We are not in the business of instigating wars

President Marcos aptly put it during his remarks at the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command in Palawan last Sunday that “we are not in the business [of instigating] wars – our ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino.”

Maintaining that the Philippines is a responsible state that will continue to exercise its freedoms and rights in accordance with international law, the President emphasized that “in defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that would like to settle all these issues peacefully.”

The pride in his voice was unmistakable when he told the troops at WESCOM – the unit tasked to secure the West Philippine Sea: “You demonstrated to the world that the Filipino spirit is one that is brave, determined and yet is compassionate.”

The greatest proof of what kind of people we are is in the over 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed in more than 200 countries worldwide that include Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Everywhere they go, OFWs are much appreciated for being hardworking, kind and caring.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, admiration and appreciation for OFWs, particularly nurses and health care professionals, poured in from people like British media personality Piers Morgan, who described them as “unsung heroes.”

“Amazing number of Filipinos working in National Health Service are unsung heroes… Thank you to all the Filipinos who are here, doing all this… These are the immigrants currently saving people’s lives, coming here and actually enriching our country and doing an amazing job. So thank you to all the Filipinos who are here doing all these amazing work…” Morgan said.

When former British prime minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized and needed intensive care after contracting COVID-19, he wore a shirt with the word “Philippines” across the chest in what was seen as his subtle way of honoring Filipino nurses and medical professionals who saved his life.

When Hamas militants attacked Jewish communities near the Gaza Strip, OFWs like nurse Angeline Aguirre displayed unbelievable courage and dedication – refusing to abandon her elderly patient, with both perishing in the process. Carer Camille Jesalva also refused to leave her 95-year-old employer. When Hamas militants broke into the residence, she calmly and bravely faced them, offering all the money she saved for a trip to the Philippines. Camille said she could not have forgiven herself if her employer had died because she abandoned her.

Every visitor who comes to the Philippines says Filipinos are warm, friendly and hospitable. We are a good people – and we are also proud to be regarded as kind, imbued with humanitarian compassion for those who are in need of help.

In 1934, during the time of president Manuel L. Quezon, we opened our doors to Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi purge and made the Philippines a safe haven for them at a time when many other countries turned their backs and closed their doors to a persecuted race. Despite the criticism he received, president Quezon issued Proclamation 173 that has come to be known as the “open door policy” that allowed at least 1,300 European Jews into the Philippines.

Thousands of Vietnamese refugees known as “boat people” who fled during the Vietnam War were also granted asylum to the Philippines on the basis of humanitarian grounds, with the Philippine government during the time of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. upholding the principle of non-refoulement – meaning no refugee was turned away or repatriated back to Vietnam.

We Filipinos are known for being extremely hospitable, good people – always ready to extend a helping hand and respond to a call for help, sometimes even shedding blood in the process. But when push comes to shove, we step up to the plate, like in the Battle of Yultong in 1951 during the Korean War when the 10th Battalion Combat Team that was part of the 7,500-strong Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea sent by president Elpidio Quirino fiercely resisted the 44th Division of the Chinese Army.

During the battle, 900 Filipinos surrounded by thousands of Chinese soldiers lost all contact with the outside world but bravely resisted enemy offensives in two days of fierce fighting – enabling the 65th Infantry Regiment of the US 3rd Infantry to withdraw.

When the dust finally settled, 24 Filipinos died but several thousands of the enemy were also killed before reinforcements arrived. The bravery of the “Fighting Filipinos” was such that General Douglas MacArthur was reported to have said, “Give me 10,000 Filipino soldiers and I shall conquer the world!”

Filipinos are unassuming and patient, but it is also in our blood to push back when we are shoved. Whatever freedom we are enjoying today – we fought hard for. We were under Spanish rule for over 300 years when our forefathers waged a war for independence. In the early 1900s, we fought the Americans during the Philippine-American War to gain independence, only to suffer during the Japanese occupation. We fought with the Americans against the Japanese invaders during World War 2 until we gained full independence in 1946.

Today, we have extremely good relations with Spain as well as the United States and Japan who are our staunch allies – proving once again that we are a peace-loving nation.

President Marcos said “…We will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone. But at the same time, we stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence” – because that is precisely the kind of people that Filipinos are.

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