Youth and the
Philippines’ Sovereignty and National Patrimony
Juno Marteen S. Vegas
A
Speech Delivered on the State of the Youth Address
Finster
Auditorium, Ateneo De Davao University
July
26, 2014
To the President of Ateneo de Davao University,
Rev. Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ,
To the Administration, faculty and staff
of this institution,
To our distinguished visitors and guests
from various groups and organizations representing different sectors of the
society,
Fellow students,
To the hope of our Fatherland, the
Youth,
To every privileged young person here in
attendance,
And to the millions of our peers and
comrades out there, who share the same sentiments with us,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Progressive
greetings of peace and youthful exuberance to one and all!
Gone were the
days when the Youth have been silent, even gagged, by the culture of
indifference with regards to pressing social issues of today, particularly in
the discourse of national sovereignty and patrimony. The contemporary Filipino
Youth of today are no longer blinded and unaided by the prevalence of
oppressive structures that continually affect the lives of not only the common
Filipino populace at large but specially and directly the youth. Our ears have
heard enough of the rhetorical non-sense. Our eyes have seen so much of the theatrical
stage plays that all try to deceive our consciousness of what reality is by gloriously
portraying the Philippine Youth situation.
It’s very clear
to in the minds and hearts of the youth that nationalism and patrimony mean
serving our own personal interest first and foremost. This is concerting our
own efforts, potential and resources for our ultimate benefit. It’s has to be
inviolable and non-negotiable. It means valuing the country as our own, and
never to allow foreign superpowers to lavishly intervene.
This is not the
case under the US-Aquino regime.
We, together
with the rest of society have endured for so long. It is quite a shame how the
Aquino Administration would self-servingly try to praise itself. But we know
for a fact that his performance, particularly in his 4thyear in the
presidency was a total failure. Worse, his joyous speeches would seem to
undermine the critical scrutinizing capabilities of the Filipino Youth, as if
we are dumb and numb to understand.
Now, more than
ever, we, the youth as inherently intellectual national patriots, proudly and
conclusively assert that the Aquino Administration continually betrays,
bastardizes and surrenders the entire Philippines to the whims of the
Imperialist U.S. Thus, if today we are faced with uncertainties about to whose interest
our government truly serves, then the future of the Youth may have just been
sold out by this futile, reactionary government.
The most recent
betrayal of the Youth’s future is the signing of the Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement last April 28, 2014 between the Department of Foreign
Affair Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, representing the Government of the
Philippines and Phillip Goldberg of the U.S. Defense representing the United
States of America. Amazingly, the signing was timed in the state visit of U.S.
President Barack Obama in Manila, Philippines. Otherwise known as the EDCA, the
10-paged agreement envisions the advancement of the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty
along with other treaties in history. It is notable that while the Constitution
guarantees it, the Legislative and Judiciary were unable to conduct its checks
and balances function for EDCA.
Like an iron
bullet packaged in a sweet candy, it may appear as bilaterally beneficial to
the contracting parties. However, the youth deems EDCA as a War Magnet,
detrimental to the Philippines. We are definitely on the losing end of this
Agreement.
It does not a
mind like Einstein, nor a brilliant Political Science Major to realize that
EDCA is a slap in the face of the Youth. In essence, it effectively implies
that the Aquino Administration values more military and defense over education
and social services. It breeds a mindset of subservience towards the colonial
rule of foreign powers such as the United States. EDCA is a concrete
manifestation of national submission to the Imperialist U.S. and its dictates
in the internal affairs of our society. Therefore, EDCA grants the U.S. the
tight hold of the Youth’s dreams of a better tomorrow.
Let us dwell in
the salient points of EDCA and further analyze the evils of this Agreement
using the radical lens of a patriotic youth. Subsequently we will be able to
prove why it is principally against the youth.
First, before
anything else, is the term of existence of the EDCA. It is stipulated that it
shall have an initial term of 10 years. However, parties may agree to extend
its duration automatically if deemed necessary. In essence, the Agreement
therefore, shall live as long as US sees that it can capitalize on the
Philippines. Given this scenario, the youth will have to endure the hell of
EDCA until forever, probably beyond our lifetimes.
Second, EDCA
legitimizes the entry of U.S. Troops in the Philippines. The mere presence of
foreign hostile entities could spell disaster within our nation. Increased
militarization on country sides and even in urban areas have no less than catastrophic
effects. Strengthening military bases and establishment of new ones in Agreed
Locations would mean imposing military dominance all across the archipelago.
The promise of inter-operability and capacity-building towards modernization of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines are with the trade off of compromising the
peaceful nights and sound sleeps of the Youth.
Third, EDCA’s
thrust of mutuality of benefits is only a dream that we cannot be assured of.
The agreement is clearly onerous in the part of the Philippines since we are
giving more and receiving less, if not nothing at all in return. The false
hopes of maritime security and domain awareness are merely nightmares that the
Philippines would want to get out of, if one understands the hidden agenda of
the United States. As a strategic ally in the Pacific, U.S. places us into a
sand funnel by blatantly capitalizing on the Philippines’ key location as part
of its Trans-pacific Pivot and Positioning. Thus, we are merely instruments of
the global power play devised by the U.S. The youth analyzes this scheme as a
sacrificial act that necessitates a burdensome role at the expense of our
National Sovereignty. Therefore, it is not only the current Philippines that we
lose in this gamble, but rather it is the future of our Youth that is at stake.
Furthermore, it
is to be emphasized how the agreement even glamorizes American soldiers as
heroes and liberators. The contemporary youth knows, however, that it is
completely false. EDCA warrants unlimited access and flexible positioning of
the U.S. forces and subcontractors within Philippine territory. They are even
immune against Philippine laws and jurisdiction. The proliferation of numerous
Human Rights Violations and the degradation of women dignity in prostitution
are subtle reminders of the inhumane tendencies of American soldiers. The youth
remembers the case of Nicole, who until now wasn’t served justice when Corporal
Daniel Smith was able to leave the country scotch-free. The youth does not
forget the thousands of Amboys in Subic and Clark who lived through childhood
without a known father. Not to mention the ill effects of chemical wastes and
gunpowder residues that endangers the locale’s health, sanitation and
well-being. These and many more are evidences of the horrors that the Youth
will have to face the moment U.S. troops gain control over our land.
Zooming in
deeper in the nitty-gritty’s of the EDCA, it is stipulated that US troops shall
operate without rental and similar costs in the Agrees Locations. US forces
have the unimpeded access to the Agreed Locations for all matters including the
training, transit, support and related activities, prepositioning of equipments,
supplies and other materials, usage and maintenance.
Moreover, U.S.
are granted exclusive rights to conduct operations that requires water,
electricity and other public utilities, with rates no less favorable to the
AFP, less charges for taxes and similar fees which are paid for by in the
account of the Philippines. Furthermore,
U.S. troops are granted authority to employ uninterrupted radio spectrum to
operate its own telecommunication systems, free of charge and costs to the U.S.
Without a doubt,
EDCA is a one-sided deal. It is something to be frowned upon, even disowned and
is a happily regrettable circumstance in the youth’s perspective.
Fellow youth, if
the Aquino government was more than willing to give such benefits to U.S. and
its forces and troops, why in the world is he not as generous to our felt needs
and interests? He consciously declares his being master in the art of puppetry,
as if the powerful U.S. holds all the strings to manipulate the Philippines
upfront. Aquino wasn’t just signing for contracts’ sake, but he was signing the
death note for the youth. While the American Imperialists was all smiles for
EDCA, the youth is desperately grasping for its breath, with tears and lost
hopes.
Was Aquino not
even aware of how he broke the promising future of the Philippine sovereign
nation? Was he not thinking that in every grain of gunpowder shredded in a
bullet fired, a peso worth of a Mongol Pencil and elementary textbooks was lost
in thin air? Was he not thinking that in every dollar spent for the
construction of new state-of-the-art U.S. military base, a two-story classroom
to accommodate struggling pupils in Mindanao who otherwise study under the
shades of an Acacia tree would have been constructed? Was he not aware that for
every multi-million Balikatan exercise, a thousand or so school teachers would
have compensated or at least hired?
What the Youth
needs now are textbooks, chair, blackboards, school supplies, classrooms,
jeepney fares, and baon if not a healthy breakast; the Youth are disgusted with
guns, armaments, artillery, weapons, warships, high-powered rifles, and
bunkers.
Fellow youth, it
is a shame how PNOY is an Atenean, but his concept of being “men and women for
others” is that of being a trained dog of the United State of America. EDCA is
only one of the few faces of the prevailing colonial and anti-Filipino policies
of the current administration in its dreadful display of National Sovereignty.
Nevertheless,
even if forgotten and ignored, the fire within every nationalistic youth
continues to set ablaze. The strides of the times call to be critical and
progressive in redefining the role of the youth as defenders of national
sovereignty and patrimony. In his upcoming speech in the 5th State
of the Nation Address, expect a sugar-coated version of the real situation.
Regardless, the youth of today, completely understands the problem and it knows
the solution. The youth knows that he is not only a part of the solution, but
rather that he is the solution himself.
In conclusion,
if the youth were to finally grade PNOY’s performance like an exam so far,
particularly on the issue of national sovereignty based in the criteria of its
truest meaning and form, his rating would be a Zero. A resounding Zero.
