sincere condolence to the bereaved family of the late Olive Criscene Bahilla of Pili, Cam. Sur who crossed the Great Beyond last May 1. Ms. Bahilla was a member of the USI high school batch ‘55 with my spouse Minda.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“NATURAL ABILITIES ARE LIKE NATURAL PLANTS THAT NEED CONSTANT PRUNING BY STUDY.”

BACON

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“MY SON, CONDUCT YOUR AFFAIRS WITH HUMILITY, AND YOU WILL BE LOVED MORE THAN A GIVER OF GIFTS.”

SIRACH 4:17