THE irony of our country is that we are unlearning the values that was fought for by our forbears in 1898.

First thing we learned is courage. The courage that Katipuneros, men, women, working class and enlightened ilustrados exemplified in shedding blood fighting against the formidable Spanish colonizers' army for our freedom.

That was then. But now, courage is wanting in many ways.

For instance, when the vast Chinese military and fleet occupies our islands and seas, the government could not put up a fight, or a vocal protest.

Not even our leader who fancies himself a strongman could muster a protest. The irony here that our leader - who spews fire against criminals, durugistas, and worse spews fire against the working class who ask for his promise of regular jobs, housing and change -- could only raise excuses to avoid a confrontation.

The fact is China is one of the top investors in the government's infrastructure projects, and raising issues against their occupation of the West Philippine Seas may affect such "partnerships".

It shows how much we are wanting of a government that needs to defend sovereignty, that includes defending not only the territory, but also the people who are exposed to the abuse of foreign countries.

For instance, the fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea are crying how they are treated as outsiders who cannot fish in our own seas.

The worse excuse comes from the presidential spokesperson, who said the Chinese soldiers are "kind" enough to offer "barter" for the fisherfolk's catch in exchange of noodles and cigarettes.

This reminds me of how Lumads would tell the story of how they lost their land to the oligarchs and companies. When these "lowlanders" ask for their land in "exchange" of sardines, the Lumads' meekness were exploited, and now they lost their lands to mining, logging and plantation economies. Now theirs is a struggle for survival and identity.

That 'barter' has been happening again, and again. This we have to learn again from our history. After independence, the Americans, then the Japanese, then the Americans again dictate our "barter". A barter that benefits the corporations, and we provide cheap labor and resources.

Now it's the Chinese, and we have noodles diplomacy at the expense of losing our place in this global shark race.

Fighting superpowers is not just our problems. Other small countries do have success, like in Latin America, where Bolivia and Cuba have fought global corporations, and develop their resources, and stir people to defend their sovereignty.

There is still so much to learn, most especially from our history and stories of the marginalized who ask us what is happening to us. We are still finding ourselves.

tyvelez@gmail.com