The Spratly issue

Current broadsheets reported that President Aquino wants a dialogue in resolving the Philippine China dispute over the Spratlys. But he also expressed the Philippine position during the visit of Chinese defense minister Liang Guanglie, that the group of Spratlys islands called “Nansha” belongs to the Philippines. It was also reported that he expressed a possible escalation of tension over the disputes in the South China Sea, particularly if Chinese patrol gun boats and jet buzzing planes continue to disturb Philippine explorations in the disputed waters near the Spratlys.

The position of President Aquino demonstrates that he is aware and very much concerned about the preservation of the territorial integrity of our country. I also think that he understands the relevance and pertinence of the Philippine-China dispute over Spratlys to geo-political undertones surrounding the dispute, as well as the historical failure of his predecessors to act before it became too late as in the case of the loss of North Borneo (now called Sabah) to Malaysia.

At the outset, let me say that many of our countrymen are still nursing the pain and agony over the loss of North Borneo as a Philippine territory since the 16th Century when the British government, an undisputed ally of the United States, unilaterally ceded the territory to Malaysia. We have been silent, if not timid like lambs, in expressing our dismay when Uncle Sam supported the UK for its action and looked the other way and forgot the many thousands of Filipinos who died in defending the cause of Western democracy during World War II.

To bring the dispute in perspective, I also think that the President understands that the present situation in the Spratlys is different from what happened when the UK ceded North Borneo to Malaysia. The issue now is more than just the Philippine territorial claim against China’s claim. America’s interest is at stake here. With the loss of the American bases in the Philippines and Guam, and with Malaysia being against the American presence in the China Seas, the Philippine claim is pygmy to the global interest of super powers – in this case America and China.

We cannot predict what is next to come about the situation in the China Seas. We know and understand that we are no match in fighting with a super power like China. China can ignore our claim and use force to get what it wants. But I think China’s leaders would understand that that is not the best way to resolve the dispute with the Philippines. After all, China may realize that Nansha is but a dot in the world map, and China occupies a great part of the Asian continent.

We should appreciate the fact that our President was not intimidated in frankly expressing his views. That is wisdom par excellence, and it clearly demonstrates leadership and policy direction that we must not surrender our country’s territorial integrity and territoriality of ownership of parts of Spratlys. Hence if for anything else, the initiative of the President could be a milestone and legacy of his Administration in whichever direction our claim of a part of the Spratlys lead.

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Should well-to-do prisoners be allowed luxuries while in penitentiaries, such as TV and Karaoke sets, air-conditioning and refrigerators, and even their own bahay kubo? Such amenities make it appear that the prisoners are being given special treatment, amid the poor, crowded, badly-ventilated rooms that the less-privileged penitents live in. Why make life in prison comfortable for rich inmates who violated the law and are therefore serving time for such violations?

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate committee on revision of laws, is asking the justice department to consider the feasibility of a “pay-to-stay” program in national penitentiaries. Her idea is to allow convicts sentenced for nonviolent crimes, to apply for a “pay-to-stay” program – but they pay hotel rates for such a privilege.

Santiago said that the “pay-to-stay” program is observed in the United States penal system which allows wealthy prisoners to be housed separately from other inmates, allowed private cells, work release programs, Ipods, mobile phones, and computers, provided they pay hotel rates. Such pay-to-stay programs are implemented in most cities in California and are being considered for implementation in New York and Massachusetts.

“The new law will disqualify any prisoner who has a history of violence, is a sex, drug, or arson registrant, or has a situation or condition that may endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the other ‘pay-to-stay’ inmates, or the jail staff,” Santiago said.

She said that her proposed law should apply only to nonviolent crimes such as crimes against public interest, which include fraud, forgery, and falsification; crimes against public morals, including gambling and betting; and nonviolent crimes against property, such as theft and bouncing checks.

Santiago said her new law will not apply to Antonio Leviste, because he was convicted of the violent crime of homicide.

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As to President P-Noy’s request to be left alone when it comes to his love life, well, that would be asking too much of media. Loss of privacy is something that can’t be avoided by celebrities, especially public servants, whose private lives cannot be spared from public scrutiny. This does not mean that the media can literally intrude into the subjects’ bedroom, i.e., to take photographs and videos of intimate scenes between subjects and spouses or lovers. But they cannot be stopped from peering into the mundane affairs of celebrities – who they are dating, what they’re wearing, if they’ve done nose and breast jobs – provided that such actions do not impinge on public morals. An eminent person who decides to have a breast implant or reduction cannot be faulted for her desire to look and feel better. But if the subject in question has sex change – well, that will not look nice to one’s constituents, does it? Media has to expose that for sure. If it were a politician having affairs with his staff, shouldn’t the media expose that? Yes it should. But of course in our society that seems debatable, as we turn a blind eye to government officials who keep mistresses and dozens of children and flaunt it.

P-Noy should take the questions asked by the paparazzi about girls he dates and where, with a grain of salt. He is a bachelor, and he is President of the Philippines. His romantic escapades are titillating news items. In fact I honestly think he enjoys being asked about his love life. My only misgiving here is that the ladies being linked to him might look “kawawa.” They should not feel that way. They should consider it a privilege to be noticed, to be wined and dined by the highest official of the land. So what if he does not offer them marriage? Don’t cry over spilled milk, dearies. Have fun, and write about your night(s) out with the guy. With apologies to President P-Noy, somebody said, “No man is worth two tears.”

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The Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation Legacy Secretariat announces that due to the inclement weather, the Bantayog Legacy Dinner scheduled for Friday, May 27, will be moved to next Friday, June 3rd, same time and place.

The Upsilon Pumapalo Golf Tournament at Sherwood Hills Golf Course in Cavite has been moved from May 27 to June 2, a Thursday, due to Typhoon Chedeng.