There was a time when apologizing to China in general, and to Hong Kong in particular, would have been the honorable thing to do for the Philippine government in the aftermath of the terrible 2010 bus hostage crisis fiasco in which several Hong Kong tourists were killed at the Luneta in a botched police rescue attempt.
The fiasco was covered live on television by both the national and international media. The rescue try was nothing short of a great national embarrassment that an apology would have been the easiest of all means of reparations to make.
Indeed, it was a great source of wonderment to the Filipino people, and perhaps to the rest of the world that saw the terrible debacle, why the Philippine government hedged and refused to apologize over an incident that badly required one.
Was the Philippine government ashamed to apologize? Worse, did it misinterpret an apology as a sign of weakness? If this was the case in both instances, then the Philippine government is grossly mistaken and should be ashamed of itself.
Contrary to its feelings on the issue, apologizing is a manifestation of strength of character. Only the strong and the honorable, who are secure in themselves and know where they stand in relation the world, would see an apology as a matter of principle and character, rather than a cause for shame or embarrassment.
But the circumstances have changed. China itself has been unmasked as a bully and bullies do not see apologies as honorable acts rooted in respect but manifestations of submission rooted in weakness. In such a light, China deserves no apology.
Neither does Hong Kong. Had it kept quiet and maintained its self-respect and dignity, an apology would have been sincere and meaningful. But having demanded it ceaselessly, this time with added arm-twisting that can only be a manifestation of hooliganism, then it certainly does not deserve any apology any longer.
While before it would have been right to prod the Philippine government to go ahead and apologize, now the right thing to do is to discourage and stop the government from apologizing. Any apology at this time would no longer be sincere. This time it will be a sign of weakness, or worse, a big fat joke to shut the bully up.