Sangil: The President second trip to Russia

THIS is how much things changed when the former mayor of Davao City was elected president. In the early years, an elected president of our country after warming his seat in Malacanang, his protocol office and the Department of Foreign Affairs will start preparations for a state visit to the United States of America, the good ole USA. No longer true when President Digong became the Malacanang tenant. Going on his fourth year as president and maybe up to the finish of his term a trip to the USA is likely not to happen. He made several trips to China, and now on his second trip to Russia.

His first visit to Russia was in 2017, and if you recall his first words he said to Russian President Vladimir Putin was, "I come here to seek help." Putin looked at him intently and somewhat amused on his visitor from the Philippines who many times compared to him on governance style. The news dispatches reported that our president offered Putin friendship and wanted to establish a bilateral relations and assured the latter that "Philippines is no longer under the thumb of the west." He meant the big brother (USA) can no longer be depended upon.

Further quoting our president, "I have gone out of the ambit of the western influence. Nothing has happened ever since the occupation." The analysts had different views on this presidential tact. But for many of my cabalens, and those who grew in the times of the Gordons in Olongapo City we can never let go our deep feelings with the Americans. We have lived with the GIs for so long that there is still the lingering feeling between them and us. Despite that, in retrospect, after few years after the GIs hurried departure in June 1991 following the termination of our treaty and whammed their biggest base by the volcanic eruption, prosperity is enjoyed now by the locals.

President Duterte has good reason why the apparent shift. Based on his statements, he believes the United States is domineering and imperialistic. The relationship is one sided. One time, he declared in disgust: "They can come to our country without a visa and a Filipino have to march along a line and get rejected in many occasions for no apparent reason."

Historically, almost all past presidents of our country were subservient and were willing "accomplices" whatever was dictated by the US White House and the Pentagon. The progressives will tell us that America only look and protect their special interests and nothing for their allies. Pittance maybe for an ally.

The Americans were in Clark Air Force Base since 1902 until their departure in 1991. They gave the local residents jobs, because they needed manpower. They constructed the air base roads, but failed to upgrade the adjacent communities. Their PX items competed with local goods and strangled local manufacturing.

Look at Clark now. There were only 22,000 jobs provided by them. Today, according to Clark Development Corporation President Noel Manankil there are more than hundred thousand workers at the Clark Freeport. Local manufacturers are now investing. Earnings at the Freeport and remitted to the national coffers amounts to billions of pesos. We never had it so good. There's a general makeover of the once military installation. Roads are being widened, tall buildings are dominating the skyline and recreational activities increased.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph