The Fourth Perspective

Once again, the failure of representation in the Philippines had manifested itself from the malaise called democracy. A government of the people, for the people and by the people is the preeminence of democratic principle that has remained elusive and beyond reach since the birth of the Philippine Republic.  Almost always, and not only in the Philippines, the poignant reality is that this cherished democratic principle had always veered away towards a subtle form of socialism due perhaps to its incompatibility with the domineering and pervasive culture that is inherent in a capitalist society. The democratic principle that is well esteemed had stagnated   into a mere theory of idealism that seems to approximate the qualities of a myth. In practice, it is actually a government… of some of the people…for some of the people…and by some of the people. When democracy promotes equality in freedom, what resulted is equality in misery. As democracy prided itself to be the champi...

Chinese state media had divulged a plan to reclaim the Scarborough Shoal (The Shoal) and convert it into a Chinese pseudo island. US Intelligence and the US military had hinted that there are indications that the Chinese may attempt to do just that. The Shoal is approximately 130 kilometers off the coast of Zambales, and almost has the same distance from Manila to Dagupan City in the province of Pangasinan, which is a 2-3 hours drive northward. The Shoal is well within the Philippines 200 miles exclusive economic zone. It is a traditional fishing ground on that side of Luzon. The plan will result into the establishment of a permanent mini base that will shape and close the coordinates on China’s nine dash line, effectively fencing out, and locking down the western side of the Philippines. The area within these coordinates extending from Spratly to the Shoal will eventually become off limits to any vessel or aircraft. The Philippine military bases and that of the US under EDCA will be ...