WITH the dozens of articles in the international press wailing about the possibility of Filipinos electing Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as president, we take some satisfaction of sticking it in the eye of the foreigners.
Of course, these feelings are childish and immature. But, honestly, we are fed up with the hypocrisy and double standards in the global arena. And it does not matter much if a nation is poor or rich, powerful or weak.
United States presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to secure the US border with Mexico by building a wall. Even Pope Francis weighs in by saying, “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.” Yet, there is no similar comment, as Mexico has been building its own walls on its southern border with Guatemala since 2010.
While Duterte’s comment about Australia to stay out of Philippine politics was not any justification for his own crude remarks, sometimes you have to push back. We thought at the time that President Aquino calling Chinese behavior as being similar to Nazi Germany might not have been good diplomacy. But bullies need to be challenged with strong language.
The Philippines has often been shy and hesitating in promoting its own sovereignty. It took strength to push back against both the Americans and the government of then-President Cory Aquino to reject the US bases agreement. The US wanted the agreement on its terms and, finally, the Philippines said no.
Sovereignty is critical to nationhood, and should never be mistaken for arrogant nationalism. But being soft on sovereignty is a mistake.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking at a college commencement, said: “You’re about to graduate into a complex and borderless world.” The broader context of this statement is that no longer should nations be as concerned about sovereignty in the age of globalization. This may be one of the most irresponsible and dangerous ideas uttered in many, many decades.
In a “borderless” world, only the most powerful make the rules, as we are seeing with China. It would be interesting to see the US reaction if China started drilling for oil in Alaskan coastal waters in light of Kerry’s comment.
Secure territory is what defines a nation, as your own locked door defines your home whether rich or poor.
The image of the president of the Philippines riding a jet ski to plant the Philippine flag on disputed territory now occupied by China may seem absurd, and even ridiculous. In the afternoon of June 12, 1898, a group of Filipinos did something, perhaps, equally absurd and ridiculous at the time. Forcefully declaring national sovereignty is not an act of foolish pride. It is an act of self-confidence. Imagine what today’s foreign press might have written when a year later the First Philippine Republic officially declared war against the US.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano