Filipinos and U.S. Politics.

Responses to Facebook chats.

BACKGROUND: I edited Filipino/Asian newspapers in New York City and Los Angeles. My take: Filipinos are majority Democrats, historically. Although Bill Clinton's (sexual) shenanigans split them big time in the 1990s, their views are essentially via the woman's choice. That is a cultural truth. 

       Filipino-American community leader Loida Lewis and her organizing mojo hugely helped Hillary Clinton in her New York run in 2000, for example. But families are usually split in politics; although Filipino households don't really discuss politics as often as Americans do. 

       We vote, we go home, and do other things than sit and talk about Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Waste of time. Largely, Filipinos are not really aligned per Democrat or Republican. Though, as I mentioned, my “kababayans” tend to go Blue, they don't usually prance around declaring that. 

       Back home in the Philippines, it is multiparty but majority Conservative per Catholicism as cultural fact (not per political ideology). So in case you meet a Filipino and say I am Democrat or Republican, in most cases, they are just being polite or trying to avoid a lengthy discussion on the subject of Trump, LOL! 

       Also, Filipinos who came here as adults and Filipinos who came here as kids to study and evolve as adults and Filipinos who were born here are all different Filipinos. 🗽🇵🇭🗽

THE MALAYSIA STORY.

Past Facebook posts. Not updated.

MALAYSIA and China’s relations are an example why neighbors in the region, despite intermittent disputes, are not going to evolve into warring forces. Both countries are claimants in the South China Sea territorial quarrel and in recent times has resulted in some friction. In fact, a 2014 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center showed 66 percent of Malaysians were concerned that territorial disputes between China and neighboring countries (which also include Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam) could lead to a military conflict.

       Nope. Didn’t happen and will never happen.

       On the economic side, a 2017 survey conducted by Merdeka Center revealed 70 percent of Malaysians supported China's presence and investment in the country. In another survey in 2019 done by Ipsos, around 74 percent of respondents in Malaysia perceived that China would be a positive influence on world affairs over the next decade.

       That view hasn’t really changed. In 2016, during the administration of Najib Razak, 14 trade, energy and defense agreements worth $34.7 million, were signed between the two countries. 🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

FROM 2016 to 2022, Malaysian and Chinese relations haven’t really changed much, regardless of episodic rift in re South China Sea territorial issues. Bilateral trade between the two countries surpassed $190 billion this year based on current trends, expected to move towards $200 billion.

       Kuala Lumpur’s trade with China in the first seven months had expanded by 16.9 percent, compared to the same period of 2021. Exports grew by 13.2 percent, boosted by higher exports of electrical and electronic products (E&E), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and scrap metal. Imports from China climbed by 19.8 percent.

       Malaysia’s chief industries are electronics, semiconductors, microchips, integrated circuits, rubber, oleochemicals, automotive, optical devices, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, smelting, timber, wood pulp, Islamic finance, petroleum, liquified natural gas, petrochemicals, and telecommunication product. Easily, China is the country’s top trading partner. 🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

THE United States is Malaysia’s 3rd top trading partner behind Singapore. American FDIs are concentrated on manufacturing, although Washington seeks to expand relations to include security, environmental cooperation, and educational and cultural relations. Malaysia is a diverse democracy and is an important partner in U.S. engagement with Southeast Asia.

       The countries cooperate closely on security matters, including counterterrorism, maritime domain awareness, and regional stability, and participate frequently in bilateral and multilateral training, exercises, and visits.

       However, I must say as I always insist, that America should double-down on economic relations over security/military matters in Asia because a ruffling of waters—as in the recent attempt in Taiwan—won’t work. China and its neighbors, including Malaysia, will always have some issues to disagree on but I don’t think these will evolve into destructive arms clashes.

       As an emphasis on regional cordiality, in Nov 2020, China gathered 15 nations in the region to forge the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which accounts for about 30 percent of the world's population and 30 percent of global GDP, making it the largest trade bloc in history. These countries are Australia, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and of course, China. China, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea are among the largest economies in Asia. 🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾

MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

NY Times: “The Progressive Politicians Who Failed San Francisco.” And adds: “Such as Aaron Peskin, a little-known progressive politician.” San Francisco has always been the center of liberal activism and progressive ideals in America. Recall the beatnik and hippie countercultures of the 1950s to 1970s? Yet as the 21st century strode in, Frisco soared to the heights of ideological overreach. Idealism’s unrealism.  🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “‘Get Somebody Else to Do It’: Trump Resistance Encounters Fatigue.” And adds: “Donald J. Trump’s grass-roots opponents search for a new playbook as they reckon with how little they accomplished during his first term.” Of course, of course. Anger, and hate, and all that unbelievable energy consumed on fantastic vilification of Donald Trump! Exhausting, you ask? Chill, okay? 🏛🗽🏛

Smithsonian: “Italian Police Arrest ‘Clumsy’ Tomb Raiders Who Allegedly Posted Stolen Etruscan Artifacts on Facebook.” Everything has to be on Facebook, I guess. I am guilty as well, in a lot of ways. My dinner, my room, cats and dog, what I did yesterday, Goodwill purchases, stuff. But I don't post details of personal drama. Of course I have drama as well. I'd rather translate my whinings into kickass food pics. 😏😒🤨

New York Times: “Cease-Fire Talks Between Israel and Hamas Gain Momentum, Officials Say.” The deal wasn’t yet in hand after a truce but Donald Trump couldn’t wait, it seems. Of course, it is still Joe Biden and his hardcore hawks running Washington's military infrastructure. And it seems they are intent on leaving Mr Trump a huge mess. But I also pin my hopes for peace in the Arab League. They don't want these wars. ☮️☮️☮️

Washington Post: “Israel launches dozens of airstrikes on Syria, draws U.N. condemnation.” / “Netanyahu takes the stand in his corruption trial. Here’s what to know.” I don't see the sense in Bibi ordering strikes on Syria right after Bashar al-Assad was swept out of power. The regime has already been “changed.” Let the country calm down a bit. As I suggested earlier, Israel would be Donald Trump's major headache. 🇸🇾☮️🇮🇱

AP: “Assad is granted political asylum in Russia after the fall of Damascus.” What is so big a deal with Bashar al-Assad in Russia? Benefactors save dictators from the burning rage of their people. Count strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. of the Philippines who was flown by the U.S. to Hawaii in 1986. The Marcoses were never prosecuted for their crimes. In fact, Imelda won her racketeering trial in New York in 1990. ☮️☮️☮️

NY Times: “Bogged Down in Ukraine, Russia Pays a Price in Syria.” With the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Vladimir Putin suffered “one of his biggest geopolitical setbacks,” says The Times. It doesn't really matter much. Geopolitics has evolved. With Donald Trump as POTUS, a reconfigured playing field looms. As long as he pursues a dovish policy, I am cool with Mr Trump's playbook. As Russia continues selling oil. ☮️☮️☮️

NY Sun: “Suspect in UnitedHealth CEO Killing May Have Spiraled From Debilitating Pain, Had "Ill Will' Toward Corporate America.” Luigi Mangione isolated himself for months leading up to the violent murder. Many harbor “ill will” toward corporate America. But not many would spiral to deadly rage. Yet I read some celebrating his act. Me? I am relieved that he didn't plant a bomb in a building. Still, he self-destructed. ☮️🗽☮️

New York Times: “Am I a Hypocrite for Calling Donald Trump a Liar?” The magazine’s Ethicist on hypocrisy. Uh huh. All politicians lie. That is a fact and the truth. Depends on their rationales, motivations, and tactics and strategies of governance, of course. But we need to elaborate what really is a “lie” in politics. Tell me what POTUS didn’t lie. For example, he said he will not pardon his errant son. He lied.  🏛🗽🏛

Associated Press: “Record contract: Juan Soto agrees to record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets.” All these multi-million$ contracts in pro sports are getting to be ridiculously absurd. Mr Soto would be 41 years old in 15 years. I don't think he'd be able to sustain his energy and skill that long. Yet these astronomical salaries insult other employees that team owners should compensate justly. ⚾️💰⚾️

Stuff and Politics. Democrats and Republicans and Those In-Betweens.

Previously posted on my Facebook page. Or written years ago, unedited/not updated.

PEOPLE leaning towards the Democrats (or progressive bloc or leftist mindset) are still fighting as the Republican camp watches in quiet glee. I don't think the Dems will make any effort to convince or persuade the current GOP supporter/voters to their side, no. They call them idiots. And some are even proposing that Bernie runs as an Independent or with another party. Sad. I don't think it's about the candidates or parties anymore—now it has evolved into people's individual takes on stuff. Yes indeed, two warring camps of the Dems are knocking each other out. Let's do the math: The Dems/Hillary are losing possible votes—while maybe the GOPs (in the light of Trump's softer stand in re Republican leadership) are building up their fort for November.

 

       I remember the fight between two forces in the Organized Left back home: the Rejectionists and Reaffirmists. It eventually spelled the downfall of the Left. But we were not talking about elections. We were talking about a segment of society—but a segment that is valuable as fiscalizers and change-movers. So whoever was elected as President, the progressives treated the chasm as a way to reflect inward—since we are all Filipinos, that's the truth and our country is the Philippines. The country has improved since then yet we are still working things out. At least we are not begging for dough from the IMF anymore. 

       What bothers me about some people, in the light of Bernie Sanders' nomination loss, is how people show hatred against America as their country. I don't think it is right to be ashamed of one's country just because some don't favor a President. When I left my country in 1998, I was angry with the new administration—as I was angry most of my adult life with the Martial Law-propelled dictatorship. But that anger was fired up by my love for my country. Never in my career as a journalist and activist have I felt ashamed of being a Filipino. The Philippines wasn't Ferdinand Marcos as America isn't Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. America is all about Americans. ☮️🗽☮️

THE world is watching and the world isn't dumb. I don't think that an American who struts around the streets of Toulouse, France mumbling “Oh how I hate my country!” will be embraced by the French as their own. Show us how good and brilliant you are as an American—I don't care about your President. Then you will be part of any piece of sociocultural geography you wanna be. Same way as how the media malign the Philippine president-elect. I don't care about what Newsweek says. I care about my people and my country. I am sure if President Rodrigo Duterte starts reincarnating as the despots of the past, Filipinos will be out on the streets again to kick him out. Meantime, Filipinos will always be Filipinos irrelevant who sits in the Palace.

       I love America for what it is as I love the Philippines for the way it is. Like family. I will fight for my family no matter how I argue/d with my dad. Wherever I or we end up, we will always be seen as American or Filipino. We cannot change that. So instead of fighting, why don't we sit down and work things out for the betterment of the collective community and entire nation? When the smokes of elections have simmered and gone, it all boils down to an America to, by and for Americans. Not the Republicans and Democrats anymore. A politician, or political party or a fraction of a nation doesn't make a country—it is the people's majority voice that counts. 

       Yet if we will always question election outcomes in a democratic system—then we will always question stuff and things that don't go our way. I don't like the new president back home but it's the people's will that did it. That's just the way life goes. The people. If I believe that the people who voted for the person that I didn't like need reeducation so the next time they vote for a leader, they'd choose better—then I will start regrouping on that end. Advocate and convince and show by example. But I will not call them “idiots.” I may just end up with a bloody nose if I do that. I know how to do it. But I digress. ☮️🗽☮️

The POLAND Story.

Previously posted on my Facebook page. Not updated. 

TWO things that come to my mind when Poland is the subject of talk. Start of World War II when Adolf Hitler’s troops invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. And “kielbasa,” the catch-all term for any Polish sausage. History and food. Meanwhile, Poland remains as a chief background take-off of political intrigues in Central Europe, especially between the United States, European Union, and Russia.

       Although Washington maintains its 32nd Air Base and 600 to 800 troops in Poland, the U.S. is not a chief economic partner. Major partners for exports are Germany, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, France and Italy and for imports: Germany, China, Russian Federation, Italy and Netherlands. Which means, Berlin is Warsaw’s top trade buddy, regardless of what went down in World War II.

       Chief industries: Agriculture, manufacturing and mining. Even though agriculture and manufacturing still play a significant role in the country's future, they are slowly losing their positions to the newly emerging industries. Which brings us to China.

       Chinese-Polish economic relations revolve around areas such as finance, agricultural technology, copper industry and coal mining. This also includes new areas like high technology, clean energy, labor, service and infrastructure. 🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱

CONTACTS between Polish and Chinese people date back several centuries, especially in the mid-17th century when mutual trade was very active from 1950s to 1990s. Relations soured a bit in 2019 when Huawei employee Wang Weijing was arrested in Poland on charges of spying for China. Business, however, carries on.

       China continues to import more Polish agricultural and food products and other high-quality goods. Xi Jinping continually encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Poland, adding that he believes Poland will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

       In February this year, China also reiterated its mutual work with Poland to establish a China-Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) wholesale market for agricultural products in Poland and make it a flagship project of China-CEEC cooperation.

       Meanwhile, the United States and Poland have enjoyed warm bilateral relations since 1989. Every post-1989 Polish government has been a strong supporter of continued American military and economic presence in Europe, and Poland is one of the most stable allies of Washington. 🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱

Trump. Wars. And today's geopolitics.

Responses to Facebook chats.

THE real deal is more complex than how we smart watchers see geopolitics. <>As what many believe, the Kremlin is not Donald Trump's lapdog or BFF. And Russia is not dumb or easily cowed, for that matter. Moscow has a different playbook than its BRICS buddy China. 

       Constant: NO Potus can dictate both giants. We are not in the 17th century. Not now that BRICS or China, Russia, India et al have wobbled the G7. 

       <>When a war has already escalated, it is harder to fix it or stop it than when it just started or before it started. Think of the Vietnam War and Afghanistan War. Of course the current wars escalated in Joe Biden's years. And the Afghanistan War got more complicated in the Barack Obama years. 

       <>Mr Trump is trying to negotiate an end to war via economic or trade deals after Russia and EU powers have already invested (via this war) in Ukraine's massive natural resources. All these powers need to agree who gets what and to what extent. Think of Kyiv's Naftogaz or resumption of Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines (to Europe) via the Baltic Sea etc. 

       <>Ukraine's wars have always been a power play between the U.S. and Russia. Think 2014 (Euromaidan) revolution although the alibi then was a proposed deal with the EU that ignited a national tempest. Presidency is always a bottleneck. Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelensky are US' boys; Victor Yanukovych was a Russia's dude. Yet Ukraine is more Russian than American (but must I rant about other U.S. proxy wars?) 

       And of course Mr Trump has a different albeit unorthodox, relatively dovish Washington policy than his predecessors. 

       <>Continuance of war means no election. Volo Zelensky stays in power. His offshore shit in the British Virgin Islands, Belize and Cyprus gets fatter; Zelenska's real estate in London stays. Yup, Mr Zelensky's Ukraine is a European dachshund. NATO justifies more money (because they have a war). Military brinkmanship or wars remain as the West's only way to control Eastern Europe's wealth, regardless of Mr Trump. Yup, regardless of China or BRICS. An idiotic timewarp mindset. ☮️☮️☮️

Compilation of short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

UKRAINE STORY. “Giveaways” or givens: Movements of troops mean budget; “restrained/controlled” human/property collateral damage ensue. Sadly, these are obligatories of geopolitical power play sans actual war. But let me get these facts out of the way: (1) 3.5 million Ukrainians work in Russia. Moscow is Kiev’s #1 trading partner. (2) Before Russian oil/natural gas exports reach Europe, they have to pass through Ukraine. Ergo: Russia and Ukraine are economic co-dependents. 

       Repeat: Russia and Ukraine are economic co-dependents, and so a bloody Russian invasion is not just stupid and costly but self-destructive. Both countries’ energy (oil/natural gas) lifelines would suffer, industrial village halts, and Moscow’s energy market juju gets hit badly—although many say Vlad Putin is using the drama to influence/manipulate fuel pricing. Could be. But the negatives outweigh the positives. Full operation of the Russia/Germany Nord Stream 2 (completed in Sept) has long been delayed. 

       Sure, there is an unresolved business issue between Kiev’s largest gas company Naftogaz and Moscow’s state-owned Gazprom, which funded 50 percent of Nord Stream. Both energy giants have been duking it out for years albeit via media but for the good of both their markets (which is mostly Europe, which is profit), they gotta fix it on the table. A war, again, is stupid—unless a bigger picture looms which brings us to the larger geopolitical power play that, of course, got Trump the whip in 2019. 

       Germany is the other huge investor in the Nord Stream pipeline. Austria, France, and the Netherlands are also involved. But to get the pipeline moving, Berlin has got to give the go-signal. But Germany has just installed a new Chancellor and a new ruling political party. This is post-Angela Merkel, who signed the gas deal in 2012. Apparently, Olaf Scholz isn’t ready yet. Meanwhile, why is President Biden so hot with “Let’s do it!” or “Defend Ukraine” instead of maximizing diplomatic channels? 

       From 2016 to 2020, the United States gained stature as #1 in oil production, oil export, and natural gas production. That’s what Trump handed Biden. But at this point, the U.S. is only #6 in natural gas export. Russia is #1. Russia is also #2 in oil production and about to unseat Saudi Arabia for #2 ranking in oil export. In other words, if Nord Stream goes full stream, Russia gains. I mean, come on! Why can’t they simply sit and talk for profit? No war? 

       The media pitch is Fear. Fear of more viruses, fear of more war. Justify NATO funding. After the Ukraine/Russia Nord Stream issue is resolved, then what? We go to the next pipeline firestorm: TAPI or Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Pipeline. Meantime, there are 70 operating oil and gas pipelines that cross the Canada-U.S. border. Dig that? All this energy pipeline drama and then, what “climate change” are we talking about? Sarcasm. 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦

Do you also notice that lighting is mostly dark in some TV series? I haven’t noticed the literal darkness until these past two years of pandemic, while we are mostly indoors, in front of TV. Research from Boston Univ reveals that depression has persisted into 2021, and even worsened, climbing to 32.8 percent and affecting 1 in every 3 American adults. I am cool though, just my old-age eyes get physically annoyed. But I get the “keep the funk deep,” here's a more dark + Zoloft upgrade. LOL! 📺🥺📺

With all the “protocols” and injuries in the NBA, the team roster should be 30 players. Payroll will spike. But games carry on. In the future, humanity will be on constant "virus protocol," Zoloft royale, but we will live longer. Yet weaker. Physically, mentally. We won’t even notice. Wellness foods are squeezed in pills. Athletes will be holograms, clones, or A.I.s Movies are shot in Mars, free of viruses. So we'll always have ESPN—and Netflix, Hulu, and AppleTV. Sweet! 🚀👽💊

Covid-19 vaccines are distributed for free in the U.S. You do not need to pay any out-of-pocket costs to get an authorized vaccine. Clear? But “free” isn’t really free. Vaccination “benefit” is paid for by taxes. Taxpayer’s money. Tax also goes to FEMA disaster relief that is still being awaited so Big Guy Morgan Stanley fronts the money, the $500 million annual payroll for Capitol security, the $18 billion initially handed to 6 drug giants for vax dev’t per Warp Speed, and the $770 billion military budget. 

       Most of the $770 Defense money also goes to “military aid” to allies of the United States, like the countries in Sub Saharan Africa. They get weapons out of U.S. tax money instead of vaccines. Only 4 percent of Africa is Covid vaccinated at this point--and before Covid 2020, 6 million people die there annually from various deadly diseases, most of which don’t have vaccines. Just cold facts, no political insight. 💵💉💵