Gimmickry

NO ONE should toy with the idea of toying (with pun intended) with another country's sovereignty or state of affairs. Not even by the President of the Republic or a senator of the realm.

The alleged back channeling efforts of Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, a known former activist, military officer and a progressive thinker may have helped eased tensions between the puny Philippines and the giant China, now a known international bully and realty grabber over the West Philippine Sea and the shoals. What if those brave exploits failed and bombed in the face of Trillanes? Heaven forbid.

Listen to President Aquino say that the back channeling is Trillanes's idea but that he approved of it just the same for whatever it is worth. The agitated senator told the President that he had been approached by certain Chinese officials to work out some solutions to the tension abrewing over the Panatag Shoal and Senator Trillanes ecstatically claimed that the "threatening" Chinese vessels indeed pulled out of the contested shoal and probably returned home.

To save face perhaps, Malacañang said "that could be the last time an unofficial negotiator would speak for the government and that it learned a lesson from the controversy that Trillanes had caused: the government should speak with one voice in dealing with dangerous China on the West Philippine Sea dispute. It's just timely that our government woke up at the right time without incurring any damage.

We all know that China is a master in double talk and subterfuge diplomacy. It is now the world's second biggest economy and superpower and is a creditor to otherwise powerful economies like the United States and is now even embroiled in a controversy with Japan, another warmonger of World War II history and vintage.

We may likewise note that Communist China changes and replaces its current leaders in swift fashion and the current ones we come in contact with now may not be in sensitive positions tomorrow so the efforts we have expended with the replaced officials may be for naught.

Such high-stake gimmickry, therefore, should not be employed for our national security. We should not trifle with destiny, sovereignty and territory. The consequences are dire and overreaching. The decisions we make today can affect the next generations and so they should be done with care and serious, calculated deliberations. History might repeat itself, this time with much more devastating effects.

Matters of international diplomacy should be tackled with meticulous care and commendable level-headedness. No finger pointing here, please. So, let's just hope Secretary Mar Roxas can do something on the controversy.

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I wish to thank the representatives of local employers and overseas recruitment agencies who came to participate in the jobs fair held during my birthday on September 21 at the covered court, Barangay Lakandula. Mayor Boking Morales was there to exhort job applicants and thank those who attended and participated in the activity which was a working birthday for me. As usual, PESO Mabalacat staff members led by Virgie Miranda, Alma Pontillas, her daugther Marie, Jem Evangelista, Irish Mendoza, Anna Rebekah Dizon, Emmit Jarin and Joseph Bennett A. Pangan were there to assist applicants and welcome the public and the employers' representatives. Also lending a helping hand were those from the multi-sectoral unit headed by Gerry Dayrit, also President of Mabalacat City Peso Barangay Coordinators, Pilo Bondoc, Vidal Busa, Kagawad Yolly Banal, barangay Peso coordinator Luz Ramirez and the host barangay Punong Barangay Baltazar Imbong and Alex Miranda who orchestrated the physical arrangements of the jobs fair. My gratitude also goes to the DoLE and POEA reps, GVFM's Double B and Rudy Simeon and RWFM's Perry Pangan and staff.

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I also wish to extend my profuse thanks to SM's VP Bien Mateo and his managers for the courtesies accorded me by Ana Datu of SM City Clark, Lana Geroba of SM City Pampanga, Ren Briones of SM City Olongapo and Junias M. Eusebio of SM City San Fernando.

Ana narrated that the current expansion at her branch will feature mixed used structures to house BPO centers, retail products outlets and more. The expanded SM City Clark will provide more job opportunities and access to more consumer products and, of course, revenues for Angeles and Mabalacat Cities. It will also share boundaries (to the west) with Global Gateway Leisure City headed by Dennis Wright who was enthusiastic about the expansion which will spur economic growth and tourism business.
Before our trip to Subic, Lana came to welcome us to SM City Pampanga.
Ren, ever smiling and accommodating, treated us to movies, and then announced the forthcoming Mardi Gras in Olongapo and then showed us the Gawang Olongapo exhibit with products done by natives and prison inmates.