THE 45-minute talk between President Digong and US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim was “very productive.” They were able to have an “open exchange of ideas.” It is expected that the US “remained committed to having a solid bilateral ties with the Philippines.” That would result to a “deep bond.”
All these could be overkilled statements. President Digong and Ambassador Kim are playing political poker. We just don’t know if who is calling the first bluff. This “deep bond” has almost resulted to political divorce when President Digong repeatedly launched tirades against President Obama and the US in the recent past. This could be more fun if poker players can only afford to laugh at their own mistake.
Let us try to examine our history on events concerning “open exchange of ideas,” “commitment to each other,” “bilateral ties,” and “deep bond.” The phrases used here could be compared to the novel of Julie Garwood “Slow Burn,” an electrifying work of romantic suspense with heart-pounding action and intense emotion…as if Digong and Kim have made a one-night stand with a lethal passion.
When the American wolves made their “x-deal” with the Spaniards in 1898, “Moroland” was included in the sale. The Muslims never believed that they were conquered by the Spaniards. The astute Americans persuaded Sultan Jamalul Kiram II of Sulu to sign a treaty with Brig. Gen. John C. Bates of the US. The venerable Kiram was tricked by the Americans to sign a treaty that he could not understand. He accepted “American sovereignty” over his territory.
The good sultan never quite understood the meaning and implications of the word “sovereignty.” Later, there was Muslim resistance. The Americans used “brute force” (cruel and without compassion) … perpetrating massacres in quelling all Muslim resistance. Major General Leonard Wood called the Muslims “Mohammedans” … unimportant collection of pirates and highway men living under laws which are intolerable.
After three centuries of Spanish rule (the sword, the cannon, and the cross), four decades of American rule (education, barrel of a gun, and principles of one-sided democracy), and another four decades of Philippine sovereignty (with umbilical cord attached to America), the Muslims ended up with a measly 17 percent (or less?) of the land in Mindanao. If you have explored Mindanao, you will find out that these lands could be found in remote and infertile mountain areas.
Before the Americans and pro-American Filipino officials democratized Mindanao, the Muslims were happy with their agriculture under the rule of several “datu” (chieftains). In 1980, more than 80 percent of the Muslims in their own land became landless tenants. They were directly or indirectly governed by American masters through Filipino puppets. The modern Americans applied to the Muslims what they did to the tribal Indians in America. They annihilated the principled Indians as if they are shooting the buffalos.
Where did the most productive agricultural lands in Mindanao fall? They are in the hands of Christian Filipino immigrants (favored by the Americans) and of multinational corporations that placed Filipino politicians in the high places (with exemptions). We can name some big American controlled corporations… B.F. Goodrich, Dole Corp., Del Monte Corp. The favored Christians Filipinos planted rice, corn, coconuts, rubber, bananas, and pineapples. These gods made their “big farms” their own towns. These gods are well connected to the local politicians.
Mindanao came to be deforested because of the mines operated by the scions of the wolves. The loggers with the blessing of the national and local saints of politics under the coat of Uncle Sam were able to grab giant concessions. Mindanao has substantially contributed to the coffers of the National Government, but our handsome officials of the Empire spent very little for the welfare of Mindanao, especially in the Muslim dominated areas.
No military threat or political bluff could ease the aches of the Muslims in Mindanao or put off the fire within them. Carnage continues. I could tell you more after Mindanao. We also have tragedies caused by the Americans in Visayas and Luzon. I am not expecting for a perfect “solid bilateral ties.” I am hoping for a “genuine commitment” from both parties.
How deep is the “bond” between Juan de la Cruz and Uncle Sam? We could not just cite the events that took place in Corregidor and Bataan… the pouring down of blood in Korea… the show in Vietnam. We want a “bond” without betrayal, double-cross, double-dealing, falseness, and infidelity!