Update: Allaga orders probe of alleged US medling in Sulu hospital
Rasul asks US to ship out its soldiers from Sulu See complete press statement in comments below.
by Julie Alipala
Inquirer
Mindanao Bureau
Zamboanga City, Philippines — US soldiers in Sulu have apologized for ordering health officials to shut down the government-run hospital in Panamao town during night time, Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said Monday.
Earlier, Dr. Silak Lakkian, chief of the Panamao district hospital, said US forces led by a Master Sergeant Ronburg have threatened to shoot anybody seen at the hospital premises after 6 p.m.
“I take back those words and I am apologizing, it’s unfortunate but it was not really the real intention. Our real intention was to protect the people but reception (how locals took the order), we were just misunderstood,” Tan quoted Major Eric Walker as saying during a “face to face confrontation” with Lakkian on Sunday morning.
Walker is commander of Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) Sulu Forward Base based in Camp Teodulo Bautista in Jolo.
Tan said he set the meeting — attended also by other government officials — after the incident, which was reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, reached him.
The Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net, reported on the November 30 closure order issued to Lakkian and staffers of the Panamao district hospital but US officials denied there was such an order.
“I didn’t know how factual all that was and where you are getting that information and I just wondered who your sources were,” Lieutenant Commander Melissa Scheurmann, public affairs officer of the Joint Special Operation Task Force Philippines (JSOTFP) based here, said Monday.
Scheurmann denied having a Ronburg in their list of US personnel in Sulu.
“I don’t know specifically who that is (Ronburg) it’s almost a blunder at that point and I don’t know who gave you that name and how you got that name,” she said.
Tan, who told the Inquirer by phone that he considered the order rude, confirmed that Ronburg is one of the five US servicemen assigned in Panamao.
“We should not let it pass,” he said.
Tan said during the meeting, he told Walker and two other American military officials that they are not authorized to impose rules in Sulu.
“You don’t have the right to impose (rules) to any of our personnel here, you don’t have any authority and if you have anything to impart, inform the AFP and the AFP will deal with us,” he said.
Tan said during the meeting, Walker insisted that there was a simple misunderstanding between the hospital staffers and the US personnel.
He said Walker explained to Lakkian that the intention to shut down the hospitala’s operation after 6 p.m. was for the protection of the hospital workers.
“He said the military was then on red alert. But they did not specify up to when the hospital should cease operating at night. When the red alert status was lifted, the hospital staff was not properly informed,” Tan said.
“And the reception was not that good on the part of the hospital staff kasi yung pagkakasabi was ‘we are going to shoot anybody who comes after 6 p.m.,’” Tan added.
Lakkian said it was easy for US forces to shoot just anybody after 6 p.m. because the hospital was adjacent to their camp.
Tan said during the meeting, Walker gave assurance that the hospital can resume full operation starting Monday.
But for others, a simple apology was not enough.
Akbayan Representative Etta Rosales said a diplomatic protest is in order because of the “outright intrusion of these foreign soldiers into our internal affairs.”
Rosales said while US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is known for her goodwill, some of her countrymen are committing violations that are “inhuman in nature.”
She said she will write a letter, urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest.
Millete Mendoza, formerly of Tabang Mindanaw and a volunteer humanitarian worker in Sulu, also joined Rosales’ call for a diplomatic protest.
“We should file a diplomatic protest, this issue should not be allowed to die, we must all condemn it on the grounds of humanitarian and sovereignty,” Mendoza said.
Dr. Manar Saliddin, chair of the Jaga (Watch) Human Rights group in Basilan, said the incident should also be investigated.
“It’s a blatant violation of our rights as medical personnel, we are here to serve the people anytime of the day, this must be protested by all legal means locally and abroad,” Saliddin, a dentist by profession, said.
Edgar Araojo, a political science professor at the Western Mindanao State University here, said the actuation of the American forces was like “witnessing the timeless truism of the cliché that he who rides a tiger ends up as its lunch.”
Huh, infectious talaga ang “I’m Sorry” ni Gloria. Hindi lang ang mga bastos sa kanyang pekeng administrayon ang gumagamit ngayon niyan bilang palusot. Nahawa na pati si Eric Walker na Kano!
Thanks, Brownberry for bringing this issue up here.
As I mentioned in my previous post, Dr. Lakkian is a respected and credible government health worker in that area. Porke bistado at hindi nakalusot, umamin din ang mga Kano at nag-apologize. But how many Dr. Lakkians do we have around in the country? Have we checked on past abuses by these GIs? Dapat hindi magtapos sa “I’m sorry” lang. These arrogant US soldiers must be punished. Imagine a visitor telling the homeowner to close the power or TV and even threatening the latter. Huwag natin payagan na makalusot na naman ito. Sa pagbukas uli ng Kongreso at Senado, dapat imbestigahin ang incident at pati na ang tunay na intention ng mga Kano sa Mindanao. Alamin kung tutoong marami ng mga base militar ng US doon disguised as housing units for medical and humanitarian mission. Kung minsan tuloy gusto ko nang isipin na ang mga Kano ang nagturo kay GMA na magsinungaling at mandaya.
More on Sulu incident. People are now demanding that the RP government file a diplomatic protest against the US military’s involvement. Calling the attention of all based abroad. Please share this latest incident and let’s not allow this to pass.
http://newsinfo.inquirer:t/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=109680
The Phil. gov’t file a diplomatic protest against the US?
that is impossible! Gloria is now in puzzlement! What will happen to her “US Aid” what will happen to the 50 million PR company she hired? abangan na lang natin kung ano ang gagawin ni pp (pekeng pangulo na pandak at putot) at seguradong magin piping pipi siya! I heard nothing, I saw nothing and will say nothing.
12/31/07
That is hard to believe that a US soldier will tell the Filipinos to close their hospital. I have the feeling that was just an invented story by someone to get noticed and to put down an American G.I. For sure pandak does not deserve any “US Aid” Pandak will use the US Aid to buy weapons to fight the opposition.
Dandaw, what made you think and say that it was an invented story by someone to put down GIs ? The GIs have long been down. If not for their sophisticated weapons, these GIs are no match one-on-one combat with our Filipino soldiers and Muslim brothers. Iginagalang doon si Dr. Lakkian na isang government health worker. Siya ang nagbulgar sa kawalanghiyaan ng mga Kano doon. The incident happened sometime ago and was only revealed now to the media. And we don’t know how many more incidents of this kind have happened in the past and would happen again. Para walang gulo, paalisin na lang ang mga Kanong iyan sa Mindanao!
These G.I.s shld. not be there in the first place.The big question is ,are they still willing to leave?
As the saying goes where’s there is smoke there is fire.
Remove ALL military from Mindanao they cause more problems than solve. It’s an internal problem being labelled as an invation of outsiders just to obtain aid from the USA.
Leave policing internal matters on our islands to the PNP who’s job it is to preserve law and order, its not the mandate of the military US of A or AFP to interfere.
Only 8 comments? If this story is true and as I reside on Mindanao from what I have witnessed I have no reason to doubt the author, we should be demanding that the US Mil;itary be removed from Mindanao immediately.
I remember Yuko saying something like this would never be allowed to happen in Japan but only in the Philippines because the Filipino allow the Americans to abuse the Philippines. (I hope I quoted her right).
My friends, its time to raise hell.
The truth is, there are unofficial US military bases in the Philippines. These are disguised as housing units for the GIs who pretend to be there for medical and humanitarian mission.
Medical mission ba iyan eh pinasara nila ang hospital sa Sulu.
And why are they participating in combat operations against Abu Sayyaf. The GIs provide logistics and intelligence assistance. Sumasama sila sa actual operations. Hindi pa direct na pakikialam iyan? Ang masaklap pang balita ay abuso sila at minamaltrato ang mga manggagawang Pinoy na nagtratrabaho sa loob ng kampo nila. Why the Filipinos allow this? Because this woman in Malacanang allows it. Iyan lang ang paraan niya para manatili sa kapangyarihan…keeps kissing and licking Uncle Sam’s ass.
Well, if we can get our hands on this Ronburg, I’m sure Ronnie Puno will waste no time and send him over to Daniel Smith’s condo in Roxas Blvd. That sure is Federal Express, isn’t it?
Haay, Brownberry, Malacañang, I’m sure, will not want to hear anything of it.
What do we do?
Isumbong sa Diyos?
Isumbong sa Diyos? Turing ni GMA sa sarili niya isa siyang Diyosa. Anyway, expect another cover up and this matter in Sulu would vanish in the air once again. Here’s my New Year’s greeting to GMA: May you have a few days remaining in power and a few days to live. For the sake of the Filipino people, jump into the Pasig River or hang yourself inside the Malacanang bathroom. To you Madame President, a very Unhappy New Year!
Pilit ko man maging masaya at maligaya itong Bagong Taon, nahihirapan akong maging ganoon habang nandiyan pa sa Malacanang ang babaeng iyan. It would be my happiest New Year if she leaves or is ousted this year.
Yan ang gusto ko sa iyo, Brownberry. At sa lahat ng housemates dito sa bahay ni Ellen. Keeping the fire burning, ika nga.
Sa ating lahat dito, isa lang ang New Year’s resolution: Hindi magpapaloko, kailanman!
So, who says that Ellen and her bloggers cannot make a difference?
The best thing to do is submit this report to the US Congress and have the Americans apologize and compensate for this abuse.
Lalo na ngayon that America needs a friend?
Time to show the Americans that Filipinos are no longer their slaves (subjects) but that Filipinos can fight their own wars, too, and foreigners who try to abuse them.
Sinabi mo pa, Tongue, enough is enough. Walang magpapaloko kailanman!!!
Brownberry: The truth is, there are unofficial US military bases in the Philippines. These are disguised as housing units for the GIs who pretend to be there for medical and humanitarian mission.
*****
Sinabi mo pa, Brownberry. It is a secret that everybody in Japan in fact knows.
A year ago, a Japanese activist actually went where the American soldiers were and circled the area by bike. He was apprehended by authorities there and told to leave. I read about it in a Japanese newspaper, and boy, was I proud of that guy. Medyo nalungkot lang ako because there was no one in the Philippines who would dare do the same. Meron man, natepok na kasi commie kundi Abu Sayaff daw!
For me, mas terrorist iyong mga sundalong kano na pumapatay ng nga natives sa sinasakop nila! How many people have they actually victimized in the Philippines and the Philippine government willing to cover up for them.
Iyong ginawa nga ni Piggie sa kaso noong horny US soldier, dapat may big outcry pero look, wala! Nakakangitngit!
Who the hell do these US soldiers think they are?
It was clearly established in the West and elsewhere in the world that the US would be “back” with their kaboodle of military bases in the Philippines via Mindanao as early as 2000 (mid-2000); the only folks who wouldn’t accept it as a reality were the population of Metro Manila.
That horny US soldier? Si Smith ba? Oo nga…nasaan na ang lokong iyan. I remember he was placed in the custody of the US Embassy. Noon pa iyon…baka nakauwi na sa Amerika iyan. We demand an accounting of this guy…present him to the media to make sure that he’s still around. At ano na ang nangyari sa kaso?
Remember: the existence of foreign military bases violates the Constitution.
The Americans may not officially call their outposts in the south as US military bases but for all intents and purposes, they are military bases.
(Why do you think they started building a landing strip, a good tarmac in Gen San in 1999? And in 2000, why couldnt Benjie Defensor who was Mactan Air Base boss at the time do anything, not even squak about it when an unidentified 747 landed in Mactan deployinng burly US Marines with engineering paraphernalia?)
I am convinced Gloria will not even squeak about US lording it over in Sulu! She’s so frightened that if she sneezes, the US will kick her out just like what they did to Estrada although “civil society” (under the smart maneuverings of Pidal and company) believed they “did” Estrada in all on their own without the aid of the Americans.
(Ellen, no one, BUT NO ONE, among the military and political officials of NATO believe that the Americans didn’t have a hand in the ousting of Estrada — but it really doesn’t matter. If Filipinos believe the shit that they did it all on their own alone (without Uncle Sam) thanks to the coalition of Jose Pidal, civil society and the Reds, that’s their problem. Suffice to say, you’ll have this Sulu problem popping up every now and then with Filipinos taking it sitting down. Why? Because their so-called president cannot do or say anything against her lords and masters, i.e., the Americans!)
Absolutely…the US had a hand in Erap’s ouster. Even during the campaign and election, gusto nang ipatalo si Erap kaya lang his winning margin was too huge to alter. Then, they allowed him to assume his office but implemented Plan B. Plan B was attacking him daily through the media, civil society, the church, the big businessmen. Pero wala pa rin nangyari kasi suportado at mahal pa rin ng nakakaraming mahihirap. Finally, Plan C was implemented…to avoid international protest, the US instructed Erap foes to enure his ouster would be done according to constitution. Iyon nga, pinatalsik ng mga tao kuno sa People Power; GMA being the successor as Vice President took over. The icing was done by Davide’s Supreme Court declaring that Erap’s ouster was constitutional. From then on, the US has washed her hand and continued with her business in the Philippines making sure that GMA would forever be an obedient dog. Among the benefits the US got from GMA was the return of the secret US bases; this time in Mindanao and unhindered arrival and activities of US troops in RP.
Browberry,
As early as 2000, a top journalist in the Philippines was the benefiiary of a leak about a US DoD plan.
A DoD official, an undersec committed a blunder at a luncheon in Paris hosted by French officials — they were talking about Pinas and the mess in Pinas (following the Sipadan hostage crisis).
US DoD usec gloated and confidently stated, “We (America) will be back when Estrada is impeached.”
French official and other members of lunch party were astounded a bit and highest ranking French official said, “You mean IF he is impeached…”
US official: “He WILL be impeached!”
(Quotes are verabtim…)
Philippine journalist wrote about this meeting and the verbatim quotes 2 days after it took place (but there was no reaction from the public nor whatever…) He wrote about it again twice during the beginning of the trial of Estrada, again there was no taker.
Anyway, by that time, nobody could help the Philippines any longer — its officials were clearly on the verge of committing the Philippines to a group of “societal suicide” by shitting on the Constitution.
He wrote about it for the last time in 2001. But Gloria’s govt and “civil society” that propped her up couldn’t give a damn.
One doesn’t give a damn on what others say when she’s already in the throne…full of greed and power. Kapag nandiyan na mahirap na paalisin…walang iba sa isang taong pilit na pumasok sa bahay ng may bahay at ayaw nang umalis. That’s why squatters are hard to evict…most often end up in violence. The US has a long standing policy of making sure that the leader of a nation where they have so much at stake and interest will be friendly and obedient to them. Mula kay Magsaysay hanggang dito kay GMA, si Erap lang ang hindi medyo kursunada ng mga Kano. Palibhasa kasi makabayan talaga at ayaw pahawak sa leeg. Not only is Erap weak in English, I don’t think he’s a very good fan of Uncle Sam. When he was still the Vice President as he arrived in the US airport, may balita akong binastos siya ng mga US airport officials at security. It was reported briefly in the media but no further follow up was made. Siguro tinigil agad para maiwasan ang relation with the US. So, all these talks about Erap running again in 2010 would be difficult. Ngayon pa lang they are questioning the legality of his running for office again. I bet you the US will not allow Erap to be the President again. The US will make sure of that. Kaya nga kung tutoong may balak si Erap na tumakbo uli na may karapatan naman siya morally and legally (inagawan ng puwesto na hindi niya natapos at absolute pardon), pakiusap ko huwag na lang. Kailangan pa siya ng bayan na buhay siya at hindi na iyon isang malamig na bangkay tulad ni Bhutto.
1/2/08
Brownberry, Since when are your Muslim brothers better than the American GIs’ in combat? Do you mean that because they hide their faces when they cut the heads off those innocent Pinoys and the Marines in Palawan and Mindanao, your Muslim brothers are better? You make too many assumptions about the inadequacies of the American GIs. I have live in the U.S. for 46 years and I know the capabilities of our military so please don’t put us down. We only mean peace and order. We happen to believe in real Democracy that is why we try to help. We don’t conquer nations, we try to build them for the good of its citizens of that nation. Don’t be too sure that President Bush approves of what Pandak is doing. We know President Bush is a very decent human being. He is a very fair President. It’s not like Pandak that everything is lying, cheating and corruption. I’m pretty sure Pres. Bush is aware of all the shenanigans of Pandak and her cohorts. Give it time, one day Pandak will trip.
Unlike the removal of Marcos, I doubt if the US has really a direct hand in the removal of Erap.
The Americans were in fact busy with the operation to remove Sadam, and if they agreed to give a helping hand in the removal of Estrada, it was more likely because the Dorobo had promised to give full support to the war on Iraq that was said to have been planned long before 9/11 through the US emissary extraordinaire, FVR. O loko, di naisahan sila!
Now, the Dorobo is doing her best not to antagonize the Americans any further even by allowing them to maintain a secret base in Mindanao sans any official treaty or declaration to the effect. Puro palusot na lang kasi neglectful din ang mga pinoy. Konting lambutsing, lusot na!
Iyong arte ng US ambassador sa Pilipinas in fact, sa Japan iyan, nasipa na! Salamat sa mga ayaw pautong aktibista dito!
Isumbong sa Diyos? No need for God knows everything. Omniscient sabi nga. It is just that Filipinos, I guess, need to learn how to pray the right, and to whom. Golly, ang dami nilang pinagdarasalan! Pati yata sa demonyo may nagdarasal!
dandaw,
your idea is respected but the one who disclosed the illegal order to close the hospital was not a muslim rebel or someone else, it was dr. lakkian, the hospital’s chief.
another thing, are you not wondering why these american soldiers have a separate detachment when they are there to be advisers for pinoy troops and they should be staying in the camp/detachments with our soldiers?
are you saying also that you trust and beleive these GI’s words than your own people?
Dandaw, no wonder you smell like a coconut having lived in the US for 46 years. At the outset, I made it known that my comments against the US soldiers in the Philippines were not meant to offend the Fil-Ams. Please review what I said, Dandaw. Man for man, the GIs are no match for the Filipino soldiers and even our Muslim brothers. The GIs are brave because of the sophisticated weapons they carry. Before they even attack an enemy’s territory, they first make sure the enemy is weak and at disadvantage; then they bomb and bomb. When they attack, they often let the locals be in the front line and then when it’s cleared, they (GIs) follow. You see this type of American’s style of combat operation everywhere in the world. In Iraq, didn’t they first used thousands of bombs first killing thousands of civilians before setting foot on Iraqi soil? They also did this in Vietnam where even chemicals were used to clean up the enemies. As for our Muslim brothers, remember that not all of them are as bad as what the West project. I’m no Muslim but I can say that Christians were as bad for centuries. Foreign invaders could not successfully control Mindanao due to the Muslims’ bravery and toughness. They fought with bolos against the foreigners’ guns. The Spaniards and Japanese failed to control Mindanao. So much for history for I know some of our friends here are more knowledgeable.
Dandaw, without generalizing that all US soldiers are chickens…you think they could fight efficiently without their powerful and advanced weapons and equipment? In fact, it’s the Filipinos who taught them the arts of jungle warfare.
And Dandaw, please don’t brag about America’s “democracy”. Her kind of democracy is one that only suits and benefits them. Many now realize that America is the world’s number one terrorist and violator of human rights. She is the world’s greatest BULLY.
Nice arguments, Brownberry. I know a lot many Filipinos in fact in the Bay Area complaining still about racial discrimination in America, but would they want to go home to the Philippines? No way!
Di bale na daw ma-discriminate kesa naman daw mamatay sa gutom ng dilat ang mga mata sa Pilipinas. Nakakaiyak sa totoo lang!
just logged earlier and read comments of Dandaw. I was the one who wrote that article and I don’t have this attitude or practice to invent stories. Some US embassy officials dismissed my query as pure allegations when I sought their reactions. I don’t think Dr. Salik Lakkian will just say those things for the heck of it. Panamao District Hospital is the second biggest and operational hospital in Sulu, the first is the Sulu IPHO Hospital in Jolo town (about 40 kms distance) that caters to five municipalities including nearby island towns. Panamao District Hospital shares its fence with a Marine detachment hosting five US service personnel. The hospital has only 10 bed capacity so just imagine those confined patients (numbering 15 mostly serious cases) forced to transfer to Panamao Hall “PARA MA-PROTEKSYONAN ANG LIMANG SUNDALONG KANO KASAMA NA DUN SI MASTER SERGEANT RON BERG” by closing the hospital at night-time.
korek ka dyan brownbery, yan ang tunay na anyo ng mga kano, binigyan tayo ng helikopter na hindi lumilipad, para ano, para parusahan tayo sa pagsasaayos nito, ganyan ang trato sa atin ng mga kano, bibigyan ka ng bulok na gamit para magkaproblema tayo.
1/2/08
Conqueror, How did you become a conqueror if you use a helicopter that does not fly. Don’t ask the kano for anything so you will not be frustrated. Whom are you guys fighting in Mindanao any way. I thought your enemy is Gloria, now you are mad at the kano. Gush, we can not please every body. If you concentrate on fighting with Gloria you might have won half way in your struggle. I’m with you there.
To Brownberry – I don’t smell like a coconut. I smell very sweet. You say everything that benefits you but you have no proof. Show me the proof if not you are just a bag of hot air. You should have helicopter inventors so you don’t ask us for any hardware. I entered this blog because I thought we have a common interest. Gloria. But you guys are so dirty and arrogant. Sayonara.
Julie, welcome to this blog.
I never doubted the accuracy of your story. I appreciate your taking time and effort refuting the denial of the overbearing American soldiers.
Dandaw, I assume your doubts on the accuracy of the story have already been dispelled.
Press release:
Rasul asks US to ship out its soldiers from Sulu
Former Senator Santanina Rasul asked yesterday the United States Embassy in Manila to ship back to the US American soldiers who had been preventing the nighttime operations of a hospital in Panamao town in Jolo, Sulu.
Rasul said that the American soldiers had been in Sulu for two years now but that their justification for their prolonged stay – to train Filipino soldiers in counter-terrorism – has been at the expense of “our human rights.”
“I was flabbergasted and terribly shocked to read about the American soldiers’ actions and intervention in the operations of the Panamao hospital,” said Rasul.
“While we appreciate the humanitarian assistance provided by the US government, this cannot be a case of ‘beggars cannot be choosers,” she stressed.
Any counter-terrorism strategy, to be effective, “must not, should not trigger more animosities and must not be at the expense of our human rights,” the Mindanao leader said.
Rasul said the US Embassy should remove the offending soldiers from Sulu and bring them back to the US “before they do more harm.”
“Perhaps the Philippine Senate should look into the effectiveness of the Balikatan [military exercises] and make sure that the needs of the military for training are being met without sacrificing the needs and rights of host communities,” Rasul said.
No less than the administrator of the Panamao hospital had complained that American soldiers led by a certain Master Sergeant Ronburg had been barring them from operating at night since Nov. 30, without offering any reason.
The American soldiers had threatened to shoot anybody seen inside the hospital after 6 p.m.
The hospital services indigents in the town who cannot afford the transportation expense to the Sulu Provincial Hospital.
Rasul said that barring hospital operations at any time violates international norms since hospitals serve humanitarian purposes.
Re: “The American soldiers had threatened to shoot anybody seen inside the hospital after 6 p.m.”
Ellen,
But what the hell are those American troops doing in that part of the country?
Are they still doing Balikatan exercises? Aren’t these exercises scheduled for something like 3 months to 6 months at a time? What is happening that it now seems they are in the country, lording it over our people, threatening to MURDER our citizens IN OUR TERRITORY 12 months a year 30 days a month and round the clock?
Have our own military men turned jelly yellow, our officials turned into frigging absolute cowards to allow a US master f¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ing sergeant and his half illiterate troops to order our doctors around and shoot our people in our country’s own fuç-ètç_ç&_éà)çing hospital?
Who fuéçà&uç(èçà&è(ing gave them the right to do that?
Where is the armed forces of the Philippines delusional caesar, i.e., Esperon? So, if I understand, our valiant officers are capable and could show courage only when a man is down as what they did to a handcuffed Trillanes on the floor.
Wow, that rude ha? This reminds me of a recent experience of mine in choir presentation that I attended this Christmas. I was taking pictures of my nieces who were members of their school choir when a American woman told me that I was being rude even when I tried my best not to be a nuisance to anybody and considering the fact that I was not the only one taking pictures, even videos of the performance. Sinagot ko siya. Sabi ko sa kaniya, if I was rude, she was mean, and asked her which one is better, to be rude or to be mean? Hindi siya nakakibo!
Dapat sa mga kanong iyan binabara sa totoo lang. Dito nga iyong mga sundalong kano pag umabuso, binubugbog! Sana ganyan din ang gawin ng mga pilipino sa mga mokong na iyan!
Dear Julia66,
Congratulations for an excellent story! Please keep them coming… Bravo for your courage.
And thank you so much for being there to report American abuses — sad that we can’t count on our AFP nor on our govt to protect our fellow citizens but am mighty glad we have courageous reporters who try…
julia,
excellent description of the place. i should know. i was there, fought there, built up some of the structures there and know every people there. good job julia.
Ellen,
Re Covert American military bases being back in Pinas in the guise of round the year balikatan exercises.
When the US DoD undersecretary blurted to his hosts in 2000 Paris defence forum that US would be back in Pinas, in my understanding, it was not just a question of a random balikatan exercises, aka VFA, but what the US DoD undersecretary said was more in line with a permanent military outpost and military industrial supply stronghold.
From 1989 to 1998, European industriaists were giving their US competitors a big headache (after all RP had kicked the US out so they thought RP had become free finally) — RP was buying military hardware from Europe and the US DoD was sick and tired of the one-way relationship or so it seems.
(An anecdote: their military attaché in RP quipped to me in exasperation sometime in 1997, “When they want something for free, they come to us (US) but when they want to buy, they go to Europe.”)
The US military presence in the Philippines is not purely tactical, i.e., defence, but also intertwined with industry. Contrary to popular belief that RP doesn’t have the funds for its military needs, RP is spending money left right center to beef up its flagging materiel. The US wants to maintain monopoly of supplying the Philippines with whatever it needs, never mind that if they have to do it, they’d allow for long, very long, credit line — this is SOP for any country that cannot buy cash contrary to popular belief (there’s also barter and exchange deals that come with such credit line.)
One thing that Filipinos should understand is this:
At the time when the AFP Modernization Law was passed, in 1996-1997, that defence strategy of the islands or its defence policy was meant to be re-focused on external defence rather than internal. It was deemed at the time by experts that insurgency could be contained without having to turn the AFP into perpetual policemen of sorts, etc.
To do so, the AFP needed to modernize, meaning purchase gun power. For the purpose, military bases were sold. Meanwhile, pre-bids were taking place. Without shadow of doubt, European industrialists would win against their American competitors in many areas.
And in 2000 — said DoD underse announced to a party of high level French defence officials and industrialists that the plan was for the US to BE BACK.
What happened? (I will be simplifying here, ok?) Erap was promptly deposed — defence strategy or policy made an about face — it was turned inward so hard that the world was surprised.
There was a subtle, absolutely very subtle maneuver from somewhere.
By 2001, many European world class industrialists who had decided to invest in the counry had packed up their bags and left RP. Serious European businesses realized that Philippines would always be a watering ground for US cavalry.
Anna: sad that we can’t count on our AFP nor on our govt to protect our fellow citizens but am mighty glad we have courageous reporters who try…
*****
How can they be noble and different from the likes of Esperon, et al e ginagawa silang parang mga pataygutom ni Gloria Dorobo? I would feel insulted if I were a Philippine soldier with the criminal dangling her loots from the national treasury to get my loyalty. Talaga namang nakakasuka!
Taragis, iyong mga petty officers na pinoy sunud-sunuran doon sa mga mokong na kano, palaging nakabuntot at pag inutusan ng mga mokong, mabilis pa sa alas kuwatro kasi may tip! How do I know? Kinuwento noong kakilala kong mokong based in Japan na kasama sa Balikatan!
BTW, I am sending the above article and notes from Julia66 and Brownberry to CA Senator Barbara Boxer and see her reaction to what US soldiers do overseas that have not helped improve but worsen US image and reputation since the Cold War.
upang malaman at mapatunayan ng sino man dito sa bahay ni ellen kung gaano ang pagiging tunay na tao ng mga tao sug, ang kanilang kultura, paniniwala at kaugalian (kasama na ang pakikipagkapuwa tao) marapat lamang na tumira sila mismong sa sulu.
hindi rin mapasusubaliang kahit saang gubat ay may ahas at alalahaning ang mga daliri sa kamay ng isang tao ay hindi pantay pantay subalit sino ba ang mas bibigyan at pag-uukulan ng pagtitiwala at paniniwala, ang kapitbahay na hindi alam ang pinagmulan o ang kasambahay na kasama sa gabi’t araw?
at ako, dandaw, ang makapagpapatunay sa iyong TUNAY SILANG TAO!
half of my life was spent with the tao sugs and still with them.
Hi Ms Ellen,
Thanks for appreciating my work here. Kung sa galingan lang, ni kalingkingan nang pinagdaanan mo, dami ko pang kakainin bigas at iinuming tasa-tasang kape.
I was just browsing some files about the US issues because I wanted to write “re-tracing their tracks” kung baga from the time they started this Balikatan in Basilan and spread wider to Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga, General Santos, Cotabato and selected areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, kaya napadpad ako sa wordpress account mo.
Medyo napanting lang ako sa ilang reactions, though di ko habit ang pumatol kaya lang pag salitang “invented” na story, “it does not only makes me rude, but as well as mean, I mean very, very mean.”
Maraming salamat for those who appreciated and didnt question my sources. Unfortunately right now Dra. Lakkian refused to be interviewed and according to her husband “General Allaga na ang bahala sa imbestigasyon.”
A friend from Muslimah Resource Center (who happened to be a close family friend of Lakkian) confided that Silak appeared tense and harassed.
Sulbatz, from the tone kilala na kita, hope to see you again in Sulu and more concrete “community ownership” projects not those typical dumped as dole outs.
I thought Americans learned from mistakes but if you cover some of the humanitarian missions they’re doing in Mindanao, you’ll discover the typical distribution of mats and mats of medicines and vitamins and instead of licensed doctors and health personnel nila, AFP medical personnel ang dinadala because all they have there are “corps officers” na kahit pigsa hirap na hirap sa pag-opera.
Ang dami na nilang abuses na commit here, I still remember the Ahadon case where US troops mistaken him as cattle during their practice firing in Zamboanga City, Jiggy Manicad encounter in Basilan where he was reprimanded from entering Philippine Army base in Isabela town by the American soldiers, mga nasiraang bahay because of the landing of their huge aircrafts here, ATO chief Celso Bayabos of Region 9 lamented about the squatting of US troops right inside the Zamboanga Airport but other poor Filipino squatters mas kinawawa where our National Housing did an eviction on them but not to our supposed American allies. Target shooting of dogs in Panamao claiming they were rabid when in fact Filipino soldiers love the dogs like Pikang an askal that was honored four years ago by PAW for saving lives of many soldiers in Sulu etc.
One time I was terrorized in depositing my check in one of the local banks here, because several armed American men in civilian clothes entered a bank (Metrobank) and told the guard to lock the door while they were processing their accounts.
In Sulu one of my media friends there when Ambassador Kenney visits the area, “our world stopped, everything stopped ke opisina, eskwela, kalakal at pati driver.”
Ang dami ko nang nasabi. Thanks sa space. I have to get back to my other stories. I admire you Ms. Ellen. Good luck and take care.
Julia66, kung ibang tao ang nagsabi maaaring magduda tayo. But not this Dr. Lakkian who’s very credible and well respected there. The truth is, the GIs have been committing such acts and abuses for a while now. It took that hospital incident and revelation from Dr. Lakkian to merit a wider media mileage. Ewan ko lang kung binanggit ito sa foreign media tulad sa US…kahit na iyon number one local Pinoy paper sa US na Philippine News. Wala yata. Pero kapag ang sundalong Kano o isang US citizen naman ang naapi sa ibang bansa, malaking balita at puro banat ng US media.
Very enlightening and informative…that’s what I can say about AdeBrux’s piece. May I add one more thing…RP under this evil woman’s regime has also been using China as a leverage against the US. That could explains why the US has become a bit soft on GMA and the Philippines. GMA is playing the China card efficiently. China is ready and willing to provide RP not only economic assistance but military as well. What’s in return? Well, aren’t the Chinese everywhere in RP today? They are not local Chinese but from the mainland who don’t speak a word of Filipino.
Oh no!!!! I blew my cover. Hahahaha….See you again Julia. Kaya ng Pinoy yan. Mas marami naman tayong praktis sa counter-insurgency, assymetric warfare, etc kaysa mga kano. Ginagawa lang tayong praktisan ng mga yan with the blessings of gloria esperon. Lanya rin to si gloria esperon ano? Ginawa pang guines pig ang mga pinoy.
“guinea pig” pala. Pareng balweg, pakikorek nga ng ispeling ko.
# conqueror46 Says:
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
korek ka dyan brownbery, yan ang tunay na anyo ng mga kano, binigyan tayo ng helikopter na hindi lumilipad, para ano, para parusahan tayo sa pagsasaayos nito, ganyan ang trato sa atin ng mga kano, bibigyan ka ng bulok na gamit para magkaproblema tayo.
—-Siyempre kapag bulok at masira, saan tatakbo ang RP? Di sa US din na nagbigay ng helicopter. At siyempre kay Dandaw din ang takbo dahil itong taong ito hindi natin malaman kung sa pula o puti. Coconut is sweet…I agree. Ang tamis ng dila mo pero ang bantot naman ng hininga.
# SULBATZ Says:
January 5th, 2008 at 1:34 am
“guinea pig” pala. Pareng balweg, pakikorek nga ng ispeling ko.
—Hindi ba ang dapat na Guinea Pig si Mike Arroyo?
>
Matagal ko nang ginamit ang salitang iyan in reference to the Balikatan that should have been banned with reports of natives being made as targets for such military exercise on pretext that they were Abus, etc.
Everybody knows about this but no one dares expose it until now. Julia, Sulbatz, et al ingat!
Yuko you’re right! Its true! they use our places especially in Mindanao for their laboratory exercise. They bring corps officers to study our diseases and how Filipinos endure such illnesses thru this program “medical missions”. There was once an American Mercy ship that docked at Sulu and a great number of Tausugs with goiter registered hoping to avail free surgery to remove that huge masses on their necks. Sad to note their doctors were overwhelmed because their expertise … more on eyes, skin and teeth.
In Basilan, US troops learned more of real jungle warfare from Filipino soldiers. Exposure to tropical environ — great exercise for them, in fact Filipinos taught them some useful herbs in case of emergency, how to survive (with limited supplies) on edible grasses and insects and how to determine real fresh tracks from slightly folded foliage or weeds without using techno gadgets. I remember in 2002, one of the Army enlisted personnel (EP)I met told me as one of the GIs using a gadget more like a palm top surveyed the area that “mata-mata lang yan, ma estimate mo ang oras, ilan sila, kung nakapaa, tsinelas o bota.”
What irked this EP was that — their movement were quite slow because their counterparts could hardly move due to heavy body armor and huge backpacks with lots and lots of “adornment” on their uniforms ranging from knife, pistol, portable medkit, water pouch, communication gadget etc.
The EP who happens to be a Tausug was with a slim backpack full of ammo, flashlight, batteries, cellular phone, hard sweet candies and one plastic bag with cooked cassava. And that exposure taught them how to be light and handy especially in Sulu.
Julia,
They’re taking US soldiers from the US bases in Japan because they cannot freely do their combat exercises, etc. here. Bawal because of the hazards even when they use the uninhabited islands in Japan.
Many years ago, there used to be casualties, accidents, etc. involving civilians that generated an intense anti-US feeling in Japan. Unlike the Filipinos, the Japanese were very vocal and showed their anger even with people committing harakiri or snake dancing in front of the US embassy that was surely considered detrimental to US image not just in Japan but also internationally. Batikos dito, batikos doon ang mga media namin lalo na iyong mga left-leaning papers. E di natauhan ang mga kanoto!
Point is why should the Filipinos take the brunt of US vanity, which is what this show of military supremacy is all about?
A lot many people say that the US has in fact a lot of hand in the success of removing Erap from the presidency in 2001 not really because the US liked the Dorobo but because of the secret deals approved with undoubtedly the help of the Tabako.
An acquaintance, who bragged then that he was appointed a secretary extraordinaire by the Pidals, told me about the arrangements to keep sophisticated US weapons in the Philippines that only US servicemen alone could use and supervise, and why they would be detailing people there on a six-month rotation so no one could accuse them of reneging on the Balikatan agreement.
In short, there has been this undeclared US military installation in Mindanao since the Dorobo took office kaya matapang ang ungas. Dapat diyan, binubulgar. At saka iyong mga pilipino hindi na papayag na gawing mga guinea pig even through such deceitful missions of mercy kuno!
Ingat Julia!
…They’re taking US soldiers from the US bases in Japan to the Philippines (particularly to Mindanao)because they cannot freely do their combat exercises, etc. here.
Julia: The EP who happens to be a Tausug was with a slim backpack full of ammo, flashlight, batteries, cellular phone, hard sweet candies and one plastic bag with cooked cassava. And that exposure taught them how to be light and handy especially in Sulu.
*****
I believe you, Julia. I saw the examples during the landslide in Leyte. Remember those US servicemen, who were airlifted there, even before Philippine soldiers themselves could go there because they could not fly on their apa helicopters?
Golly, ang gaganda ng mga bota! O loko nagkandadulas-dulas ang mga mokong dahil ayaw pang magpaa gaya noong mga native rescuers. Tawa ako ng tawa as I translated the conversations into Japanese. May dala pang mga baril ang mga mokong.
Kaya dito sa Japan, even when they (US military) offer help and assistance during natural calamities and earthquakes here, hindi tinatanggap! Kasi iyayabang pa ng mga ungas na may utang na loob ka sa kanila.
Sa Pilipinas kasi, kahit na duraan ng plema, basta libre, OK! Yuck!
Another proof of US military installation in Mindanao is the frequent visits of the US ambassador to the Philippines there. Tignan mo naman ang arte ng aleng iyan. Akala mo designated Governor of the Philippine territory ang dating!
Si Mondale nga dito sa Japan, hindi makahirit. Sana matoto nang umarte ng tama ang mga pilipino sa kanilang bayan. Hindi sila dapat natatakot sa dayuhang sumasakop sa kanila.
Ako man inis din diyan sa babeng US Ambassador. Ang arte din tulad ni GMA. Kaya magkasundo. Immediately after the failed revolt (?) of Manila Peninsula, this US Ambassador declares her country’s support of GMA government. Hindi pa man alam ang puno’t dulo ng gulo sa Manila Pen, sisigaw na sinusuportahan nila si GMA. Actually, no country has made any comment about the incident except the US. Halata talaga!
julia66,
isang napakalaking tulong sa matapat at walang kiling na pamamahayag ang pagkakaroon ng isang katulad mo na walang takot ang pagbubunyag sa alinmang pang-aabuso ng mga sundalong amerikano diyan sa sulu.
mabuhay ka!
Vested interest, Brownberry. Parang nagtatapikan lang ng balikat ang mga kumag. I doubt if the US really supports the idiota especially with the deals she has made with China that are actually detrimental to the interests of other countries in this part of the globe especially with the rumored military building up of China with profits from US patronage of cheapie Chinese products.
Kaya lang nga kailangan ang military base in between Japan and Australia that the Philippines can strategically provide, and also strong demands from landowners where the US bases are for the US to vacate their lands as those in Okinawa. Walang magawa ang mga politician sa Okinawa, and the US cannot ignore the will of the people as expressed in a national referendum in accordance with the democratic principles that they taught the Japanese. Thus, the visit to the Philippines for example by the governor of Okinawa a year or two ago to boost up US demand for such military build-up in the Philippines.
Walang humirit na pilipino. Mga aktibistang hapon lang ang humirit sa totoo lang even when it means making the Moslems refugees in their own homeland. Tapos aarte ang mga kano ng gaya ng ginagawa nila ngayon. Susmaryosep! Hindi puede iyan!
1/5/08 Brownberry, You kept insulting the kano and me. I am in perfect health. I don’t eat bago-ong and soy sauce and my breath is fresh all the time. My hygiene is my first priority next to Godliness. Let me ask you what is your agenda why you keep insulting the Americans. I have the sneaking suspicion that you work for the “?” I have news for you, nation after nation are getting away from that system and why you want to drag the Filipinos to that ideology. If you are working for an ideology, start by being nice to people. Maos’ ideology did not work. I and most Americans are only working for what is right and wrong. Only the basic and simple ones. I believe that the basic and simple ones will go a long way.
Big news for you bloggers: America do not have the slightest intention of taking Mindanao away from the Filipinos. Can you imagine the benefits that the Filipinos got out of Clark Field and Subic Bay. I understand it is a state of the art commerce hub for the Filipino businesses.
Our young American military are not horny uneducated individual. They are there because they want to serve their country. I have several nephews that are serving. They are college educated and some are waiting for their military benefits to go to college. Our military were not draftees , they volunteered.
Yesterday, I met with several PhD’s , some Pinoys and some Kana. They are building schools in the rural areas of the Philippines to be able to let our school children learn how to read and write. We will supply them with books, crayons and pencils. Now, those are basics. Anyone who wants to join put your email address in the blog and we will get in touch with you. Thank you very much.
Insulting the Americans? Maybe. But you dandaw…of course not. You’re being a coconut, rather a Fil-Am, is incidental. If you read the other comments, I’m not the only one critical of these GIs’ actions and activities in the Philippines. I think many share my views. I’m not against the Americans per se but their covert activities in countries like RP in order to achieve their agenda, hidden or not. My strong position against these GIs was brought about my their interference in the medical/health operations of the hospital in Sulu where they ordered its closure and threatened to shoot the staff. At first, they denied and then admitted. Had it not for concerned citizens and government workers like Dr. Lakkian, that incident could have passed unrecorded and unnoticed. If you truly love America, tell her to stop meddling in other countries’ affairs.
And Dandaw, you have the suspicion that I work for NPA or Muslim terrorist groups? I work for Juan de la Cruz. You said your young military men are not horny and they are educated? Education is not a guarantee to make a good young soldier. Say that to that rapist Smith whose case remains unresolved. The Clark Air Base and Subic benefited the Philippine? Or the other way around? They sure benefited the prostitutes and left a souvenier to the residents with those toxic waste. Thank you America!
“We only mean peace and order. We happen to believe in real Democracy that is why we try to help. We don’t conquer nations, we try to build them for the good of its citizens of that nation.”
dandaw, ang mga sundalong amerikano ay nasa pilipinas lamang upang lumahok sa balikatan na dapat ay sa kampo ginaganap (katulad ng mga balikatan exercises noong wala pa sa malakanyang ang baliw na babae) subalit ngayon, ilang taon na na ang balikatan ay mismong ginagamit sa aktuwal na larangan samantalang ang pagbaka sa makakaliwa at sesesyonistang muslim at teroristang grupo katulad ng abu sayyaf ay tungkulin ng mga lokal na sundalo at pulisya?
paano mo ipapaliwanag ‘yung pagkakaroon ng hiwalay na himpilan ng mga sundalong kano na dapat ay kasama sa kampo ng mga pilipinong kawal?
hindi ba’t sa halip na makatulong, mas lalong nakakagulo ang pakikialam ng mga amerikano sa panloob na suliranin ng pilipinas partikular sa mindanaw na magulo na nga ay mas lalo pang pinapagulo ng nakaupong baliw na huwad na pangulo sa tulong mga sundalong amerikano?
why suspect anyone working for or believing the communist ideology or one that has to do with the separatists when critical to US presence in the philippines?
kindly take note that it is the filipinos’ rights that those arrogant GI soldiers have violated when they demanded hospital’s closure at six o’clock in the evening and threatening to shoot anybody seen in the premises right after the time imposed.
ano ‘yan, nasa sarili kang bayan na didiktahan at pagbabantaang babarilin ng dayuhan gayung ang dahilan ng pagpunta sa ospital ay upang magpagamot?
dandaw, may damdaming pinoy ka pa ba?
Brownberry, If you work for Juan de la Cruz we are in the same page. About the Clark and Subic our family friend is the administrator of that entity. They never mentioned about toxic waste. By the way, one of our friends had a stop over in Pinas coming from Australia and 5 women undressed in front of him in the Hotel pool and asked $5.00 so you mean these are not horny Pinays? According to my nephew they have a mandate not to mingle with the any Pinays to avoid trouble and probably deceases too.
Do you ever wonder why Pinas is almost erased from the phase of the map? We are warned by our Embassies not to go there because of the danger. We can go but on our own peril. Have you heard about Sweden? Didn’t they pull out their Embassy?
This will be my last blog, good news to Brownberry. I am sorry I entered this blog. I will never open this webpage again. I’m sorry I lowered myself to your level.
oopsss. sori. masyadong intimideyting ang dating.
dandaw, sana naman ay hindi nawawala ang pagiging pinoy mo sa kabila ng matagal na paninirahan diyan sa amerika.
hihintayin mo pa bang isang araw ay kamag-anak mo o kaibigan ang magsabing sinugod, binastos at binantaan siya ng isang sundalong amerikano mismo sa loob ng kanyang tahanan?
Ms Ellen…hello po sa lahat…sorry ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng time mag blog…silip/bisita lang po…anyway happy new year sa lahat..mejo naging gising ulit ako dahil parang gusto kong ma-meet si julia at si sulbatz.siguro pede tayong mag exchange notes.masaya kasi mukang marami na tayong nanggigising sa totoong nangyayari sa sulu..
welcome aboard…kumusta na lang sa lahat…missed ko na tong ellenville…rock the boat !
regards to professor nur misuari ….!
Welcome back, Gokusen.
I’ll give your email to the two.
Dandaw, wala tayong away. Walang masamang tinapay..if you still remember some Tagalog phrases. If you love your motherland, having lived in the US for 46 years should not stop you from opening your eyes to truth and reality. Coconut is sweet…but one should know how to open it…and be careful while drinking the coconut milk or juice or it spills.
No one mentioned about the toxic waste left by the GIs after the base closure? No wonder you maintain that one sided position and refuse to acknowledge the fact that toxic waste was left there since your friend is the administrator of that entity. There’s no apology and compensation from Uncle Sam. Lots of children and women died and are suffering from cancer and other illness as a result of the toxic waste.
About the 5 Pinays undressing…don’t you dare attack the plight of our Pinays. Do you think they like to be in such condition if only the government does her job? Check the other Asian countries…Thailand or anywhere, there are as many prostitutes. I’m not saying it’s a justified profession; but one must consider the poverty and social problems as the roots of all these. Add to this is the corruption and incompetence of the government. By the way, the 5 Pinays undress because they have their beautiful bodies to show. Do you think GMA has something to show by undressing?
Dandaw, I regret you have decided to leave this blog. Huwag ka naman pikon sa amin. Discussion of issues lang naman. But I’m sure you will check this blog once in a while. Deep inside you, I know you admire this blog and still love your native land. You did not lower yourself to my level. Rather, you have uplifted yourself by discussing the issues with us and visiting this blog. Lastly, you said your sons are in the US military and currently stationed abroad. Well, if they are in Iraq, tell them to return home now before President Obama asks them to do. Better still, tell them to join those GIs in the South so that they could watch over their comrades’ abuses against the Filipino people.
BB, you said it so well:”You did not lower yourself to my level. Rather, you have uplifted yourself by discussing the issues with us and visiting this blog.”
Thanks Gabriela. Frankly, I hope Dandaw returns to this blog.
Magaganda din naman ang mga sinabi niya kahit na Kanong-Kano ang tono. The Sulu incident was played widely in the media for days. Bakit siya mapipikon at masasaktan sa katotohanan?
Even if he has sons in the US military, would he allow these GIs to abuse the Filipinos?
I am going to miss Dandaw. Sana hindi tayo maging balat sibuyas sa realidad at sitwasyong nagaganap sa palibot natin. I too have relatives and friends in the US Army and Air Force but surprisingly they dont share the same opinion as that of Dandaw. Pag nag-aaway kami nuon I call them amboys and amgirls . For the information of Dandaw, I like to live where she is now not for my sake but for my son. During our shortlived vacation there, milagrong walang atake sa hika ng anak ko, here in the Philippines, kulay puti mundo namin as I always bring him to the hospital. Kaya lang me and my son cant live without daing, bagoong, coconut, soy sauce and noodles na masyadong mahal sa mga chinese restaurants.
Unlike Dandaw who hates bagoong, my cousins and friends in the US miss the ginataang bagoong and mind you Dandaw, hindi nakarating ng US ang ilan sa mga kamag-anak ko if not for the bagoong ang coconut. My cousins as second generation American citizens dont share the same views as yours and I am very proud of them. The third generation they produced marunong bumigkas ng “Panatang Makabayan” at hindi nakakalimutan ang ilang nakagawian ng Pinoy, pagmamano at pagbibigay halaga sa bayan.
Remember the Nicole case, some of them shared mix reactions then but still ended up favoring Nicole not as “babaeng pakawala” as what others claimed but her case is one classic example of how strong US domination and as always got away with abuses. Abuso kay Nicole, ay abuso sa Filipino, mapa kano, australiano, tsino, hapon o anumang bansa yan.
I met an American woman Sheila Smith and this guy Ryan Anson. I brought them to Sulu and they can share more experiences of how Americans treated the Filipinos there.
Dandaw sana marunong tayong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, you know that we will always be proud and with dignity if we value our roots.
For Gokusen you can always visit facebook site and look for my name there. Andun email add ko.
Well said Julia. As I said, deep in his heart we know that Dandaw still loves his native land. Siya din ang nagsabing matamis ang coconut. Kaya kahit kaumanggi ang balat ng coconut at puti ang loob, matamis naman ang katas. I think many of us here have relatives in the US and work for the Federal and military. I would like to believe that many have chosen those career and profession not necessarily for the love of America but for economic needs. Sa military na lang, maraming mga batang Fil-Ams and other immigrants ang pumasok for the benefits they receive. Joining the military also helps and expedite their citizenship. Pero tanungin niyo sila at tingnan ang kanilang puso, mahal o mas mahal pa din nila ang bayang sinilangan nila o kanilang mga magulang.
Susmaryosep, julia66, all those food, except for coconut, will aggravate your son’s asthma. Kaya pala!