Church people anticipated US President Barack Obama’s two-day visit to the Philippines last week with anxiety, given its economic, political and military implications for our country. A Day of Prayer and Candle Lighting for National Sovereignty and Peace in Asia-Pacific was held at Baclaran Shrine, Parañaque City, a day before his arrival.
About the same time, the Christian world was in great celebration of the historic double canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. Both popes are best remembered for their unprecedented contribution to world peace, for instituting Church renewal and reforms, for encouraging interfaith dialogues and laity participation.
Obama’s visit, on the other hand, brought drums of war and cast a shadow of gloom over Philippine sovereignty. And it reminded us of historical events that characterized US presence in the country—from the 1898 mock battle between the United States and Spain (which paved the way for the continued subjugation of our country by another colonial power and through a neocolonial structure that persists to this day) to the numerous deaths and humiliation of fellow Filipinos at American hands, to unfair bilateral agreements, treaties and policies (on economy, trade, military) that saw the plunder and grave abuse of natural and human resources, to countless violations of human rights, etc.
But like his predecessors, President Aquino is only keen in serving his master. Early this year, his allies started openly pushing for Charter change, claiming this is needed for economic growth and development. In fact, Charter change is meant to abolish whatever regulatory measures we still have to protect our local industries and our patrimony from foreign control and exploitation.
The Aquino administration is now flexing its muscles to reduce trade barriers so it can join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a key agenda of President Obama’s engagement in Asia, that, like previous trade agreements, would only largely benefit First World countries, particularly the United States.
An agreement under wraps, supposedly to “enhance” defense cooperation, allows US troops greater access to our military bases, among other “sellouts,” thereby securing US interests in the region. And Mr. Aquino is using the Chinese incursion into Philippine territory to justify—and dampen protests against—this latest agreement. The heightened US presence in the region, particularly in the Philippines, will only compromise Philippine sovereignty and patrimony.
Our security as a nation is important, but the best way to secure our territorial integrity is by building and relying on our own capability to defend our country. We must not compromise our welfare and dignity as a sovereign people to advance another country’s greed for profit and power.
Church people have stood our ground against US incursion and aggression. We will once again stand together with the Filipino people and peace-loving people around the world and raise our voices in the name of peace, sovereignty and dignity.
We clasp our hands in fervent prayer: No to US wars; work for peace; defend our sovereignty!
—NARDY SABINO,
general secretary,
Promotion of Church
People’s Response,
pcprnatl@gmail.com