PHILIPPINE-USA RELATIONS

Many groups are not attuned to what is going on in the United States at this time wherein elections are going on which will determine whether the Democrats or the Republicans will lord it over in Congress. We do not seem to be too keen to observe what is really going on there.

This is unfortunate because when the United States "coughs" we catch colds, don't we? Meaning to say, whatever happens there has a connecting effect on us. Besides there are over 2 Million Filipino-Americans and Filipinos working and living there. Their dollars are helping their relatives overcome the poverty problems here. Hence it is all important for us to be wary of the goings-on there.

To my mind, the ascendancy of Barack Obama to the presidency was not a fluke. It had long been coming that a president from the black race should be president. The Afro-american singers have been singing to many songs about the black race being oppressed and subordinated; and the writers have produced many works already giving the political, cultural and social histories of black slavery. On top of it all, the series of white presidents in the United States did not result at all in a country that is immune to recession. Hence, the Obama administration inherited a government that was deep in very big economic problems and wars that seemed to have no end, although the Iraqui battlefront has now been made non-combatant.

Now for us, we need to seriously observe the politics there as the consequences for our government could be very grave. The history of Republican policies in our country are largely beneficial only to the United States. I can cite only three Republican presidents whose administration became a yoke for us to carry. Theodore Roosevelt approved of the annexation of the Philippines during the turn of the century, thus sealing all the hopes of our martyrs for a free country. Then Ronald Reagan gave his imprimatur to the martial law regime in our country up to the very end, even writing his own scenario for Marcos to leave the Malacanang and the Philippines. George Bush approved of a fake presidency which resulted in many media persons killed, greater in number than all other regimes. He distorted our idea of democracy.

The Filipino women's right to vote was given after not much struggle in the 30's because the American woman, Catherine Chappman came over to help in campaigning for it and also convincing the American governor-general then to support it, while the Filipino legislative officials then were totally aghast at the thought of women voting.

Our country is better off under a Democratic Party rule in the United States, to my mind.

Now comparing Obama's regime with that of Clinton I think will not be good because the historical circumstances are not the same. The current state of the United States does not call for quick solutions to their problems. If it took two terms of Republican rule for the economy of the US to turn sour, it would take maybe three terms to strengthen it to its feet again.

However, I believe that the direction of economic changes in the United States should be towards a real democratization -- not only of the US but also all countries around the world. Resources must be democratized and not confined to a few. It is not ethical nor humane to find millions of people suffering from wars, poverty, lack of basic necessities like shelter, clothing, water, food, and education while so many dollar millionaires reside in this and that country.

I think that now is the time for new movements to arise -- those that will truly address the inequitable distribution of wealth, opportunites and resources. By observing and if possible getting involved in political developments in the western world, especially the US, we would be alert as to the possible consequences of elected officials and thereby be guided as to how we ourselves should move, whether in the government or outside as members of the non-government movement.

Our questions should be: which party is most likely to support our NGO issues? Which one is most open to providing real and concrete support to our programs for change?

A lot more questions have to be asked as ticklers for determining our own stand about the US elections. I leave this to the Fil-Americans who must give us an update on political developments there.