‘The Chinese have landed!’

China’s intrusion into Philippine seas is a blatant travesty of our territorial integrity. This act should be opposed in the most vigilant ways. As we look to the sea, we should also look at our shores—the Chinese have landed!

At the Manila Bay reclaimed area, the Chinese are now running several casinos that are proudly lauded by our economic czars as “development.” At our dining tables, the garlic in our national dish  adobo  is produced in China.

The Chinese intrusion into Ayungin Shoal could only be a diversionary tactic, which would justify the coming arrival of the US Seventh Fleet, carrying as many as 40,000 sailors and officers. It will also make it easy for the Aquino administration to push for the Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation, expanding the scope of the Visiting Forces Agreement, and the issuance of loads of purchase orders of military hardware.

How can the United States protect us from China when more than half of US bonds are held by the Chinese? Will the United States, for our sake, do anything that will risk the downfall of their economy? For that matter, will the United States do anything for any other country if it will not serve their interests?

Hopeless as it may seem, there is something simple but basic that we can do. This is to instill patriotism in our countrymen. This could be done by intensifying the study of our country’s history. It is our common bond as a people. More specifically, the lives of our national heroes should be popularized—those of Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Melchora Aquino, Apolinario Mabini, and many more who fought colonial Spain and imperialist America during the turn of the 21st century.

Rizal exposed and opposed the abuses and corruption of the Spanish colonial government through his writings. He was jailed, exiled and executed by Spanish authorities, but not after his works helped crystallize to our people their sorry state vis-à-vis the foreigner’s extravagance in their own land.

Bonifacio, finding the futility of struggle through peaceful means, organized and led the Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan (KKK), a revolutionary movement which sought liberation through armed revolution. The KKK had a vision of establishing our very own republic. It was nationwide and was supported by a broad spectrum of people here and abroad. Moreover, it had a code of conduct, a guide to strengthen the revolution through cultural rectification, which was embodied in its “Kartilya,” written by the youthful Emilio Jacinto.

Then there was senior citizen Aquino (Tandang Sora), who gracefully offered her home and garden for the KKK’s general assembly as it planned to launch its armed attacks against the Spanish forces. Tandang Sora also attended to the needs of sick and injured Katipuneros.

The revolution intensified even as a bunch of leaders surrendered, exchanging arms for money. As Manila was left the only stronghold of the Spanish forces, the United States entered the scene and offered to “help” Filipino freedom fighters to deal the Spaniards the final blow. Mabini had the insight and foresight to be wary of America’s motives. True enough, the United States launched its savage war of conquest as soon as the Spaniards left. Tandang Sora and Mabini were exiled to Guam for refusing to pledge allegiance to the new conqueror, the United States, the very same country the present administration is asking protection from against Chinese incursion today.

Let us not only focus on the obvious, like the Chinese ships off Ayungin Shoal. Let us also look inland, where hundreds of Chinese firms have been granted mining concessions by our lawmakers and local officials. Let us watch the Batasan, where there are moves to change the Constitution and remove the land ownership restrictions on foreigners.

As the country celebrates Mabini’s sesquicentennial, let us learn from his Decalogue, No. 6 of which states: Assert your country’s sovereignty, because you alone will care for her greatness and nobility. Her independence is your own comfort and freedom; her greatness will deliver you your needs; her nobility is your own glory, providing you a decent life to the end.

Julie L. Po is a board member of Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino, an institution that aims to promote nationalism through arts and literature. She is a graphic artist by profession.