Good News! Vice-President Jojo Binay calls for revisit of the economic provisions of Philippine Constitution.

Good news! Philippine Vice-President Jejomar "Jojo" Binay is correct, his views similar to that of Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, Jr. on the urgent need for reforming the restrictive economic provisions of the Philippine Constitution which have so far discouraged huge inflows of foreign investments.

Image below of Vice-President Jojo Binay, sourced from affordablecebu.com





Image below of Speaker Sonny Belmonte, sourced from en.wikipedia.com




Vice-President Binay voiced these progressive, pro-people and reformist views to media at the sidelines of a meeting of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

Let all of us citizens voice our support for these proposed reforms, which shall hopefully make our Philippine economy globally-competitive compared to our Asean and Asian neighbors!

We need more foreign direct investments (FDIs) for more new factories and big enterprises, so we can create more jobs in the Philippines, instead of restricting entry of foreign investments which causes our perennially high unemployment problem and which forces millions of hardworking Filipnos to go abroad for work.

Image below of Metro Manila, sourced from business.asiaone.com



Image below, sourced from maquilafind.com



I am sharing this latest news report from philstar.com and Xinhua News Agency:

Binay calls for revisit of restrictive policies to economic growth

(philstar.com) | Updated July 29, 2013 - 9:00pm

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Vice President Jejomar Binay today called for a revisit of the Southeast Asian country's restrictive policies that hinders economic growth.

At the sidelines of the Joint Membership Meeting of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines, Binay underscored the need to liberalize laws with economic provisions in pursuance of the government mantra of inclusive growth.

"I have taken the position that we should at least, for starters, revisit measures that gets in the way of inclusive growth. We can start with the economic provisions of the constitution," he told reporters during the regular forum of businessmen.

He added that the required legislative changes are not imperative on President Aquino's term but would certainly need the push of national government. 

"Though it the fastest route, let me express my concern that the Congress itself may insert provisions that are not of economic orientation at all. That is as scenario that I am truly afraid might happen," he said.

He also expressed concern that alleged path to liberalization should be able to prepare Philippine businesses and the economy for global competitiveness.

 

Earlier, a group of local businessmen also urged the national government to soften the restrictive policies under the nationalistic provisions of the constitution.

The group of businessmen is seeking for an amendment of the economic provisions in the constitution to allow the entry of more foreign direct investments and a leeway for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to grow and develop.

The group is apprehensive over the seeming reluctance of foreign companies to invest in the Philippines despite improved credit and investments ratings.

Businessmen are citing inconsistencies on policies and "disrespect of contracts" as several of the more obvious reasons for slow investments.  

Shameless & continuous corruption! Archbishop Soc Villegas correct in criticizing immoral, corrupt mis-use of "pork barrel" by our many politicians in the Philippines!

I admire Archbishop Socrates "Soc" B. Villegas and his courageous stand against the shameless misuse of the "pork barrel" by many of our politicians in the Philippines, not only now, but ever since before.

When will systemic, institutional, cultural and far-reaching reforms happen beyond rhetoric, nice speeches?

Image below of Arhbishop Soc Villegas, sourced from lingayen-dagupan.org

 

Let us read the public statement issues by Archbishop Villegas just today, July 29, 2013 and share to others via social media?

PORK BARREL, STEWARDSHIP AND THE POOR
The Morality of the Pork Barrel

Many of you, our Catholic faithful, have come to us your pastors seeking our moral guidance on the issue of the pork barrel. It is the object of an ongoing investigation due to accusations of corruption being hurled against some of our public officials. But even before the recent expose, the pork barrel has long had a bad reputation. How many traditional politicians have run and overspent and even killed for the sake of millions they will get as pork barrel once elected?

We your Church pastors are not politicians. We are not lawyers. We are not socio-economic planners and strategists. Our realm is religious and the arena where we operate is spiritual and moral. From the ethical and moral perspectives, therefore, we offer you these guidelines.

The separation of Church and State does not prohibit moral ethical values from influencing public policies. If governance were conducted from a platform that disregards ethics and morality, we only expose our nation to greater peril. We have only ourselves to blame and we make ourselves the victims of our own amoral conduct.

PRO POOR OR PRO POLITICIAN…

In theory, the Priority Development Assistance Fund is an attempt to make government projects available to the poor and the marginalized sectors of society who are not sufficiently attended to when the national priorities are defined. In theory it is pro-poor and pro-marginalized. Its goal is to alleviate poverty and to bring about a redistribution of public money for the benefit of the poor. And we would like to affirm those who have indeed used every peso entrusted to them to support genuine projects for the poor, even to the point of spending their own money to respond to the needy. 

In reality, however, the pork barrel has been used by some elected representatives in Congress to prove to their constituents that they are concretely doing something for their welfare. In fact, it is not uncommon to refer to projects funded from the pork barrel fund as “Projects of Congressman X” giving the impression that this is personal money and not public fund. Epal has become so common that some of us are not disturbed by those billboards anymore.  

In many instances, the pork barrel has become like a “discretionary fund” of elected Representatives. In theory, it is for the development of the poor and the far. In reality, it has served to strengthen the clutch of politicians to power. 

But before we rush to pass judgment on our legislators who avail of the pork barrel, it would be opportune for us citizens to search our souls and ask “What have I done to contribute to this?”

In reality, we ordinary citizens partake of the bounty of the “discretionary funds” by asking our government officials to help our personal needs, family concerns, barangay projects or even Church fiestas.

Let us make it our rule of life when we relate to politicians “Walang hihingi!” Every time we ask our politicians for monetary help, we tempt them to dig into the pork barrel coffers or jueteng chests to accommodate our request.

STEWARDSHIP NOT PATRONAGE…

Public service is public trust. When we elect our Representatives in Congress, we elect them to make laws to make our nation a better nation. The task that we entrust to the legislators is clearly legislation. They are trustees of the citizens for lawmaking. 

The task of building infrastructure and providing social services is the responsibility of the executive branch of government. Its stewardship function is infrastructure building and social services. In theory, the Chief Executive has control of the disposition of these funds. In law and practice, the Chief Executive controls the release of the pork barrel to legislators. The consequence is the President can put pressure on legislators to toe his political line. The independence of Congress is compromised. 

Filipino voters become “grateful” beneficiaries of legislators whom they expect to give them something when they need. Legislators in turn become “thankful” recipients of the largess of pork barrel whose release the Executive has control. Politics of patronage not stewardship cascades from top to bottom.

Public governance is stewardship but the pork barrel has made public governance a system of patronage. Stewardship liberates and uplifts. Patronage enslaves and insults.

One of the basic rules that make stewardship functional is transparency and accountability. Under no circumstances must transparency be excused and accountability ignored.
OUR MORAL OPTIONS…

For the Church… Church based organizations and institutions must make it our mantra in relation to politicians “Walang hihingi!” 

We in Church can contribute to the corruption by grabbing a piece of the pie through our solicitations from government officials—from candles to basketball uniforms to bags of cement to government bulldozers. We tempt the public officials to get money from jueteng or the pork barrel in order to accommodate us. Walang hihingi!

We who are stewards of the materials goods of the Church must be transparent in our fund raising projects. We must prepare our accounting reports of how Church funds are disbursed insuring all the time that the principle of accountability is observed. When we are less than transparent in our accounting, we hurt the truth. Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw.

For the Government…

On the part of government, for the sake of sound stewardship of public money, it is imperative that those who approve the budget are distinct and separate from those who implement the projects. The present system is very vulnerable to conflict of interest, parochialism and corruption in the selection of suppliers and the bidding of contracts.

Let the legislators legislate and the executives execute. 

In order to protect the national and local executives from the temptation of corrupting public money, the Commission on Audit must do its mandated duty with strength of will, vigilance and diligence. This is ethical public service.

On its part, the legislators must strengthen their oversight, monitoring and evaluation functions with the public participation of the Church, business and civil society groups like what PPCRV and Namfrel do together during elections. 

Man does not live on bread alone, the good Lord taught us; but man does not need pork to go with bread.  It is integrity that must go with bread. Let integrity flow in our beloved land for “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out (Proverbs 10:9).
From the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Dagupan City, July 29, 2013 Memorial Day of Saint Martha 

 +SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS 
Archbishop  of Lingayen Dagupan


Archbishop Soc Villegas image below, sourced from flickr.com

Interesting Greenpeace ship "Esperanza" in Manila Bay, Philippines, open to public for visit. Last day July 28, 2013, Sunday!

I just came from an interesting visit tonight, July 27, 2013, of the Greenpeace ship "Esperanza"---the name comes from the Spanish word for "hope". Fascinating, educational, very interesting!

Tomorrow Sunday, July 28, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. in the morning to 3 p.m. in the afternoon, this ship Esperanza is open to the public to visit. It is docked at Pier 15, which is just nearest the back of the Manila Hotel, Manila City, the Philippines.

Image below of the ship "Esperanza", sourced from greenpeace.org.au



I encourage everyone interested in oceans, seas, the environment or ships in general to visit this former Russian fire-fighting vessel during its last day.

It sailed here from Dumaguete port to Sorsogon province in Bicol and then now to Manila Bay in its mission to campaign for protecting our oceans against three major threats of---climate change, overfishing and pollution.

Photo below (from Facebook page of Greenpeace Philippines) shows divers from Silliman University, Coastal Conservation and Education foundation, and Greenpeace on July 10, 2013 surveying the massive coral damage in Apo Island of the Philippines. The documentation of the reef check in Apo Island is part of the activities around the visit of the Greenpeace ship "Esperanza" which is now in Manila Bay, the Philippines.





Greenpeace is an international environmental organization which does not accept donations or financial help from businessses or governments, just small donations from over three million supporters worldwide and international volunteers.

Go to the website of Greenpeace Philippines to support this outstabnding group.

Let us support Greenpeace and help save our environment!

The beautiful image below is of Apo Island in the Philippines which is described as "ray of hope' for oceans according to Greenpeace. Image sourced from greenpeace.org

Image below of the ocean's natural beauty, sourced from durianpost.com




Some of the diverse creatures of the ocean which nourish us, and which we should also protect by saving our oceans from destruction, image below sourced from Facebook page of Greenpeace Philippines about the visit now of their ship "Esperanza".

 

Among the Philippine leaders and celebrities who have expressed support for Greenpeace and its ship "Esperanza" on its visit to the Philippines include Senator Loren Legarda, presidential adviser on the environment Neric Acosta, actor Cesar Montano and Parokya ni Edgar band member Buhawi Meneses.

I personally met the talented Meneses and his wife tonight during a tour of the ship by a young female German volunteer of Greenpeace along with their other volunteers.


Senator Loren Legarda is a lifelong environmentalist, image below sourced from liberalparty.org.ph




Secretary Neric Acosta's image below, sourced from facebook.com




Actor Cesar Montano once starred in an environmtalist movie Muro Ami, image below sourced from ph.omg.yahoo.com





Buhawi Meneses of the popular and long-lasting Parokya ni Edgar band, image below sourced from
flickr.com

Mediate, don't litigate! 90 free scholarships for would-be “mediators” in personal, family or business feuds!

Mediate, don't litigate!

Good News: 90 free scholarships for would-be “mediators” in personal, family or business feuds

Isn't it always more practical and less destructive to all concerned, when disagreements can be civilly and smoothly mediated out of the courts, instead of full-scale wars between persons, spouses, family members, business colleagues, companies and professionals?

Who are the ideal "mediators"? Are they scientifically and professionally trained?

How does a person become a professionally-trained “mediator” in out-of-court cases?

Image below, sourced from n2nmediation.org

Leaders of the National Center for Mediation (NCM) and the non-governmental organization called the Conflict Resolution Group Foundation, Inc. (CoRe)  have asked me to share the good news about their scholarship program for would-be mediators.

Image below, sourced from disputeresolve.com

There are 90 slots for scholarships available nationwide in Metro Manila/Batangas, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines.

Interested applicants can contact www.corefound.org, www.mediation.org.ph or

apple.alejandro@yahoo.com

Why our Philippine sovereign claim to Spratleys totally different from the Senkaku/Diaoyu isles dispute of Japan/China

I think the territorial disputes of the Philippines and Japan versus China are totally different cases, and shouldn’t be lumped together as the same or even similar?

Japan Prme Minister Abe meeting Philippine President Aquino in Manila, image below sourced from interaksyon.com

I think it is in the best national interest of the Philippines to pursue our sovereignty claims on their own merits and not to mix them altogether with the controversial Senkaku/Diaoyu isles dispute between Japan and China which has totally different historical and political dynamics?

I believe our Philippine territorial claim is stronger and has better chances than Japan's historically controversial claim, and that we in the Philippines can still have much better economic as well diplomatic ties with our traditional friend China than Japan can have with its traditional historic foe China too. 

Why?

First, I believe the territorial claims of both China and the Philippines---also those of Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam---are only recent or modern-day claims in the 20th century only?

In China’s case, their Nine-Dash Line claim was---I think---formulated a century ago by then Republic of China (ROC) regime? We in the Philippines have made our territorial claims to the inhabited isles of the Spratleys first with Admiral Tomas Cloma’s personal and private claims of "Freedomland" or what is now called Pag-Asa which President Marcos got from Cloma for the Philippines?

China's Nine-Dash Line claim was done in the early 20th century, the 1898 Treaty of Paris with Spain selling the Philippines to the United States, and our 1935 Philippine Constitution doesn't indicate the Spratleys, so my point is, these uninhabited isles in Spratleys are modern-era claims by the different claimants of Asia and considered by almost all as “disputed territories”?

Admiral Cloma commemorative postage stamp, imaged sourced from philippinephilatelist.net

Image below is Admiral Cloma's flag for his self-proclaimed "Free Territory of Freedomland", sourced from en.wikipedia.com

Second, in the case of Japan’s claim on Senkaku isles, those were deemed historically part of China during the Qing Dynasty which Japanese military war and colonization annexed in the late 19th century along with its takeover of Taiwan in 1895, so historically in the perspective of the Chinese nation, those isles are the Diaoyu isles which they believe rightfully belong to China. 

The issue of the Diaoyu/Senkaku territorial dispute is sensitive due to the history of Japanese military aggression in China which climaxed during World War II, and therefore it is prudent, wise and better for us in the Philippines to not lump ourselves and our own Spratleys sovereignty claims together with the age-old wartime grudges and conflicts between Japan and China, especially that Japan is now led by a hawkish political leader?

New York Times columnist and 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas D. Kristof wrote on September 19, 2012: "I’ve had a longstanding interest in the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, the subject of a dangerous territorial dispute  between Japan and China. The United States claims to be neutral but in effect is siding with Japan, and we could be drawn in if a war ever arose. Let me clear that I deplore the violence in the recent anti-Japan protests in China:  the violence is reprehensible and makes China look like an irrational bully. China’s government should rein in this volatile nationalism rather than feed it. This is a dispute that both sides should refer to the International Court of Justice, rather than allow to boil over in the streets. That said, when I look at the underlying question of who has the best claim, I’m sympathetic to China’s position. I don’t think it is 100 percent clear, partly because China seemed to acquiesce to Japanese sovereignty between 1945 and 1970, but on balance I find the evidence for Chinese sovereignty quite compelling. The most interesting evidence is emerging from old Japanese government documents and suggests that Japan in effect stole the islands from China in 1895 as booty of war. This article by Han-Yi Shaw, a scholar from Taiwan, explores those documents. I invite any Japanese scholars to make the contrary legal case." Below is a link to his blog on this issue

http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/the-inconvenient-truth-behind-the-diaoyusenkaku-islands/?_r=0

We have had over 1,000 years of friendly relations between the Philippines and China, therefore any territorial disputes can be a disagreement between old friends? On the other hand, China---similar to the Korean nation---has age-old and bitter war memories with Japan which therefore complicates their territorial disputes on a totally different level and dimension, so their territorial dispute is a disagreement between former enemies?

Isn't it strategically prudent, pragmatic and wiser for the benefit of our immediate and long-term national interests in the Philippines to not be lumped together or in the same light as Japan, in the consciousness of China's leaders and people?

Image below of the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku isles between China and Japan, sourced from cananewslibre.com

I am posting these ideas here, in response to the news today, which I am sharing below:

 

Philippines, Japan leaders hold talks over China disputes

By MYNARDO MACARAIG   July 27, 2013 11:10am

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met President Benigno Aquino on Saturday as the Philippines sought to boost cooperation over growing territorial disputes with regional rival China.

The meeting comes as tensions have steadily risen between China and Japan, which accuses its growing neighbour of sending an increasing number of ships to exert its claim over unpopulated Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea.

The Philippines has also charged that China has used assertive means to exert claims in the conflict-riven South China Sea.

The first visit to Manila by a Japanese leader since December 2006 highlights the growing strategic partnership between the two Asian nations who were bitter enemies in the World War II era, officials said.

"Japan is one of our two strategic partners (besides the United States). Certainly, it (Abe trip) would be a significant visit from a strategic partner," Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters ahead of Abe's arrival late Friday.

Foreign Department spokesman Raul Hernandez said the territorial disputes will be discussed by the leaders.

Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera, who visited the Philippines last month, said the two countries would cooperate "in terms of the defence of remote islands... as well as protection of maritime interests".

Political scientist Rene de Castro of Manila's De La Salle University said the growing proximity was helping both nations overcome bitter World War II memories.

"As a liberal democracy, we recognise that Japan right now, is totally different from the Japan of World War II" when it occupied the Philippines, de Castro told AFP.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, in an interview with the Financial Times last year said Japan would be a "welcome" counterbalance to China's rise.

The hawkish Abe has pledged to loosen limits on the military in Japan's pacifist, post-war constitution and stand up to China over their East China Sea dispute.

Abe's government pledged in February to provide 10 patrol boats to the Philippines, which is rushing to upgrade its antiquated navy and coast guard.

China seized the Scarborough Shoal, a South China Sea outcrop just 230 kilometres (140 miles) east of the main Philippine island of Luzon, last year after Manila backed down from a lengthy stand-off.

This year the Philippines has complained about the presence of Chinese navy vessels near Filipino-held Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly islands. - Agence France-Presse

Philippine President Noynoy Aquino's new challenges in last 3 years in power

Philippine President Noynoy Aquino's new challenges in last 3 years in power are the following:

Image below of President Noynoy Aquino, sourced from asiasociety.org



1. Spread the fruits or benefits of fast economic growth to the poor masses, the middle-class, to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs)

2. Structural and even constitutional reforms to really woo substantial direct foreign investments to the Philippines

3. Accelerate infrastructure projects, especially the horrible airports

4. Institutionalize anti-corruption efforts and reforms

5. Stabilize and enhance Philippine foreign relations beyond just being traditional and strategic ally of the United States and Japan, in order to boost and diversify Philippine diplomatic and economic ties with other nations most specially ASEAN neighbors, the rising new economic superpower China, and other countries.

Iage below of Philippine map, sourced from mlit.go.jp

Hard truths, not politician's speech: My hopes for 2013 State of the Nation (SONA) speech of Philippine President Noynoy C. Aquino

Hard Truths Please, not Politician's Speech: My hopes for 2013 State of the Nation (SONA) speech of Philippine President Noynoy C. Aquino:

Image below of President Noynoy Aquino---nicknamed "P-Noy"---sourced from thephilippineisland.com




1. A shorter speech is the best, straight to the point, less political theater please.

Image below of President Aquino delivering a speech, sourced from philstar.com




2. Less combative or adversarial against political enemies past or present, but be more inclusive and statesman-like in his politics now.

I hope his speech will show that he is leader of all Filipinos, not only of the Yellows or his ideological or political allies. I hope he isn't manipulated by his political allies who might just be obssessed with the next elections, his concern should be over-all national progress and not just parochial political interests.

Image below of President Aquino surrounded by his political color yellow and with the "L" or "laban" (fight) sign, sourced from planetphilippines.com



3. In foreign policy, I hope P-Noy can uphold an independent foreign policy which shall make the Philippines the friend and ally of all nations and not be unnecessarily entangled into bitter and complex superpower rivalries inimical to our economic self-interests, becoming more like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore or other Asean neighbors who are friends to all and courted by all powers.

A truly independent foreign policy shall make our traditional ally the United States give us the Philippines more importance and not take us for granted in terms of more aid and investments, while making other powers to woo us too with economic and other concessions advantageous to our own national self-interests.

Image below of President Aquino with USA President Barack Obama, sourced from asianweek.com




4. A call to action, because good governance or anti-corruption stance doesn't mean inertia or fear of making decisions. Prove to the world that honest government doesn't mean indecisive or slow leadership. Why not so much infrastructure projects or Public-Private Partnership projects in the past three years?

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) named in memory of President Aquino's late father Senator Ninoy Aquino, had in recent years been listed as the world's No. 1 worst airport, and no dramatic changes in the past three years. Image below of NAIA sourced from getrealphiippines.com





5. I hope he unveils plans and reaffirms his promise to promote more inclusive economic growth, not just let the big businesses, the rich and politically well-connected thrive while the middle-class, the small & medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and the masses feel so left behind or harassed.

The super-high prices of the Philippine Stock Exchange index or the rise of many luxury condominiums do not accurately reflect the true state of the Philippine economy, especially the impact of high economic growth

This shocking disparity between the rich and the poor in the Philippines, this image below of the rich-poor gap sourced from bbc.co.uk of the British Broadcasting Corporation





6.  I hope P-Noy becomes more open-minded to charter change or constitutional reforms to change economic provisions which are so restrictive against foreign investments. I hope his government shall not allow politicians and bureaucrats to seem so anti-business, but to encourage and support businesses and entrepreneurs beyond just the big business groups.

We need more long-term foreign direct investments for new factories and farms, not just rely on overseas Filiino workers (OFWs), call centers and business process outsource (BPOs) to shore up our Philippine economic growth.

7. I hope President Noynoy Aquino shall be honest enough to admit the failures and even errors of his government officials, while trumpheting his government's many well-deserved accomplishments too. Will his government ever fire and scold close political allies for anomalies, mediocrity and sheer incompetence?

I hope to hear President Noynoy Aquino give us a stark, unimbellished and objective assessment of the true state of the nation to move us all towards action and reforms, not a politician's campaign speech. He has nothing more to prove, he is not running for future re-election, be more than just a successful politician or boss of the Liberal Party, rise to the occasion as outstanding statesman and leader!

Stark black-and-white image of President Aquino below, sourced from time.com

Okinawa independence from Japan, a legitimate cause?

Is the clamor for reclaiming the independence of Okinawa from Japan a legitimate cause? Okinawa used to be an independent kingdom in Asia known as the Kingdom of Ryukyus, until it was conquered and colonized by Japan. Is their situation similar to that of East Timor or even Korea (which Japan colonized at the same time as the Rukyus or Okinawa)?

Maybe it's time for leaders of Japan to treat Okinawa and its people better, give them more economic and other support, since Okinawa is now still the poorest area in Japan?

Perhaps Japan should consider to quickly move out the American military bases from Okinawa and into other isles of Japan, out of respect for the wishes of the Okinawa people?

I pondered on these and other questions after reading this article below:




The map of Okinawa above, sourced from en.wikipedia.org




The image above of Okinawa, sourced from deshow.net




New York Times article: In Okinawa, Talk of Break From Japan Turns Serious

Ko Sasaki for The New York Times

 

Chosuke Yara, the head of the Ryukyu Independence Party, last month. “Independence is an idea whose time has come,” he said.

By Martin Fackler

Published July 5, 2013

NAHA, Japan — In a windowless room in a corner of a bustling market where stalls displayed severed pigs’ heads and bolts of kimono silk, Okinawans gathered to learn about a political idea that until recently few had dared to take seriously: declaring their island chain’s political independence from Japan.

About two dozen people of all ages listened as speakers challenged the official view of Okinawa as inherently part of homogeneous Japan, arguing instead that Okinawans are a different ethnic group whose once-independent tropical islands were forcibly seized by Japan in 1879. Then, to lighten the mood, the organizers showed “Sayonara, Japan!”, a comedy about a fictional Okinawan island that becomes its own little republic.

“Until now, you were mocked if you spoke of independence,” said one speaker, Kobun Higa, 71, a retired journalist whose book on the history of the tiny independence movement has become a hot seller online. “But independence may be the only real way to free ourselves from the American bases.”

Mr. Higa and other advocates admit that few islanders would actually seek independence for Okinawa, the southernmost Japanese island chain, which is home to 1.4 million residents and more than half of the 50,000 American troops and sailors based in Japan. But discontent with the heavy American presence and a growing perception that the central government is ignoring Okinawans’ pleas to reduce it have made an increasing number of islanders willing to at least flirt publicly with the idea of breaking apart in a way that local politicians and scholars say they have not seen in decades.

In May, a newly formed group led by Okinawan university professors held a symposium on independence that drew 250 people. A tiny political party that advocates separation from Japan through peaceful means has been revived after decades of dormancy, though its candidates have fared poorly in recent elections.

And on his blog, a member of Parliament from Okinawa recently went so far as to post an entry titled “Okinawa, It’s Finally Time for Independence From Yamato,” using the Okinawan word for the rest of Japan.

“Before, independence was just something we philosophized about over drinks,” said Masahide Ota, a former governor of Okinawa, who is not a member of the movement.

“Now, it is being taken much more seriously.”

The independence movement remains nascent, with a few hundred active adherents at most. But Mr. Ota and others say it still has the potential to complicate Japan’s unfolding contest with China for influence in the region.

That struggle expanded recently to include what appears to be a semiofficial campaign in China to question Japanese rule of Okinawa. Some analysts see the campaign as a ploy to strengthen China’s hand in a dispute over a smaller group of islands that has captured international headlines in recent months. Some Chinese scholars have called for exploiting the independence movement to say there are splits even in Japan over the legitimate ownership of islands annexed during Japan’s imperial expansion in the late 19th century, as Okinawa and the smaller island group were.

Okinawa has long looked and felt different from the rest of Japan, with the islands’ tropical climate, vibrant musical culture and lower average incomes setting it apart. Strategically situated in the center of East Asia, the islands, once known as the Kingdom of the Ryukyus, have had a tortured history with Japan since the takeover, including the forced suicides of Okinawan civilians by Japanese troops during World War II and the imposition of American bases after the war.

For years, Okinawans directed much of their ire over the bases at the United States. But that changed four years ago when the Japanese prime minister at the time, Yukio Hatoyama, reneged on campaign pledges to move the bustling Marine air base at Futenma off Okinawa, rather than to a less populated site on the island as previous governments had approved. After that, many Okinawans shifted much of their anger toward the rest of Japan, which wants the United States military presence to offset China’s growing power, but is unwilling to shoulder more of the burden of bases for fear of crime, noise and accidents.

Local leaders and scholars say the last time Okinawans spoke so openly of independence was during a period of sometimes violent unrest against American control before the United States ended its postwar occupation of the islands in 1972.

“There is a growing feeling that Okinawans just exchanged one colonial master in Washington for another one in Tokyo,” said Shinako Oyakawa, 32, a doctoral student at the University of the Ryukyus and a co-founder of Okinawan Studies 107, a group promoting research into Ryukyuan ethnic identity.

Such discontent has helped nurture groups like hers, which seek to promote the idea that the islanders form a distinct ethnic group. It has also led to the creation of places like Ryukyu Hall, a privately run school that opened last year and offers classes on Okinawan language and culture.

On a recent weekend, about 30 people gathered at the school, a small, sparsely furnished two-story building, to hear accounts in the Ryukyuan language by survivors of the American invasion of Okinawa in 1945.

“Regaining our identity is the first step toward regaining independence,” said Midori Teruya, 41, a co-founder of the school in Ginowan, the site of the Futenma air base.

The talk of independence has grown enough that it is being heard in Tokyo, where some conservative newspapers have begun calling the Okinawan independence activists “pawns” of China.

Whether or not the activists are pawns, there is certainly some discussion in China about using the independence movement. Recently, an editorial in The Global Times, a state-run Chinese newspaper, said China could pressure Japan by “fostering forces in Okinawa that seek the restoration of the independence of the Ryukyu chain.”

Few believe China is about to pursue ownership of Okinawa. But Japanese analysts see the informal campaign as the latest gambit in China’s attempts to take over the smaller group of islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, by essentially warning that China could expand its claims beyond those islands if Japan ignores its arguments.

“It will create problems for us if the Chinese government tries to use this issue,” said Masaki Tomochi, a professor at Okinawa International University who helped organize the symposium on independence in May.

Mr. Tomochi and other activists said that in the remote event that Okinawa became independent, they felt little fear of a Chinese takeover because the Ryukyus had held friendly ties with China for centuries before the Japanese takeover.

Mr. Tomochi’s group is planning a second symposium to present research on how Pacific island nations like Palau could serve as a model for a future Ryukyu republic. The idea is to try to overcome what he sees as the main challenge his movement faces: winning over Okinawans who seem content with their Japanese-style living standards.

“People are talking independence now, but how realistic is it?” asked Yoshinao Hiyane, 22, an economics major at Okinawa International University. “My generation has grown up Japanese.”

At the movie screening in the market, independence supporters tried to bolster the notion that their idea is more than a fantasy by handing out color-copied “currency” of a Ryukyu republic. They stood before a blue banner with three stars that the organizer, Chosuke Yara, called its flag.

“Recently, the interests of the Japanese people and the Ryukyu people have clearly diverged,” said Mr. Yara, 61, the head of the tiny Ryukyu Independence Party. “Independence is an idea whose time has come.”

Naha Shuri Castle in Okinawa, image below sourced from en.wkipedia.org

Why changing “Philippines” to “Filipinas” is silly waste of time & resources!

Why changing “Philippines” to “Filipinas” is silly waste of time & resources!

What's in a name?  That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

---William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

If names are not correct, language will not be in accordance with the truth of things.         --- Confucius

            Holy carabao! Have you read the news that a resolution dated April 12 by the government’s Komisyong ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) or the Commission for the Filipino Language urging the use of “Filipinas” instead of “Philippines” or “Pilipinas” as the country’s official name?

I highly respect the KWF officials and concede that they have sincere intentions, but I oppose this idea which I think is a silly waste of time, energy and resources!

Image above sourced from wika.pbworks.com

            Why do many of our politicos and bureaucrats have this penchant for the useless exercise of changing historic and also culturally important names, often with no strongly logical and overwhelmingly advantageous reasons? Are they too just so bored with their lives, or lacking more important tasks to do?

Manila street used to honor Spain’s only Prime Minister of Filipino descent

            Not all name changes are bad, but I wish to cite some which I disagree with and lament. One example was our politicos’ changing of Manila’s Azcarraga Street to Claro M. Recto Avenue in the 1960s. By the way, hope Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada and Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno will clean and decongest this thoroughfare.

First of all, let me clarify that I admire the anti-colonial Senator Recto as a courageous nationalist and he surely more than deserves a major street to be named after him. In fact, I believe he was worthy to be president, similar to other nationalists like ex-Senate President Jovito Salonga, Senator Jose W. Diokno and Senator Lorenzo Tañada, Sr. 

The nationalist Senator Claro M. Reto, image above sourced from hitoriles.com

However, Azcarraga Avenue used to honor a unique leader too which reflected the colorful Philippine past, and I believe it was unnecessary to change that name especially since there are many other new boulevards or streets.

Image of Marcelo de Azcarraga y Palmero, sourced from latinamericanstudies.org

Once known in the Spanish and American colonial eras as Calle Azcarragaza, this street traverses historic Binondo, Santa Cruz and Quiapo districts. In the 1990 book by the late National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin entitled Manila, My Manila, he wrote about the very important person the street was named after---the soldier and political leader Marcelo Azcárraga y Palmero, 3-term prime minister of Spain (1897-1900) and the only Spanish prime minister of Filipino descent. He was once field marshal.

            Azcárraga was born in 1832, in Manila in the what was then called the “Spanish East Indies” (modern-day Philippines plus other Spanish colonies in the east like Guam and the Marianas), to Basque Spanish former general José de Azcárraga y Ugarte and to María Palmero Versosa.

Azcarraga’s father Jose was a bookshop owner in Manila’s Escolta (which has luckily survived the name-changing habit of our politicos) and the mother Maria was a mestiza from Albay province.

            Marcelo Palmero Azcarraga also studied law in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He became multi-awarded for government service and served as prime minister three times. On his mother's side, Azcárraga was descendant of the Filipino mestizo Lizarragas, heirs of the fallen Conde de Lizarraga. His maternal Palmero uncles were also active in pre-war Philippine politics. Prime Minister Azcarraga was an uncle to the self-styled Conde de Albay, also known as Señor Pedro Govantes.

Not all name changes by our politicos were inane. One name change by politicos which I agree with was that of Plaza Leon XIII (Trece) in front of the Tondo church of Manila. It was renamed as Plaza Hernandez in honor of the writer, labor leader, anti-Japanese guerrilla during World War II and the country’s first National Artist for Literature Amado V. Hernandez.           

Writer and labor leader Amado V. Hernandez image above, sourced from voiceseducation.org

Why not the Philippine Islands for automatic tourism promotion?

           

            If our government leaders really feel the itch to change the name of the Philippines, why not revert back to the pre-war American colonial era’s use of the more exotic-sounding “Philippine Islands” which shall definitely be advantageous for tourism promotion?

I am serious, if we only just continued using the Philippine Islands, that name could automatically evoke images of tropical isles similar to the Carribean, Hawaii, Bali, etc. and subliminally tell the rest of the world that “It’s more fun in the Philippines”.  By the way, “It’s more fun in Filipinas” would sound awkward too?

Apart from the huge economic resources needed to change every government or private sector electronic, metal and other signages as well as numerous printed materials, or my not liking the idea of the country’s premier state university being called University of Filipinas (UF), I believe the world is already so used to calling our archipelago “The Philippines” so there’s no need to confuse them. Why fix something that isn’t broken?

There are 1,001 more important things in the Philippines which we should expend  energies on to change, such as the mismanagement of Metro Manila’s traffic flow, the wide chasm between the few who are well-off vis-à-vis the small middle-class and majority the poor masses, our colonial mindset or mentality, the still continuing corruption in lower-ranking government leaders and the need for structural reforms, etc. Another thing we need to change? Please change the irritating, epal and seemingly useless name-changing habit of our politicos!