Tag Archives: Spratly Islands

Emil Guillermo: The real independence day for Filipinos and a new call for Filipinos everywhere to take a stand

By now you know it’s not July 4th, the fakey Filipino American ceremonial day that mirrors Big White Brother.

Independence Day?  it’s June 12th because that’s when Philippine General Emilio Aguinaldo, proclaimed independence from Spain from the balcony of his home in Cavite.

June 12, 1898.

And then, things change when Spain, as part of losing the overall Spanish American War gave the U.S. the Philippines in the Treaty of Paris.

Talk about double-cross.

And now the Filipinos had to fight the U.S.

600,000 Filipinos are estimated to have died overall.  At least 5,000 U.S. soldiers.

But that’s history.

Today the “beef”  is with China, which has begun building islands in the waters that are in Filipino territory.

Filipinos are taking an Alamo-like stand.

Read my column here.

Consider showing your support today in boycotts around the country. This one in San Francisco.

boycott boycott

 

Emil Guillermo: China goes Spratly; Filipinos take note, so now must the U.S.

The U.S. has tried for years to keep the Spratly  Island situation from being the small thing that becomes the big thing in world affairs.

But now it seems, China is ready to go all in on the little islands that from a satellite cam look like little amoeba.

spratlysFieryCrossReef

Last week, a U.S. surveillance plane  operation was sternly warned for  flying over the area. This week, China released a  new White Paper, letting all the world know that China is in fact  beefing up its Navy and is ready  to attack if attacked upon.

So now it’s not just the Philippines getting bullied.  How does the U.S. respond?

First things first. Get to know your Spratlys.

Read more in my column at www.aaldef.org/blog.