PANAUHING KOLUM

HAYAAN ninyo na ibahagi ko ang isinulat ng isang kaibigan tungkol sa lumalalang kondisyon ng mga Chinoy ng bansa. Mukhang nalimutan ng maraming Filipino na iba ang mga Chinoy sa mga Intsik na galing China. Huwag magkamali. Pananaw ito ni dating Senadora Nikki Coseteng na isang Chinoy.

War is often glamorized in movies and books, portrayed as a necessary evil or a path to glory. But the reality is far more devastating. The true consequences of war are not just felt in the immediate loss of life and destruction, but in the irreparable damage it leaves behind for generations to come. War creates untold loss, division, and polarization among peoples. The scars it leaves behind are not just physical but deeply psychological, ripping apart the very fabric of societies.

Today, we are on the brink of such a disaster, driven by an insidious campaign of hatred against China and the Chinese people. This campaign, subtly and sometimes overtly promoted through traditional and social media, threatens to tear apart our nation. If we do not address this issue immediately and adequately, it will spiral into a full-blown hate campaign, not just against China but against the Chinese Filipino community among us.

Former Senator Nikki Coseteng has raised her voice against this dangerous trend. She has personally witnessed the growing tide of racism, recounting instances where she was subjected to Sinophobic remarks from supposedly well-educated friends. This, she warns, is a disturbing indication of how anti-China rhetoric is increasingly blurring the lines between Chinese nationals and Chinese Filipinos.

Coseteng points out that many Chinese Filipinos, including those who have been running legitimate businesses for generations, now feel targeted. The issue of the West Philippine Sea is being manipulated to cast the Chinese in a negative light, but the reality is that many who have been here for decades, contributing to the economy and society, are now being unfairly pursued. “Those who have established businesses over generations seem to be the next target,” she cautions.

She also highlights that the issue of fake documents held by Chinese nationals is not unique to them. “Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of foreigners have gone through the same procedures, facilitated by enablers within our own government,” she explains.

This systemic problem is now being weaponized to incite even more hatred against the Chinese, including the Chinese Filipino community. The Philippines has long been regarded as a safe and welcoming country for foreigners to do business and raise families. Their contributions to our economy have been invaluable, helping the nation progress over the decades.

Disregarding these contributions would be not only counterproductive but also deeply unfair. Coseteng argues that the positive impact of legitimate investors should not be overshadowed by the actions of a few bad actors.

She emphasizes that these illegal operators could not have operated so smoothly without the complicity of our own authorities. “We have yet to see the full force of the law bring them to justice,” she asserts, noting that such action would serve as a deterrent to others with similar sinister plans.

If the government fails to act decisively, it risks opening the door to more foreign crime syndicates, who may see how easily they can operate here in comfort and security, ultimately overshadowing the contributions of legitimate investors.

Coseteng also expresses skepticism about promises of protection for the Chinese Filipino, questioning how long such protection would last and who would enforce it. In a climate where aggression is not only tolerated but encouraged, she asks, what about ordinary Filipinos? How can they feel secure when the very leaders meant to protect them are enabling such hostility?

She stressed that when it comes to the issue of the West Philippine Sea, the people deserve to be represented by a highly trained, experienced, knowledgeable, credible, and respectable negotiator to engage with their Chinese counterparts: “This isn’t like negotiating at a stall in 168 [in Divisoria, Manila] where you just bring a mobile phone with a translator and start talking. It’s not that simple.

These are long-term discussions, not something that can be resolved in two days. This is about the future of our country and the next generation. Hot-headedness and one-upmanship has no place here. China, to me, is not a bully. It’s a large country, moving forward at high speed while we’re still riding a tricycle. It’s a tough situation!” she concludes.

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KUMBINSIDO kami na may saltik sa utak si Sara Duterte. Hindi mahirap itong patunayan. Basta sundan lang ang kanyang mga pahayag sa anumang public forum. Sa kanyang pagharap sa Camara de Representante, ipinaliwanag ng kinatok na Sara na hindi maaaring ikumpara ang hinihingi niyang budget para sa OVP sa ilalim ng kanyang termino sa budget ni dating Pangalawang Pangulo Leni Robredo.

Kung susundan ang kanyang paliwanag, kasalanan ni Leni kung maliit ang kanyang budget dahil hindi siya humingi ng “fair budget” noong siya ang nasa tanggapan ng OVP. Lumalabas na kasalanan ni Leni kung mababa ang kanyang budget. Lampas ng bahagya sa P700 milyon ang budget ng OVP noong 2022, ang huling taon ni Leni bilang pangalawang pangulo. Humihingi si Sara ng lampas P2 bilyon para sa OVP sa 2025.

Hindi kailangan makipagtalo sa kinatok sa ulo na si Sara. Maiging huwag patulan ang huramentado na inaway ang mga kasama sa serbisyo publiko. Simple ang sagot ni Barry Gutierrez, isang dating mambabatas na nanungkulang bilang tagapagsalita ni Leni noong ang huli ang nasa poder. “VP Leni accomplished more with a smaller budget because: 1) she spent prudently, and 2) she inspired a tremendous amount of support from individual citizens and the private sector. Simple lesson? It’s not the budget, but the leader.” Iyana ng sinabi ni Barry.

Hindi nakipag-away si Barry pero sigurado siya na supalpal ang hibang sa poder at basagulerang si Sara. Supalpal si Sara.

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MGA PILING SALITA: “It’s clear that VP Duterte thinks her budget is above Congressional scrutiny, that she should be given P2B without explaining anything, that she is too important to answer questions about how she spent public funds. Arrogance and entitlement on full display. Ang tunay na kulay.” – Barry Gutierrez, netizen, dating mambabatas

Yung dating galit sa rally, ngayon nananawagan ng rally. Yung dating binabalewala ang human rights, ngayon ibinabandila ang human rights. Yung dating isinasantabi ang Konstitusyon, ngayon gusto nang itaguyod ang Konstitusyon. Tanong lang: Bakit kami maniniwala sa inyo ngayon?” – Barry Gutierrez, netizen, kritiko, dating mambabatas