The Fourth Perspective

The following is an adaptation of an excerpt from the series of lectures delivered by Mao Tse Tung in 1938 at the Yenan Association for the Study of War of Resistance Against Japan at the height of the second Sino-Japanese War from 1937-1945 at a city in North Eastern China. The lecture seemed to have included a question and answer segment where Mao Tse Tung had laid out his strategy to counter the Japanese occupation of China until the former’s defeat at the end of the 2 nd world war. It was a war fought by China as an underdog against the Japanese atrocious expansionism. The irony of that event in history is that China has now assumed the role of the Japanese conquistadors which it had fought during that war.  The semi-literal translation presumably from Chinese into English is maintained in this adaptation; the word China is replaced by the word Philippines; while Japan is referred to as China instead. Some places and events deemed inapplicable were excluded, and in some...

If the physical is a manifestation of consciousness that originated from a greater source, then parents being physical and a manifestation of that greater consciousness are one conduits of that consciousness. Since a child is an extension of a parent’s consciousness, through pure love and genuine affection, their positive consciousness is borne by the child in his existence while in the propagation and projection of his own.  But if a child will reject and rebel against the parents which are the source of positive consciousness, if he will stand firm in youthful arrogance and misconceived pride, when he shut the flow of that positive consciousness, he will erase its protective mantle; he will create an imbalance and inflict upon himself a curse. What shall prevail and dominate is the negative consciousness existing in his midst. His vision will be blurred and confusion will cloud his mind; his life will be in disarray, misfortunes will befall him, his str...

The Philippine legislature is besieged with allegations of corruption both in the upper and the lower house. As the sun set and rise, new names would shine into implication in the web of conspiracy that defrauded the republic and the people for nearly a decade. Maybe some of those implicated who vehemently denied participation are truly innocent and maybe most of them do indeed deserved indictment. The absence or deficiency in evidence does not prove innocence, rather it only abates prosecution. While the legal requirement accepts nothing less than preponderance to beyond doubt, the moral dictum demands beyond reproach. There are one... two... and many in the chamber's population who invoked innocence and belied knowledge but that would constitute ignorance and incompetence which is supposed to be preferable over guilt. In all ways, the chambers membership were composed and now are consisting of varied characters, some are guilty, some are ignorant, some are incompetent and mo...

The Philippine national anthem was originally composed as an incidental music for the proclamation of the first Philippine Independence from Spain in 1898. Subsequently, in 1899 a poem written in Spanish called “Filipinas” was incorporated as its lyrics. During the first half of the American colonial occupation, it was banned from being played until the appertaining colonial law was rescinded in 1919. On that same year it was translated into English by an American subject named Mary Lane together with Camilo Osias. In 1956, after some minor revisions under the administration of then President Ramon Magsaysay, it was since officially adapted and titled “Lupang Hinirang” or “Chosen Land”. The Philippine National anthem is an acclamation of the Philippine’s innate beauty. Painted in its lyrics and melody are the patriots passion and their pledge of loyalty. It is filled with inner delight and a promise to choose damnation when wronged. Here in the latter is where the tragedy ...

The 1987 constitution, under Section 2, Article ll captioned Declaration of Principles and State policies proclaimed  and I quote, “ The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.” The aforequoted provision is one among many where the Philippines find the convenience to justify inaction on China ’s incursion. Just recently, the press secretary impliedly cited the foregoing constitutional provision to create an impression that the Philippine government is tied to the hands. The statement was given in reaction to the Chinese reclamation at the Mabini Reef which is well within the Philippine territory. The statement was in addition to the reiteration that despite of the despicable act the Philippines will continue to adhere with the rule of law. Nothing is...

Oftentimes, it is verbalized that the rule of law must be observed in the settlement of dispute between claimants at the South China Sea. But is there really such a thing? Is there really a rule of international law? The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS in which China is a signatory has defined the parameters of territorial jurisdiction over waters surrounding a particular state. Adherence to that definition is an obligation by all signatories and befits the respect by the non-signatories to signify oneness with the community of nations. But if a signatory to UNCLOS would turn its back away from a commitment if not an obligation to observe the agreed provisions, what would UNCLOS be? Clearly to deviate from and to dishonor an agreement is a breach that by itself is suppose to be deserving of sanctions imposable against a rogue state. At the point that China trashes the agreement to further its own imperialistic interest is already beyond the comfort of the...

The creeping Chinese advances in the South China Sea are a test of resolve. For the Chinese it is a litmus test. What will be the reaction on the unilateral action by China? How far can China proceed towards its mission to established dominion over this potentially oil rich territories? How much of the reaction can China tolerate without crossing the red line? Well, the Vietnamese has clearly sent their message. The lone Vietnamese coastguard ship, slugging it out with larger Chinese vessels and the recent violent outrage in Vietnam resulting to 20 deaths and destruction of Chinese facilities clearly manifested the Vietnamese resolve. Vietnam and its people were battered by almost a century of war. Their minds and hearts are yet to forget the horrors of those wars, but their spirit has not tired. Though weary, it’s rising up again to project the love for a country that has barely rubbed off the ashes from its feet. No doubt that more than anybody else, the Vietnames...

Getting elected in government service bestows honor. It signifies trust, confidence and belief by the majority of the voting populace on the elect. It is an assumed commission from the people whose hope is for a better change and the furtherance of their way of life under a free and just society. Ideally, these are the same motivations of an elect to pledge himself in the service of his countryman. To serve with integrity and honesty and to care for with diligence the precepts of his commission while in the performance of his sworn duties. In return, he will honor those who exalted him and consequently would bring about sanctity to the institution which he serves. In the end, it is the character of the elect that is the substance that would fill and sustain the glitter of honor in the vessel that is the institution. Honor in governance cannot be in the title conferred upon the elect, and not even in the name of the institution in which he serves. It is the elect himsel...

The term Filipinism by itself is Filipinism. It is uncommon in usage internationally, but somehow it made its way to world dictionaries and may refer to usage resulting from literally translating Tagalog words into English. These are English usage peculiar to and used only by Filipinos. Turn on/ off the lights is spoken as Open/ Close the lights; CR or Comfort Rooms are used instead of Toilets (The word “Toilet” has sensibility issue and considered unhygienic); Napkins are referred to as Tissue; Canteen is used instead of Cafeteria; Colgate means Toothpaste even though it’s a Close-Up; Refrigerator is generally called Frigidaire: Xerox is to photocopy even if the machines in use are UBIX, Brothers, etc. The preceding examples demonstrate that Filipinism is beyond lingual.  It is about tradition, customary practice and generally accepted norms that manifest in  language and its usage. Filipinism is also expressions in actions like; the” boodle fight” to celebrate broth...

During her stint as the former US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton stated that the US motivation to accrue its forces to Asia-Pacific region is to ensure that democracy is maintained and human rights are preserved in the region, which they believed to be threatened by China’s expanding authoritarian capitalism. The incessant growth of China’s economy and consequently of its military prowess will enable China to export its brand of capitalism to south east Asia and the rest of the pacific, a brand that is hardly consistent with the western style free market economy. Basically, the contrast lies into who controls the economy. China’s economy is influenced by the state, while in the free market economy the market forces are dictated by the transnational private companies owned by a few elite. The foregoing anxiety is the proclaimed motivation behind the US re-balancing of forces in Asia which from a historical perspective can be viewed as a cliché now as it was befo...