Tag: china

China enshrines territorial claims over West Philippine Sea in newly-issued e-passport

November 23, 2012 benign0 18 Comments

Apparently Chinese nationals carrying newly-issued Chinese e-passports are now in violation of Philippine national sovereignty. Does this mean that Chinese citizens attempting to travel into Philippine territory using these documents are now banned until the violation is rectified? Perhaps affected Chinese nationals should now start thinking twice about proceeding with their travel plans. The “violation”…

Government, Media, Politics

What the victory of US President Barack Obama means to Filipinos

November 8, 2012November 8, 2012 benign0 22 Comments

Filipinos follow American showbiz, American sport, American fashion, parrot American accents, ape American attitudes and, yes, act out American politics. Indeed, Filipinos were all but carried away by US election fever trooping to “mock US elections” organised by the US Embassy in Manila and whooping it up after the victory at the polls of re-electionist…

Culture, Media, Politics

US military buildup continues in West Pacific as joint marine exercises kick off in Philippines

October 9, 2012October 9, 2012 benign0 23 Comments

While both governments denied any link between their recent activities and the on-going dispute with China over territory in the West Philippine Sea, United States and Philippine military forces have started joint exercises in northern Luzon. The exercises which are expected to be conducted over ten days will reportedly focus on “disaster relief, humanitarian assistance…

Government, Politics

Filipino sentiments mixed over Manny Pangilinan’s threat to quit the Philippines

September 23, 2012September 23, 2012 benign0 44 Comments

Following a threat from tycoon Manny Pangilinan to leave the Philippines and take with him his money, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II has warned that the Philippines may be in for a crisis of confidence, presumably if this sort of thing becomes a trend… The House majority leader warned Pangilinanâ€™s move would become â€œa…

Development, Economy, Money Talks

Drilling in Recto Bank gas field possibly set back by Trillanes adventurism

September 21, 2012January 15, 2014 benign0 4 Comments

When it comes to China, money is the primary currency of any kind of negotiation. And in light of the big tiff between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and “Senator” Antonio Trillanes IV, the cast of characters is a lot bigger and includes one of the Philipines’s biggest mining companies, Philex Mining Corporation, and its…

Development, Money Talks, Politics

Senator Trillanes to Senator Enrile: Hasta la vista, baby!

September 20, 2012January 14, 2014 Ilda 124 Comments

The Bourne Legacy director Tony Gilroy reportedly said that he decided to shoot his movie in Manila because it felt so “Bourne”-ish. In his own words he said that the city is “just so colorful and ugly and gritty and raw and stinky and crowded.” The director was spot-on in describing what his naked eyes…

Government, Politics

Formerly-jailed coup plotter Trillanes now embroiled in diplomatic coup blessed by Ph president

September 20, 2012June 9, 2013 benign0 36 Comments

I recall that archaic metaphor used to describe guys who are in romantic relationships with two women — they are said to be swimming in two rivers. That’s what red-faced President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III is looking like now having been caught out overseeing two negotiation channels facing the Chinese government: one via what…

Crime, Government, Politics

Trillanes storms out of Senate after being outed for engaging in ‘backroom negotiations’ with China

September 19, 2012May 3, 2016 benign0 66 Comments

A baffling lack of confidence on the part of President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III in his own cabinet officials was belied by a revelation today that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was authorised by the President to act as a “backroom negotiator” to China on behalf of the Philippines. In a heated argument between Trillanes…

Government, Politics