Shaking Off Dusts or Hammering Rusty Doubts: A Supreme Court’s Impeachment Story

There is a very thin line between decisions that determine justice or injustice in a country where the rule of law is perceived to be the keystone of a fair and just society.

People who are managing the affairs of a justice system  are venerated of their astute intelligence and impartiality, precise dispensation of justice that is marked with the highest degree of integrity, with unparalleled liberty in looking at the very fiber of evidence that would yield the utmost degree of truth. By the words of their mouth, it is justice with the highest degree of dispensation.

When one hears the “Supreme Court”, it rings “Justice” as well. The Supreme Court is the last bastion of the rule of law dispensing what truth really is truth. But, when the very head of a justice system is now in question, it would certainly rock the very foundation where the “archived truth” will hang in a balance.

Issues about Chief Justice Renato Corona is now getting deep, and I can see a lot of justice seekers making use of the recent “question of integrity” to propel a much much incline of drawing the justice system corrupt. I believe that the outcome of this trial would bring out the best of our justice system; and it would only be achieved when it will convince the Filipino people. But, mind you, not all decisions or service to justice is a convincing one. Both camps would have to feel, in clear conscience, that justice is served, and served well.

Thus, shaking off the dust or hammering dusty doubts would have to sound the treble part of those not hidden in the lyrics of a metaphorical music. The people is still the final judge of all.

ADB Shuns Away from Workers Right: A Shameful Blunder

These economic technocrats just don't know the base of their economic perspective, a point of their so-called economic study---the Workers. All they have to do is base their perceptions on the principles of exploit, explore and control, a kind of socialist parametric philosophy which assumes that when authorities can control people to react negatively from a given portion of policies to raise economic concerns to increase the chance of earning profits from a business venture, it would be good and favorable to the capital provider but to the sheer disadvantage to the people---the workers, who perspired to make it happen.
Such perspective is clearly depicted on the action taken of those "registered participants". ADB don't like to face them squarely in the forum of discussions to thresh out what really is realistically happening in the field of economic implementation of plans and projects. Such defensive stance as taken by the Philippine Government only show sympathy to these capital movers which would definitely redound to effect the "power to control the protesting people."
It this event, it's the Philippine Government who became the antagonist while those economic technocrats are hiding behind skirt of the Philippine President. I should agree with the ADB's pronouncement that it was an "unfortunate" incident whose scenario was crafted by a "too scared" capital movers; making now the country to look like a pauper to these economic technocrats. What a shameful blunder it was!

The World is turning Red again!

US diplomatic expertise counts best for as much as their national interest would not be subject to certain level of threats that hamper international trades going on in this part of the Pacific. Of course, I believe that they would help the Philippines in case war against China is inevitable, but it doesn't mean that the Philippines as a sovereign nation would have to depend militarily on the U.S.

This recent pronouncement that it would stay neutral as to the “competing sovereignty claims to land features in the South China Sea” draws vividly the axial consideration that it would undertake in case conflict may arise. Although, this diplomatic statement may convince observers from the other part of the world, but it signals a different opportunity for China to undertake a more opportunistic venture that would concretize their whole intension.

Why is it so?

We can notice the cooperative effort of Russia, a country of surprise inclinations, with Putin at the helm of government. Undeniably, Russia has its own grip of influence over China because of its long-time Cold War influence many times over when China opted to close its doors to the world. It assisted China to stand up against all odds until Perestroika brought down the walls of the once majestic Russian communism; and it was expected that China would follow suit. But surprisingly it’s not, it waited until Hong Kong was returned by the British empire after 50 years of colonization. The experience of Hong Kong coupled with geopolitical experiments by its mainland masters, draw two differing faces of China: One engaged in a more democratic system while the other with the  principles of Socialist communism, and here the hardline communist believers of the old Russia still played a silent domino until the ripe time that China would emerge as a new world power. It happened! It’s happening!

The awakened giant is now ready to take geopolitical responsibility which the U.S. signified to let through and would of course really wanted. Why is it that the U.S. is very confident on China to take hold in part, I mean, share the reign of leadership? China was never a conqueror but a conquest of smaller nation like Japan. The U.S. believe that China is a friendly dragon.

On the other perspective, the U.S. owes China, as yet financially as Chinese investments flood through, in one way or another, the underground economy that eventually crippled the financial streams that caught the U.S. financial system flatfooted! While Chinese products of lower prices attracted the general consumers with all the hypes of advertisements, the U.S. Federal system refuse to acknowledge that the absence of Chinese investments from their economy would mean a crippling bone that would soon crack. It needs to extract a new but prophetic bilateral agreement with China to make the playing field more competitive for both side viz-a-viz restoration of the U.S. economic supremacy that would consequently bring out the same stream of easing the financial crisis in some other parts of the world, like Europe or Southeast Asia.

Now, we can see the value of China as a balancing economic superpower. It’s prudent and long-term hard work and patience is now compensating the whole economy of the world. As the whole world is now struggling to recover the lost glory of prosperity because of the world financial crisis, China is now serving as the only economy of the world who’s got the capacity, or capability to wield the magic wand. It’s contributing to the vibrant economy of India, or even part of the European economy, it has a greater edge. And this is why Russia has found a more reliable ally.

Lots of indicators that would speak in itself, point out that China is getting the edge of dominating the whole financial system of the world. It has also build greater influence over decision-making machine of the United Nations with Russia as its stout backup.

Now, do you think that China is still the sleeping dragon?

I’m sorry to say that it’s no longer sleeping. It just woke up from its deep snore! And its future actions will spark a new tranche of fireworks in the air. If it be so, nations have to take sides.

As to the Philippines, I would say that it would remain included among the short listed allies of the United States. But this relations does not guarantee security of sovereignty.

China’s aggressive stance in South China Sea is a test of might

I was irked to write about the recent aggressive stance of China at the Scarborough shoals of the Philippine territorial zone where Chinese fishermen were caught fishing, I mean, poaching or smuggling, whatever you call it.

I believe that China is now taking a test of might on South China Sea (SCS) more particularly when they know that the area is believed to have large deposit of oil and gas reserves underneath its seabed. Besides, the area also holds the record that one-third of the world’s shipping trades are traversing through its waters. By trying to announce its aggressive presence, China is certainly sending a clear message to its neighbors that it would not yield to its claims that this part of the world is part of their dominion, even if the conflict that recently occur happens within the backyard of the Philippine territorial boundary.

The recent impasse between China (The Mighty Bear) and the Philippines (The Mighty Mouse) is only one among the many conflicts that it has been involved in years passed against a sovereign country like the Philippines. Since SCS could be the flash point for future world conflicts, it would be proper for the Philippines to stand up with distinctiveness about its claims, but it should not only rely to the United States of America (The Mighty Uncle Sam) about resources on defense. The Philippine Congress has to initiate also an aggressive stance about the claims by bringing the matter to the international court of law and justice and should not allow China just play giant without restraint in the backyard of Philippine sovereignty.

But it seems that the diplomatic course of settling conflict, more particularly, in the United Nations, where China is one of the permanent member of the UN Security Council, would no longer be a feasible forum, nor would it be a refuge for those who really need its swift action to settle the conflict. We can take a credible example in Syria; with China and Russia, both stood up opposite to the other members of the UNSC for immediate military action as response to the growing incident of a government killing its own people, not until recently when thousands have already been gone to swift death perpetrated by its own government. Indeed, the democratic process which is one of the paramount pillars of the United Nations is now taking a longer process of responsiveness. Of course, doubts as the probable actions of the US and UK has always been one of the stinking reasons for China and Russia to delay action. Therefor, each of the members of the UNSC are drawing reasons to doubt every intentions laid down during talks and negotiations---a play of domino, I should say.

Now, China, with all its dollar reserves and sundry, earned through edging up against US products and others, would probably wants to show the world that it’s their time now. It has to emerge as one mighty power that should not be taken lightly neither by the US or the UK, or even France, or any mighty country for that matter.

I could foresee a different China, which before a “sleeping giant” now awake to take the specter of dominance against all odds.

The conflict now slowly revealing in the course of agitating the Philippines to take a more aggressive stance of its claims at Scarborough Shoals can be the key to a worst or bitter scenario of the future of China-Philippines relation; and I would admit, the old school for spies and daggers, is beginning to resurface as the Mighty Bear wants to play with Might Mouse. Thus, careful consideration must be taken into account, but not discounting the fact that China is really getting hot of world dominance, by force or trades.

Watch out! Lots of surprise unravels China’s real intent. Of course, North Korea will be there to start the fire. I just hope I’m wrong as I observe the patterns that these countries are playing with their own domino games.

RE-INVENTING PHILIPPINES: POWER PLAY BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN POLITICS

The system’s tracks in Philippine politics are changing the very fiber of the traditional concepts which breed the “culture of graft and corruption,” and the new saga of re-inventing the Philippine government is making a toll to many well-established institutions of the best minds to understand what really is the right path to making the country on its track to greatness, progress and prosperity for its people.

When you are surfing the internet with its vast array of ideas and opportunities, as well as reading the national newspapers with all the hypes and headlines to attract readers; or looking at the TV programs that frequently highlights the different news and trends of social and political issues in the Philippines such as “House impeached Corona”, “SC Chief ready to face enemies”, and many others, you would say that it is very fascinating to note that these “political players” are actually re-building the zenith of new politics, as it is happening in the other parts of the world.

But more intriguing to note is that you are looking at the best minds at work in the very character of Philippine politics.  And this “political character” looks at the “clashing issues” with the best presentation of interests while the conceptual possibilities, or let’s say, probabilities are innocuously rocking both sides of the political parapet.

As I can see it, the path taken by President Noynoy Aquino is making a tsunami of unprecedented “political risk” known but not taken before. He is drawing on the whiteboard an immutable determination and commitment to achieve the very order of political business, which he commits during his inaugural address that for some or to many, is a utopian stride. And I believe, the same path will be taken if his father, Ninoy, would have been the president today.

By seeing the situation as it is, and would be it I suppose, the best ball of chance and opportunity is now in the hands of the Aquino cabinet and allies in the Philippine Congress. The path not taken before is what this president intends to take and the oddity of the stridence, at least, initially wrung across the dynamics of the political groove it is creating within the dynamics of the Philippine system.

Indeed, the journey of the Philippine Politics towards a matured democracy is dawning, and this political path that Pres. Aquino has been taking would surely carve an historic emblem for generations to come. This is the path taken also by many great men in history---oddity of character that reinvented governments of the world.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!…