hit05

Yes the americans already did bringing carriers and

combat ships,

For relief operations but in reality part also of

their much publicise pivot in asia.

 

And as soon as the US government were filling the huge gap of disaster response, the local commies are already voicing concern about making the US troops leave without caring to save the many dying and starving due to the calamity. Even media is hysterical about the reaction of Secretary Alcala who dismissed the government distribution activity due to the threat to life against the desperate. How can it be that media is busy asking for volunteers to assemble and repack relief goods but government who earlier announced the resumption of travel in the worst hit areas is declaring it is not safe to help anyone?

 

The US troops better prepare for attacks as if they are grocery goods from the ever growing lawless elements. There is a major NPA terrorist presence in the countrysides, thanks to DSWD funding and the tons of profits from illegal mining, logging and taxation activities.

It's like a flyweight boxer going against a heavyweight. Or a better analogy would be like a small child going against a 6'5 250 pound black belt champion. With the odds stacked heavily against us, we only have our diplomatic skills and the support of the international community and, of course, our Mutual Defense Treaty with the US to keep us out of harms way.

Diplomatic skills? You mean how we belittle and add insult to injury Taiwan or Hong Kong protests over the avoidable deaths of their citizens?

See what I mean? You're proving my point all along. We're too chaotic and divided amongst ourselves to let every civilians to carry guns (note that I'm saying EVERY, like what mokong is suggesting). We'd used those guns to hurt each other first long before external hostile forces have even set foot on our beaches.

 

 

Can you refresh us about what you are saying? What is your point that I am proving? I do not agree with your idea to modernize the local military while completely IGNORING the issue of lack of professionalism.

 

There was a time when the frequency of daily bank robberies and kidnapping escalated. Guess what? It was not civilians but military personnel and police who were caught in these crimes. So your suggestion for a complete gun ban for civilians is not only a poor idea but lacking in realistic basis. Why attempt to copy cat a policy fit for the Taiwan setting? Can't politics SERVE the Filipino interest by addressing the exact needs of Filipinos instead?

Just to add, where I live right now, citizens here are restricted from owning guns (at all). Yet, it's the most peaceful place I've ever lived in. There's no risk of a deranged motorist with a handgun in his glove compartment ever attacking me if a traffic altercation is ever to occur.

 

Plus, its rival neighbor is afraid of attacking it, despite it being smaller than Luzon. You want to know why? It has a modern military.

 

Why is this relevant to the thread? Because I'm living in Taiwan.

 

 

You mean it got a professional military. Taiwan can be compared to Israel and Switzerland that got a citizen-military service making them a community of military volunteers.

 

You need to refer to history and realize that Filipinos have been in that total gun ban situation too during Martial Law - but we were never immune from abuses by those in power and those who commit to insurgency like the NPA and the MNLF.

 

 

We don't have that yet, which is why China constantly bullies us in that area. They can just prod and prod and take whatever they want, while we just yell out "no fair!"

 

There is the greater possibility that the circumstances have been created by Filipino leaders. Remember that under Cory, the US Bases were kicked out. It was after all Ninoy's vocal aspiration to make China a greater power than the USA at a time when the Cold War is at its peak. Perhaps his blind followers are doing this out of legacy to their hero?

 

 

But the Chinese already has a gut feel that this is just paying lip service to them. The Chinese Ambassador had it published that our president got no word of honor and lacks integrity. But the Chinese ought to use common sense rather than allow Filipinos to flatter and lure them into a trap that will cost them everything. The real enemy of the mainland Chinese are their local partners who have been busy sucking and milking them for nothing in return.

1. Until you understand that a ratio disadvantage of 500 to 1, I'm afraid no amount of explanation will make you discern how strategically pointless and an exercise in idiocy trying to modernize the military. Which in itself as an institution is an unbelievably corrupt organization.

 

 

 

 

Case in point is the helicopter gunship support given by the US to Erap's administration to help against insurgents in Mindanao. Shortly after EDSA 2, these military assets were handed to the MILF chieftain instead. News then was it had been used to attack an opponent for election.

 

The kidnapping case of American missionary Burnham, is another showcase of the government corruption. This kidnapping case was documented and reenacted in a film as written by the first hand eyewitness account of Mrs Burnham, the wife of the fatality and lone survivor of the kidnapping incident. According to the film, the insurgents had local military ID cards that allowed them safety passage despite intensive presence of government troops who have setup a dragnet. It is quite possible that the bullet that killed her husband was from government troops too, making the issue of strengthening the local military by lavishing it with state of the art weaponry an extreme case of foolishness.

If the US ever did this, no nation on earth will ever lend them money again.

 

 

Sure, that is naive. You know why? The reason China had to buy the US Bonds is to safeguard against the domino effect of US economic recession spreading fast to China.

 

Thus, giving the US a loan via boonds sale at a time when Americans were losing confidence in the economy was never about charity or astute investments with an ROI. Rather it was about insurance money to prevent a sudden overpowering fear of change called ECONOMIC DEPRESSION.

 

In the outbreak of war, such holdings would be used as pledge for reparation funds. Just like in the Iraq war or even the Libyan Conflict, a declaration of war will nullify any claims and prevent enemy access to their bankable resources if these are on the other side of the conflict. Such holding can be released for humanitarian reasons or if a more friendly party comes to power.

I use Mobil 1 fully synthetic and it is really a great lubricant and dirt detergent. It is rated to keep its lubricating action far longer under worse conditions than the best non-synthetic. But the engine might get damaged because of smug or dirt that the oil is able to remove. If you have just shifted to synthetic, it will most likely remove even the toughest left over dirt inside the engine making the oil thick and color cloudy. The trick is to change oil filers when the oil becomes dirty or use a larger one if you got a choice.

 

After using it longer, you would notice that it will not change color as quickly, maybe since your engine is cleaner.

If the Chinese are outraged by this latest development, then good. If it means their belligerency will be balanced out by the American presence, then good. The ironic thing is leftist groups would take the side of China. They would be outraged by the American presence on Philippine soil.

Unfortunately, "the side of China" is being confused by this administration since they create an illusion that they are adherents of ONE CHINA Policy when they massacred the tourists from Hong Kong and then when the BFAR official sprayed bullets on the Taiwanese fishing boat, killing its captain. There is so much dishonesty dealing with the issue and no TRUTH is coming out despite the fact that illegal logging and illegal mining are rampant in the countrysides because mainland China is buying all the illegal produce. Conservationists deal with protecting endangered wildlife species by banning and making illegal trade of products made from them; how come nothing is being done about mainland Chinese buying all these illegal stuff, with DENR as main sponsor of the operation?

Win 8 got a marketing strategy patterned after apple's ipad where you need to register a personal account in order to get upgrades of software in a common store. Hope that changes too on Win 8.1.

 

Overall, it does work better on new hardware devices probably due to better drivers support. But slightly better overall, and no major leap forward if you ask me.

What do you mean by Loving a person without Hope does that mean no expectations?

 

 

It probably means loving unconditionally. Love the person as is and where is basis and not cling to the possibilities that eventually that person will change?

DBL post... delete pls

Ha???? Ano na naman toh??? Me defending the bureau of DENR???? Aling "Bureau" ng DENR ang involved dito??? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I just pointed out the MOU between the PCG and BFAR. I'm not defending one bureau over the other and heaping the blame on the other.

 

And Jesus Christ.... the PCG "merged and became part of the BFAR?" :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

 

Why be evasive? Who fired at the boat? Is he trained to use firearm? Does he know the law? What is the extent of this MOU and under this understanding what agency ends up taking responsibility since there is normally a military chain of command?

 

You CLAIM that the vessel is deep inside our territory, then why let it escape? No gas or no guts? Now it is very difficult to ascertain just how deep the intrusion was. Contrary to your fear of sinking due to collision, the Taiwanese fishing vessel is not like a Spanish Galleon made of solid wood since the bullet easily penetrated what looks like thin PLYWOOD sheet instead.

Under Philippine Laws, there is a presumption of poaching when foreign fishing vessels are found in our waters. Common sense says your posts are full of.... :P :P :P

How come there was a Chinese vessel that ran aground in Tubattaha, which is deep inside our territory? If it had not been damaged then it would have easily escaped notice too.

This is actually happening from what I've read about how suicide bombers are recruited.

Locally, we got a syndicated menace called the Ativan Gang. Drugs, normally mixed with cola drinks inside open plastic bags are used to mind control and hypnotize individuals against their will. Some surrender their whole life savings in the few hours they are under a spell. Victims fail to remember anything significant afterwards, making such crimes unresolved.

This sure puts a whole new spin into the discussions. DENR is now responsible for the recent fiasco in the north?

 

In the chain of command where does the Coast Guard merge or become part of BFAR? Are they not separate and distinct entities? Also in this case, who pulled the trigger and why does heatseeker seem to defend the cause of the bureau of DENR rather than the Coast Guard? If we can answer these questions, then we can probably explain the issues and if these organization changes were recent or unusual.

 

Moreover, how come the initial reaction was to retard the investigation and deny the identity of the triggerman? I mean someone was shot and the paraffin tests should have been made soon after the incident was reported. The system checks were relaxed because the fatality was not a Filipino? Even media thinks that in the guise of nationalism, we ought not to dig the obvious facts.

A nice read.

 

The Philippine government must make the choice between short term labor contracts affecting several hundred thousand Filipinos or the loss of strategic political, economic, and military interests in the resource-rich West Philippine Sea and in northern and eastern territorial waters that will affect the livelihood and food security not only of millions of Filipinos today but of generations to come.

 

FYI, Filipinos are overseas because of poor governance, and this incident is among the proof of that.

 

There need not be choices. This is another black mail that neglects the main advise of the US to uphold existing Sea lanes and counter the move of China to expand and restrict sea traffic in their newly declared territorial limits. Taiwan and the Philippines need not negotiate for something exclusive. Sea Lanes are for all vessels from all places, and not only Taiwan.

 

FYI, the resource rich archipelago is being preserved for other people, not Filipinos via the environmental movement. Corrupt bureaucrats have been selling these resources CHEAP to the Chinese as evidenced by forest destruction and wide spread small scale mining activities. In the meantime, legitimate Filipino enterprises are banned from operation in the guise of preservation of the environment.

Well, the your craigslist data does not prove anything when it comes to OFW jobs in Taiwan. What you have is a general picture of the job situation in the Philippines, which covers all sectors. Taiwan’s job market for the Filipinos is different. It is technology- and skills-intensive jobs categories (e.g. semicon production technicians, operators, machinists, QA/QC technicians, etc…) and skilled workers (e.g. caregivers). These category of workers are not desperate for jobs. These workers are at par with the best in the job market globally. Even here in the Philippines, there is a bigger demand for these types of workers than what the qualified pool of workers can supply. And Taiwanese companies are hiring the best workers from our semiconductor and manufacturing industries.

 

Taiwan is getting more value for their money for hiring these technically-skilled OFWs. We ARE in a position to say that it’s Taiwan’s loss, not ours, in their decision to stop hiring OFWs.

 

This attempt at blackmail was borne of their government’s politically-motivated overreaction to the border incident. Taiwan’s President Ma will be the first to suffer for it, politically speaking. Just wait.

 

The real blackmail is coming from our end not Taiwan. There is enough proof in your statement to show this.

 

Socialist movements like neo-NAZI or NPA or leftists organization are undertaking similar terrorist activities such as what happened to our OFWs in Taiwan too. The real winner if Taiwan and our country were to have a war is the Maoists who seem to be ignoring the fact the people are dying. Study Socialism and its historical roots and discover how it normally starts with elimination of whole populations too. Socialist revolutions happened in Russia and Germany during the early part of the last century till WW2.

 

 

IT was not Russia but German Socialism that destroyed Germany since Hitler created all the errors in judgment and his Socialist party's propaganda prolonged the errors that unmade the war effort. In fact, the best and brightest German military assets and talents who participated in the conquest of Western Europe was eliminated either following Hitler's poor decisions to delay and then prolong the Russian offensive; or they were eliminated by the secret police of Hitler after a series of assassination attempts on the life of the Fuhrer.

 

In our case, the present drive to create a huge government and establish socialism is likewise destroying all the economic and social FUNDAMENTALS that have been keeping our economy viable.

out of the 80K plus Filipino workers in Taiwan, 25K are in the I.T Sector. Taiwanese IT companies treat said 25k Filipino workers like gold because of their english proficiency, college degree and the "Napapakiusapan" attitude of Pinoys when it comes to overtimes. The only people who can theoretically replace said 25k IT Filipino industry workers are the Indians, but the big question is, will the Indians accept the salaries that the Taiwanese currently pays Filipinos??? I think not.

 

The 55k Filipinos who are either factory workers, domestic helpers or in the agricultural sectors are also highly valued also because of either their highschool diplomas in the case of the factory workers and agricultural workers and college degrees in the case of some domestic helpers ( i don't know but a lot of BS Education graduates of the Philippines who don't practice their profession here or in the US and UK end up as DHs in Taiwan, Hongkong and Singapore) but most specially, Filipinos are highly valued in Taiwan according to some friends of mine in their IT Sector is becuase of our RELIGION. Basically put, were Christians.

 

Them Taiwanese for matters that befuddles me which also befuddles my friends over there are afraid of hiring Indonesians & Malaysians as either DH or in their factories kasi daw Muslim.

 

Kaya for me, sige lang, tuloy nyo lang work ban ng mga Pinoy jan sa inyo, mas malaki lugi nyo kesa samin. We'll get hurt sa una kasi uwian mga kabayan namin, but we'll recover. Our IT guys can go to Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, same with the our DHs and agricultural workers, eh kayo, san kayo pupulutin in the long run????

 

 

Government is doing its best to DESTROY work opportunities of the Filipino OFW. POEA issued a statement that contradicts our media and official statements from Malacanang that Taiwan is loser if our OFW would leave. Truth is the OFWs who pay and CAPITALIZE for their contracts and recruitment expenses like airfare are the real losers here.

 

Truth also is the problem started due to the attitude of impunity of our leader who got no conscience or qualms about murder, massacre and unjust persecution of the poor and helpless/defenseless. Stop the BS about your fantastic issues. You killed a helpless fisherman because of ignorance and trigger happy attitude. Someone ought to establish the lack of seafaring ability and experience of the people involved.

The investigation regarding the incident is still ongoing, plus let me point out some facts, namely;

 

1.) The PCG did not intentionally k*ll that fisherman. It was an accident. They were aiming for the ship's engine and didn't even know they hit someone till they got back to port. your phrase "our coast guard already fired on and killed a taiwanese fisherman," has a certain slant that to the uninitiated, would come out as our coasties deliberately targeted that fisherman.

 

2.) Far from our shores??? Please check the coordinates again. They were within the vicinity of Batanes, that's why the area was being patrolled by the PCG on BFAR ships.

 

3.) No provocation??? Says who??? Them Taiwanese??? Of course they'll say that. For their politicians to admit otherwise would be political suicide. For the record, the PCG has saved countless Taiwanese lives who get in trouble in those waters, and then all of a sudden they turn into non thinking mongoloids and just shoot at anybody???

 

4.) Abnoy not commenting on the issue because "He's busy campaigning" is quite... well, let's just put it this way, i don't like Abnoy, i didn't even vote for the guy, voted for his cousin instead, but as time goes by, the way he handles incidents regarding our security and disputed areas, he's winning over a lot of skeptics both inside and outside the Military and Security Forces of the country. He has his abnormalities, i mean who doesn't, but when it comes to Military and Foreign Affairs, he's doing good. Besides, like i said, let's just wait for the results of the official investigation. You wouldn't want our President stooping down to the Taiwanese President's level diba? Issuing ultimatums and ordering their navy and coast guard to the proximity of the area just to satisfy his citizenry. Bandang huli nyan sila pa magmumukhang eng-eng dahil sa over-reaction nila na sila naman din ang mali.

 

The recent shooting of a civilian from Taiwan vessel that got no weapons and out-maneuvered and out-ran our Filipino military boats can explain that the problem is our own government. The US Department of Foreign Affairs tackled the issue of territorial dispute with China by emphasizing International Sea Lanes of safe passage and neutrality. Yet Filipinos shooting an unarmed civilian Taiwanese vessel is proof enough that like China, it too got no idea of what sea lanes are, which should have been pre-defined and minded. Moreover, it seems they are also ignorant of the protocols and rules of engagement that must be executed to clearly communicate a warning and the intention to fire and protect territory to an intruding unauthorized vessel.

 

What is also quite apparent is the disaster that our military did when it purchased patrol boats much slower and less dependable/maneuverable than a private boat from Taiwan that escaped. Despite the heavy firepower and armor, these military grade vessels are no match for the current technology that delivers speed, sprint and agility. The steel age in the shipping industry is over and composite materials are in, which even TV program History Channel shows being used in the latest US Navy aircraft carrier. We are not modernizing our navy but piling up obsolete and practically useless military inventory that cannot do its job when the time comes.

But then, some parts of what is now Southeast Asia (Vietnam, at least as I recall offhand) have been tribute states of China at one time. So the "historical" right may not hold in this case.

 

But what I observed over the years: Chinese and Vietnamese are ready and had actually put in a lot more (like a few company-size skirmishes) than what Filipinos would actually be willing to do.

 

The Chinese are extremely sensitive about territorial issues (I think there is also an ongoing dispute with Japan), but also very sensitive about being labeled an aggressor. At one point, I thought that the sensitivity has more to do with the Tibet issue (which technically they annexed/occupied in the 1950s), but later on I felt that it might be more than that. It seems its part of their social consciousness (parts of China were "controlled" by western powers and later Japan).

 

But clearly, this is a case of bullying and the Philippines does not have the wherewithal to put up a fight. And for which the Philippines would need a clear policy and extreme diplomatic savvy. Sadly, I can't figure out which is in shorter supply: the military resources or clear policy and diplomatic savvy!

 

 

The Chinese have been under a foreign power for centuries and the present communist regime does not even consider the Manchu dynasty as Chinese. The Manchurians are distinct from the Han Chinese in many ways and in fact, there is a website in HK which distinguishes the physical characteristics of the two races. Manchurians have more in common with Japanese than Chinese physically.

 

What does communism have in common with Chinese history based on propaganda? Both are extremely hard to justify in today's information age.

 

An expanded China is definitely non existent. The expansion happened and China was at the mercy of the conqueror rather than the other way around. It was Mongolia under the Khans which covered the largest area of the world including China which Marco Polo wrote about as the Middle Kingdom. The next expansion happened under the Manchus and this failed too, leading to the bankruptcy of the monarchy and the rise of the nationalists. In fact the disputed islands claimed by both Japanese and Chinese today were reparation for war that was initiated by China under the Manchus. The northern island of Manchuria was among those given to Japan as settlement.

In my opinion it is not. It discourages people from working hard and instead rely on the state for benefits. It fosters sloth, a mendicant mentality, and the general feeling of living in a socialist state. Not unlike the former economic systems in the former Soviet Union and China which discouraged hard work and the entrepreneurial spirit. The Chinese economy has since turned to unbridled capitalism while the US, the bastion of freedom, the good life, and hard work has moved towards becoming a socialist state.

 

 

Ang layu ng analogy.

 

China is unlike the USA mainly because of consumerism. The fall of the USSR was due to its leaders' envy of the American supermarket where the best products compete for market share. The cheap, innovative and value packed ideas and products dominate the market. The USA still enjoys the market economy and they still got cheap fuel, autos and other consumer products that are not available elsewhere.

 

China never had a market economy but a centrally decided economy that went bust easily. Even today it is still centrally decided, reason for the militant stance to hide the TRUTH. The USSR also had the same sucked up system where political power is the source of inequality and the masses are forced to subsidize obsolete and irrelevant ideas of their leaders. They still subsidize errors and many Chinese resent poor engineering of thousands of school buildings that toppled after an earthquake and killed countless children. The Chinese also built a mega dam project that killed millions and drowned whole towns because of poor planning. Of course like the event at Cagayan de Oro where many Chinese got trapped too that necessitated the personal visit of the Chinese ambassador to race ahead of Filipino government to bury evidence of a huge illegal logging operation facilitated by the DENR.

 

People are dying in that closed circuit system not because of corruption but due to error and ineptitude. Parehas lang sa Pilipinas yan tinatago yun mali kya hindi umaasenso. Dinadaan sa credentials na walang halaga dahil wala rin naman performance at delivery in terms of productivity and innovation. It is like our electricity and water expense. We pay for things we do not enjoy or use because government made a grave error in judgement.

No wonder the US IRS is tightening its noose on US citizens living overseas. It's trying to help reduce this huge deficit. The IRS now requires banks around the world to disclose the names of US citizens who have deposits in their banks.

 

 

The trick is to keep the hen which lays the golden egg on close watch. Isn't that happening locally as well too? Taxation is being intensified and even residence certificates are being asked before dealing with government. The unified ID system is also being pushed.

 

The Bible enthusiast should be able to co-relate this drive to tag people as the mark of the beast. The tagging is all about prohibition of those without it from trade or from buy and sell. Have you ever wondered the restrictions and requirements of credit cards? Imagine these rules extending to all market transactions.

I find obama's militarization of the DHS, plus drone strikes against US citizens, indefinite detention, his executive orders, etc reminiscent of what Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and Lenin tried. he is trying to outlaw gun ownership at the same time that the DHS is being set up as some kind of private army/praetorian guard. This could precipitate a violent reaction or civil war that could turn the US to a basketcase.

You have a point. Maybe Obama wants to spark a civil war in the USA. He actually cherished the role of Abraham Lincoln and even had a speech on a train coach ala Gettysburg Address as an activity for his inaugural day speech when he was elected first time as president.

For many who do not have access to quality books, the Last Samurai movie offers an insight to the American system too. It shows the issues about the Meiji Restoration and the modernization process of feudal Japan. We love the Japanese for their honor but in this movie, the characters depict the struggle to preserve the old virtues and renew respect for experience amid change. Yup, this is a Hollywood movie but many elements in the scrip/novel resemble historical events that took place although presentation may have differed considerably.

 

The movie highlights the plurality of interests of the American System. Like Imperial Japan, it had to struggle with prioritizing change. Mercantilism was strongest during this era and industries were expanding with technological innovation and aggressive salesmanship. In history, the Meiji Restoration and Japanese modernization to an Imperial power was a direct result of refusal by Admiral Perry to allow a Japanese commoner to board his ship set sail to the USA. Japan knew that unless they industrialize, they will surely lose sovereignty because technology has changed drastically.

 

However, beyond the limited time frame of the movie, history also shows that industrialization corrupted the Japanese. It gave them power but it had used it poorly. The poor use of power was never so grave than in WW2 when they joined the war late. The Japanese succumb to NAZI propaganda that Germany was winning the war effort and would soon take over the world.

 

In those days, Japan was like China today and copied much from the success of others. In the same fashion the NAZI party seized power, Japan suspended parliament in favor of martial rule, with a ranking military officer assuming the role of premier and taking over as dictator. Then they embarked on the same mean atrocious and relentless effort to expand territory in surprise, overpowering blitzkrieg attacks. But it lacks intelligence and did not realize the war was at a tail end with Germany losing much of its war machine and skilled officers in a prolonged and harsh Russian winter.