What this Column is All About 12/18/2007

BALITANG BETERANO:

World War II in RP

The defense of the Philippine Commonwealth and American imperial interests in the Philippines – was under the United States’approved provision to defend the Philippines in case of any invasion.

As a matter of fact, as of December 31, 1937 – Joseph Ralston Hayden, who headed the Philippine Study on National Development, there were originally 36 officers, of whom were (Old) Philippine Scouts and 281 enlisted men, out of them were 22 Americans, on duty as military advisers.

Fore-Runners

Take note that the reference to the Philippine Scouts here were the original scouts which was dubbed as Old Philippine Scouts.

"The Commanding General of the Philippine Department was authorized to make available a certain number of officers and men, but may go beyond this number of he thinks circumstances may justify it." said Hayden.

Commonwealth Act No. 1

The program for carrying out the national defense policy of the Commonwealth of the Philippines was embodied in its National Defense Act otherwise known as Commonwealth Act No. 1 It provided for an army of to elements ,namely :as a regular force of approximately 10,000 men, which included the existing Philippine Constabulary then with a strength of 7,000, and a reserve force that would be augmented each year by approximately 40,000 men who have received 5 and a half months of intensive military training .

Phil. Commonwealth Army

By the end of 1937, two semi-annual classes of trainees approximately 36,601 had been trained and transferred to the national reserve. By 1938, there were 33,247 additional reserves available.

The original military organization included the staff and line units that were essential to the defense-oriented Commonwealth Army of the Philippines. It composed of competently trained officers corps, and provided for a development of the former Philippine Constabulary Academy (PCA) into the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) which turned out approximately 100 officers each year.

Reserve Officers Training Corps

In another approach, there was a compulsory military training of all colleges and university cadets into the Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) that had advanced courses for selective trainees conducted by the army.

The defense plan called for an Off Shore Patrol unit composed of fast motor torpedo boats for coast defense and Army Air Corps for air defense.

By the Spring of 1941, only two of the Q-boats were reported having been furnished by the United States. And from 40 to 60 bi-planes that had been acquired, most of which were training planes.

Defense Forces

In January 1941, there were already 466 officers and 3,666 enlisted men (EMs) in the regular army and 132,000 men organized into approximately 13 Divisions in the reserves.

The Philippine Constabulary (PC) was consolidated into the Philippine Army (PA) in 1936, had an authorized strength of 350 officers, and 4,500 men.

Invasion of the Philippines

When World War II broke out in December 8, 1941, in the Philippines – following the Japanese Navy sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii – the Philippine’s 10-year defense program was on its 6th year and its military forces then was considered meager and grossly unprepared for a shooting war.

Citizen’s Army

At any rate, the Philippine Commonwealth defense plan was patterned after a "citizen’s soldier system of conscription, under a divided national military districts. Each of which was to train 4,000 men annually, starting with the birth of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935.

Reserve Officers Service Corps

There was a small professional force charged with development of the national army. In remember vividly the existence of a corps of professors, etc., of which my late father, Capt. Roman N. Quesada (PA), was a member of the Reserve Officers Service Staff (ROSS) along with selected professionals (engineers, teachers doctors, lawyers, etc.) that provided such professional services.

Regional Military Cadres

There were 128 military cadres (camps) constructed and trainees were assigned to those nearest to their homes that built up considerable forces.

When war clouds hovered heavily over the Pacific in early 1941, The United States and the Philippine Commonwealth began its eleventh hour struggle to complete enough military defense force.

McArthur’s Master Plan

It was necessary to cut the existing the 10-year basic plan into half. The US. realizing the danger only then started shipping men and equipment to the Philippines. (See: the book, McArthur, paasim pp.103-120)

Gen. Douglas McArthur, who retired in 1935 from his last position as U.S. Chief-of-Staff with the rank of full General accepted an appointment from Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, as Field Marshal and Military Adviser to the Commonwealth Army with U.S. congressional authority as Chief of Military Mission of the U.S. Army Officers to the Philippine Commonwealth.

Sino-Japanese War

In 1941, the Sino-Japanese war raged openly for a year and the Japanese Imperial Army occupied cities and interior towns of China as well as coastal regions.

In July, Japanese troops moved on French Indo-China, President F. D. Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the U.S. likewise cut off Tokyo’s oil supplies. Japanese-American relations sagged to a breaking point. Japan parleyed for a free hand in the Far East.

With the tension increasing, Pres. F. D. Roosevelt, on July 26, 1941 conscripted all able bodied Filipinos under an unnumbered Military Order. Followed by their induction into the United Army in the Far East (USAFFE) and all organized Commonwealth Army Forces were incorporated into the USAFFE, as the single U.S. military defense force or the U.S. flag.

# #

World War II in the Philippines

World War II broke out in December 8, 1941, and the rest is history.

(See sequel, World War II – epic of the Philippine Defense Bataan and Corregidor. 1941-42.

(Fall of Bataan ad Corregidor April 9, 1942 and May 6, 1942 respectively)

( The Japanese Occupation. and Resistance Movement 1942 t 1945)

(The Liberation of the Philippines 1945 to 1946)

(The Philippine Independence July 4, 1946)

( Post War Years, the Rehabilitation 1946 to the Present)

(Struggle by Fil-Am U.S. Army war veterans in collecting from the U.S. their denied unpaid wartime compensation that would last for over 60 years from 1946 to the present)

Their main (demand) thrust is for full equity settlement of the U.S. huge unpaid obligation (unpaid compensations and benefits rightfully earned in battles of WW-II in the Philippines.)

Shamans- No Legal Standing

It should be understood and respected by those elements in the Fil-am community, (the ACFV, the Naffaa and other shamans) that they are without legal standing in the veteran’s official lobby who usurp the sole vested right and property interest of bona-fide WW-II veterans.

They are not an integral part of the preponderant veterans majority conducting the official lobby in the U.S. Congress currently pushing legislations that would finally pay the veterans’ unsettled compensations and benefits (i.e, the present legislative bill HR-677 that seeks full equity settlement authored by Reps: B. Filner (D-CA) and R. Cunningham (R-CA), together with the bi-partisan legislators that support passage of HR-677.

Spoilers and Extremists

Shamans are looking from the outside merely pretending as lobbyists. They have no respect for

veterans (their parents and relatives) who fought WW-II so they (the shamans) could enjoy the munificence of peace.

Where Freedom has no Responsibility

We, veterans are still alive while these reckless spoilers are already acting as if we, veterans are already all dead. With no shame nor esteem for their elders, they succumbed to the glitter of silver and self-praise. What have we, veterans done to deserve these impoliteness and rudeness? These generation X, whom we have facilitated their stay here in the U.S. have bitten our hands, and have brought their insalubrity and mediocrity like moral hobos.

Role of The Government

The duly legitimized preponderant veterans majority, on the other-hand, have appointed the Philippine government as its conduit, to conduct the veterans official lobby on a government-to-government level of negotiation with the U.S government that has been deliberately delinquent in settlement of its constitutional obligation with impunity.

The Work of the OVA

The Office of Veterans Affairs Office (OVA) is the independent government agency tasked to implement the official demands of the preponderant veterans majority – transmitted to Pres. G.M.. Arroyo.

In turn, Pres Arroyo,, in a memorandum (dated since Nov.5, 2002 and followed by another dated February 3, 20030) - has directed the Philippine Ambassador, the matter of full equity settlement. The Embassy, albeit, miserably failed to coordinate with the preponderant veterans majority and the Sons and Daughters Inc., (as the duly recognized claimants of unpaid compensations and benefits as a matter of right).

Movement of HR-677 in Congress suffered a setback owing to the fever of the national elections and the Iraq War in 2003, that dominated legislative function, in the House dominated by Republicans.

No Right to Trespass

The preponderant veterans majority has not given any private entity (especially those destitute in advocacy and are ignorant in the legislative process) any precise or written permission to the shamans to represent and/or to speak for the preponderant majority. Therefore, are mere fortuitous hambugs and/or make-believe self-appointed advocates that are using the veterans as their "whipping boys" for their personal repute, and/or financial cupidity.

Hambugs Sans Transparencies

As a matter of fact, these hambugs have been reported delinquent in reporting out their independent audited financial statements required by law. They have no transparency. And will eventually be haunted by the law.

No less than Rep. Filner have denounced one of the (the director of ACFV (Lachica as an alias whose real name was Furbeyre) as "toxic" to the full equity campaign, and therefore should be kept out of the equity campaign." ( See Filners statement in the Phil. News. )

In contrast, former Rep. B. Gilman have also denounced the former head of Naffaa (Esclamado) as ignorant of the legislative process and what Gilman resented as interference in lawmaking. (See: Gilman’s letter to M. A. Soriano published in the internet and local newspapers.)

CBO’s Budgetary Authority Consequently, the Congres- sional Budget Office’s (CBO) has provided the budgetary authority estimate of no les than $115 million dollars for the initial year’s implementation upon approval of the bill HR-677 into law.

The extended budgetary estimate of $1.2 billion dollars has also been estimated by the CBO that would ably maintain implementation of the law for the rest the liberally-estimated 5 to 10 years of duration.

There is no turning back, or switch to any bill that discriminates any veteran The full equity bill HR-677 is with priority and urgency.

CBO’s Budget Authority

Thanks to Reps: Filner and Cunningham in securing said CBO budget authority estimate that would be considered in the cloture of this over 60 years of retarded and cruel mistreatment of Fil-Am veterans by the government.

Rationale

The reason why HR-677 was filed in Congress and was fully unanimously endorsed and backed up by the preponderant veterans majority simply because out of the 200,000 original number of Filipino U.S servicemen conscripted by Pres. F. Roosevelt in 1941 to fight for the U.S flag and American interests in the Philippines, survivors are dying each day. By he hundreds without relief.

Until today – we, surviving veterans are only less than 21,000 in number who have been cruelly excluded from all legitimate compensations and benefits awarded to all and the same members of the U.S. Armed Force, except for Filipinos..

Veterans do not anymore have the luxury of time to be further mistreated and be played as buffoons under a conspired fraud of retarding full equity payment of the remaining unpaid benefits of $3.2 billion since 1942, on a piece-meal payment which is a cruel hoax. If at all benefits are dished out to veterans, it was crumbs from the master’s table thrown to the floor (liken to bones for canines) just to keep them quiet.

Not Much Time Left

In a nutshell, veterans demand full equity settlement before they all die cheated, an made to continue to wallow in extreme poverty, through lack of lawful health services and their rightfully-earned compensations and benefits. While other veterans of other allied nations were fully compensated.

Government Lawlessness

Holocaust Redux

And we, thus - were cheated miserably would be left to die with umbrage in our hearts defrauded by a government that sent us to harms way – that have cold-bloodedly abandoned us. Maltreated for over 60 years of inhuman abnegation. aptly parallel to the holocaust in Europe by Hitler in extermination of the Jews. In our case, was a way to kill all of us off through denial sand disguised but callous destruction.

Duplicated Truculence

Such dastardly criminal act of government has no parallel in the history of this world. And which was earlier described through predestination as "benevolent assimilation" during the colonial days of U.S. domination. Albeit, where was the benevolence?

In retrospect, and even at present – we have thorns on our side. There has been obdurate misantrophic kababayans who have created havoc and ( some are ill-natured sons and daughters of veterans) sources of mischief against these heroes of Bataan, Corregidor and Philippine Campaign – these Makapilis (traitors) who have collaborated with then U.S. oppressors that frustrated the veteran’s claims for justice and fairness.

Young Makapilis

These perfidious unwanted malefactors, have intruded and have forced their way thru ruffianism by misrepresenting and betraying their parent’s demand for fairness and justice from the US government.

For want of personal notoriety and for 30 pieces of silver, so to speak, gave birth to such shameless extreme Makapilis (collaborators of the oppressors of veterans in this country)

God save this nation where the blind leads the blind so they fall into the bottomless pit of hell.

We begin to identify them when we pray for fellow cavaliers and their families and relatives, greeting them during their birthdays, and their love ones, in their demise. Our cyber prayer group here in the United States is led by Christian Cav. Butch M. Moreto (PMA’ 54). Two other Muslim cavaliers in the Bay Area are Cav. Pol Aliac ’67 and Cav. Robert H. Bruce ’65. The last one whom we recently prayed for was Muslim comrade, AFP’s PN Rear Admiral, Romulo Espaldon, who expired as ambassador in the Middle East. There are many others whom I failed to enumerate. In the course of our prayers, exchanges of historical importance on both, I apologize for the omission.

Politics and religion should not divide us. We, Christians are exposed to the teachings of the Qur’an and Islam history and vice versa with utmost tolerance.

As for myself, I was exposed to Islam way back before World War II, when the Commonwealth of the Philippines was organizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines. My late father, Captain R.N. Quesada, (USAFFE casualty) was tasked to organize the Reserve Officers Service School (ROSS) and the Reseve Officers Training School (ROTS), was temporarily based in Mindanao, more particularly in Jolo, and then in Basilan for many months. I acquired friends there who were Muslims, as well as Christians that thrived peacefully at that time. I was exposed to the Muslim faith, and to local Imams whom I became a close friends, who gave me lesson about the Qur’an and the problems between Muslims and the government as early as before World War II. Albeit, I was not converted to the Islam. Nevertheless, it was interesting to have known Islam faith and the teachings found in Hadith - so rich in history.

In reading the Qur’an, there are many references about our Christian God, and Virgin Mary and even to Moses. As a matter of fact, the Qur’an is in Islam what Christ is in Christianity. Muhammad stands in relation to it as the Twelve Apostles in the Logos, according to Islamist Professor Wilfred C. Smith. The Qur’an, then, is their Word of God (for Muslims). The divine communication is seen as the final stage in its long divine communications that was conducted through the prophets. It began with Adam, the first Man. It was said also was the first prophet, because he was the first to whom God revealed Himself. The Qur’an was, however, revealed in Arabic.

It was said that the first words of the Sura (chapter) of the Clot as the first which were revealed to Muhammad. The opening of portion of the second longest chapter of the Qur’an is the "Sura of the Cow." It was the introduction. The story of the Garden of Eden was said similar to that contained in Genesis.

However, the doctrine of Original Sin is unacceptable to Islam. Adam's fall is not seen as a sin, but an error of judgment, and has not tainted the human race with its consequences. It was also said that from the creation man has made a contract to serve God. Abraham is said as the ancestor of Semities, as seen in the Qur’an as a prototype of a Muslim. And with his first born Ismael he built the Temple of the Ka’ba, or Mecca and instituted the rights of pilgrimage. He was claimed as both by the Jews and Christian who did not belong to either of these religions, but submitted to God, a Muslim.

This is the news of god’s Messenger. Next to the Qur’an itself, the most important Islamic textual material is the Hadith. It contains the saying of the Prophet and his companions. Prof. Wilfred C. Smith, in his study and analogy of Islam – the Qur’an is in Islam what Christ is in Christianity. Hadith was also said that it is the record of how Revelation occurred, and the Acts of the Apostles or Messenger to Islam and roughly what the New Testament to Christianity. No absolute canon of the Hadith was ever established because the Hadith was a separate story handed down with the backing (the isnad) which was a chain of stories written by narrators.

The oldest biography of Muhammad is the greatest collection of hadiths compiled by Muhammad ibn Ishaq of Medina who died d.AH 151/A D 768. His revelation began in the Seventh Century A.D. in the stony valley of Mecca which connected South Arabia. The ancient civilization of South Arabia later broken down to Abyssina, now Christianized from Egypt.

Muhammad was said born A.D. 571, which was uncertain. He was orphaned early. His own clan was identifies as the Banu Hashim. He was employed by a widow of a rich merchant, Khadija whom he married, and bore him several children, at least one son, al-Qasim who died in infancy. It was a happy marriage. Muhammad in his early days, had hoped that the Jews of Medina would recognized his prophetic claims but had opposed and rebelled against Him with ridicule. However he was joined by the miunafidqins ( the hypocrites). His Islamic Crusade Muhammad led his crusade in raid to caravans of the Quraysh in A.H. 8/A.D. 630. The Ka’ba was cleansed of its idols, and rededicated it as the center of the Islam World, the Temple of Abraham and Ishmael.

The Muslim community spread out towards Europe, followers were ordered to pay zakat (taxes) to Medina. He lived as a simple patriarch at Medina. Everywhere the pagan cults were dying, Islam and His authority were unchallenged. It prevailed as a religion. One of the communities in Europe where Muslims and Christians live together in peace was in Spain.

Shortly, after World War II, I found the roots of the Quesada family tree in Jaen, Andalucia, Spain during my visit. Muslims and Christians formerly fought wars to gain and regain Andalucia many times over. Albeit, in the end, they found everlasting peace-- Jaen -- Islam’s historical place for pilgrims and tourists. Muhammad’s one arm well- preserved is displayed in a church in Jaen. It is a sacred relic.

Our Quesada ancestor in Andalucia, were the ones who created the world-renown Quesadilla, a little cheese pie, which could now be found and purchased in any popular latino-stores. Our grand parents were modest Spanish families, that emanated as the keeper of the Castle Arenas in Jaen, respected by Muslims.

We have a family Coat of Arms (Blazon de Armas) and the crest was "a ducal de coronet". Our ancestors were soldiers, businessmen, explorers, and administrators who existed peacefully with Muslims of Andalucia.

Some of them moved to Canary Islands, as Spanish explorers, who commanded an expedition and penetrated into New Grenada, then founded the City of Bogota in 1538. Much later moved to South America and the U.S. Before WW-II, one of them made a name in the U.S. Air Force, Lt. General Elwood "Pete" Quesada in World War II and thereafter. He brought honor to the family as an aviator exemplary in the military.

Coming back to Muhammad, he passed away in 632, and was a great loss and crisis to the Islam community. He never made any provisions for any successor. Muslims say, "Prophets has no heirs". His son Ibrahim by his Egyptian concubine, Mary the Copt, had died in infancy. His closet relative was his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, the husband of Khajdjia’s daughter Fatima was father of Muhammad’s grand children, Hasan and Husayin.

There were many claims, hence were under a cloud. Under such crisis, the Muslim community has to have a ruler, as a successor to the Prophet (Khalifa Caliph).It took a bitter campaign to re-establish order in Medina. Abu Bakr and Umar succeeded Him as Prophet. Persia and fertile Crescent as well as Egypt were conquered for Islam.

The legacy left by Muhammad for traditional Muslims, everything he did, was part of sunna, worthy of more in-depth study of Islam.

In this treatise, it is recommended that readings from the book "Islam" edited by John Alden Williams; studies of Prof. Cantwell Smith; "Allah" by Louis Gardet and `Don Miguel Palacios’s "La Escatologia Musulmania", where I culled much of what was presented here.

Thus, "The mystery of democracy underscores how foolish it is to believe that government is directed by popular opinion." said F..Lundberg. Elected officials, has been said, have been circumventing the will of the (masters) sovereign citizens. It therefore, raises the big question of whether genuine democracy in the Philippines or even in the U.S. provide what government is expected to do as the public servant.

What has happened was – government have become the cash cow (baka lechera) for politicians who could not make a decent living for themselves. Or have found a haven for greed and evil mischief.

Authentic democracy, however, does not provide that every man shall be at the same level with very other, albeit, everyone shall have equal liberty before man and God, observed by H. Beecher. Events both obtaining in the Philippines and the U.S. today – exposes what is the myth of democracy, against reality in its fantasy.

Powerful elites have taken over government and have found a haven for their common convenience. The word democracy has also become a by-word by iron-clad dictatorships. It is a fact that and no a mystery that if the citizens are really in participation and has been running government, against whom are they complaining that they are without power.

In the Philippines, during the wicked Marcos conjugal dictatorship, citizens have awakened how to demand with assurance "people power" and demand vindication of citizen’s rights. It brought about reality over the fantasy of the loosely practiced democracy. Before, people power took over, it was said existed as a fantasy. After elections, the winning party have installed themselves as the masters, and have reduced the sovereign masses into serfs. Such situation exists owing to the lack of literacy and inadequate education of the people. - illiteracy plus indolence on the part of the people is a perfect formula for political exploitation of the masses. Political Patronage System election as a political exercise has been corrupted by political patronage system – that buys votes over party platforms.

For there are only two sets of politicians in a frail democracy namely: (a) the callous politician that buys votes and only thinks of the next lection, while (b) the patriotic statesman who thinks of the next generation. Learning from Hitler One experienced dictator have said, " If you wish to get the sympathy of the broad masses, you must tell them the crudest and most stupid lies." Adolph Hitler. However, in The Philippines and in the U.S. - political partisans have taken turns in raiding the treasury under the myth of democracy all under government lawlessness and abuse

Governments are now in big economic trouble. Big government spending. graft and corruption, have spawned huge deficits which the State can no longer afford a balanced budget.

Political parties either miserably exist or die swallowing their own lies. Public service is public trust, but not to the reckless inconsiderate politician. Money is the brother of any politician that buys votes .It is honey, and rich politician’s jokes is always funny. Albeit, the root of all evil.

But politicians who steal money from. the treasury steals trash. Because when it comes to money, all politicians in each party is of the same religion. It is the economics of politics that is the engine of democracy. The simplistic approach to politico-economic stability is to freeze government spending without touching taxes or venues eventually vanishes deficit quickly as possible.

The freeze means simply the government can not budget to spend anymore money in the next year than it has spent this year. How government legislators and policy-makers divide the spending pie is not as important as making sure that the pie remains the same size., albeit, proportionate to the surging inevitable population growth and their needs. Nobody has paid attention to the doubling population growth that sneaks in the dark, therefore, the economy runs roughshod over all administrations.

The Church’s opposition to government population control is number one obstruction. It has been one cause of government’s failure. There would always be priorities for the different beneficiaries of government, however, it is preferable to go on limited spending spree and prevent the drive of the nation into its deepest debts.

Nothing can beat the common economic sense of the housewife that budgets the family needs. Therefore, by limiting the amount of money government drains off from the productive sector of the economy, will eventually eliminate the deficit incurred, and stimulate the economic growth. In a nutshell, it is nothing but debt reduction. In-so-doing, it would ease up on taxation of the citizens already groaning from heavy burden. And citizen’s apathy.

However, in the case of the Philippines, it has already passed the threshold of a cap of budget limitations. It is almost in extremes. There is no surplus to speak of. At this stage, the government needs to borrow to cover up the past excessive government spending and taxation. And uncover the wastes and abuse. Gone are the days when government could act as a benevolent grand daddy and give extra money to the children. (people).

Government now must muster all the forces of citizen’s common sense to solve the problem of fiscal lunacy of the past. Both government and the people must make sure that the center in a democracy must hold. Urgent reforms need more sacrifices for everyone, and politics must now be reduced to its lowest common denomination.. Government must show its utmost accountability thru transparency.

Political stupidity can no longer exist in a struggling economy almost going to the dogs, so to speak. We have to realize that "myth misconception" that democracy exists in a vacumn, and that " bad laws area derived from evil habits," (Macrobius). "Albeit Democracy in the U.S. has been a fringe affair were it not been for the presence of the U.S. Constitution." said F. Lundberg. #

BALITANG BETERANO
By Col (Ret. US) Frank B. Quesada
Former Senate Committee Secretary
Veterans and Military Pensions
Associate, PMA ‘44

GOP LOSING VETS SUPPORT OVER FAILED PROMISES

One of the banes of our modern society is the overpowering control by opportunistic elites in a nation. War veterans who shed blood to fight for the flag are caught in the shuffle manipulated by elites. This always happen when society is undisciplined and have not matured. It’s too easy to intrigue citizens into promoting hate and confusion through jingoism to further the elitist’s selfish designs.

Under such situation they have become over-competitive, giving way to confusion innocently paving the way for the elites to take control as a ruling class.

War-Veterans are Losers

War veterans have been relegated to the back burner of society for so long. The point therefore is – elites take hold of the political, social and economic control as a ruling class. War veterans are exploited and trashed after shedding blood for the flag.

War-veterans see such situation in both countries i.e., the Philippines and even here in the U.S. as well as in developing nations debauched under lingering deception by war-mongers that profit from low intensity conflicts – promoting arms sale and destruction. Then followed by offers of rehabilitation and financing of the ruin and demolition. Such offers are with strings attached. Superpowers profit from war under the so-called "Pentagon economy".

And that happens because of an ill-informed public that have become confiding and trustful, or vice versa. The elite’s capability to promote confusion use devices to keep the population unapprised and unguided through the use of the corrupt media, and government propaganda. Not to leave out force.

Divide and Rule

As long as society is divided, elites will prevail as the masters, while nonchalant citizens become peons (slaves). By dividing the society – it encourages hostility among the segments of the community into many groups especially in the Philippines where there are no less than nine dialects in the three island divisions, namely: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. People are at each others throat – albeit politicians – all vying for the huge pork from the government treasury. The government is the "baka lecher"’ (milking cow)

Nation’s Coastline Unprotected

The Philippine’s coastline is greater than the U.S. is quite impossible to patrol and protect. There are no less than 7,112 islands, some of them are nameless. National security becomes an oppressive .nightmare and haunting threat in a nation sans economic stability. A Navy operates under a shoestring budget. Under a corrupt nation of deficit spending, and without the needful and essential infrastructure – neglected in the past and present political administration are lulled by perfunctory politics.

Divided Society – Promotes Disunity

In the U.S. - people are so divided into different racial or national groups, speaking their own languages and dialects, who have been endlessly quarreling. And with their own prejudices brought from their racial origins. The struggle for power, wealth, turf and oil– is so pervasive creating cleavage among different immigrants. And end up persecuting the minorities. Under the situation – such atmosphere breeds political and economic Bossmen, Honcho, Capos of Mafias and what-have-you. Not to leave out the sectoral machineries of elites to stay in power that purloin and pillage government and national wealth. No wonder, no less that Sir Winston Churchill said, " American democracy (presidential system) is the worst system of government."

Close Scrutiny of Systems

In our doctoral studies in Europe, we did closer scrutiny of comparative structures of different governments and their complex economic systems, what was very apparent in a democratic system – there appears a divided citizenry diverted from reality, and what is going on around them. It was also the same with Communist countries.. Keeping Citizens Unaware

It could be traced to manipulations by opportunistic elites in power. They distract people from legi-legitimate concerns on social and eco-economic perplexities. The media have allowed itself as instrument of elites in power. People are fed with so much propaganda. And the media appears - has been bought

Closed Fraternity

There existed a select elitist group that dictate foreign policy and defense policies – whereby political "wanabees" have to be a member of the fraternity ( that controls foreign relations) reportedly financed by wealthy and powerful foundations that hardly pay taxes. They have promoted themselves in a governance of exemption as privileged entities.

The old saying is – "Money talks while the have-not walks." What exists is a crisis of morality – and barefaced shameless governance.

Poll Surveys - Thwarted

In order to make innocent citizens believe manipulations by elites, employ poll surveys and render opinions by hired hacks that confuse tax-payers. Most questions are misleading. Or leading questionnaires towards whatever the goals maybe. Polls and political statistical study have gone corrupt in favor of the elite patron who pays the bill.. Especially during elections..

Such surveys have been over-tiring and enfeeble the minds of the targeted interviewees. In other words, it devastates people leaving them ignorant of existing maladies in the country. Such surveys are as corrupt as the patrons that pays for it. Geobels, the German master-propagandist must be turning in his grave.

Nation of Skeptics

Citizens struggling for existence have become skeptic and belligerent who become unproductive, and in search of someone to blame or hate for their problems. It has a cultivated an eccentric behavior, and a political weapon for disunity - eternalized by powerful and covetous elites. They have sustained de facto well-being through inter-marriages of, and among the wealthy, and hypertrophied brotherhood that has awesome influence over government. They can buy influence.

Money Buys almost Everything

This was reported in many studies that showed a puissant brotherhood operates in the "apple city," so omnipotent that dictates foreign policy and defense of the nation. Both legislative and executive branches of government has been swayed and are in its pocket, tax free foundations or tax exempt corporate conglomerates have the lawmaking process in their pockets.

Gullible Taxpayers

And the opportunistic elites are too clever to let the citizens realize how the latter have been duped and misled. It has been said that it is easier to fool the gullible many, but quite hard to dupe an erudite few. This happens where people are kept dizzily slaving at work, making them suffer in pushing them to exist under both ends meet. So busy – they no longer care what the slave owners does to keep them poor. They have been caught in a dragnet with no means of escape. A rat race, so to speak.

Disguised Slavery - a Fad

In the case of America, as a nation that grew with slavery, minorities Negroes, Chinese, Filipinos and Hebrews, etc., and other minorities have been mistreated as "second class" citizens under what was described under the white-man's burden that have divided the nation.

Despite several amendments to the constitution, persistent prejudices and bias inherited from the past, and their origins ( mostly from Europe) have found deep roots in modern our society. Historical discrimination of minorities persist up to the present as a handy weapon of elites for wealth, power, turf and oil.

A Captive Government

Government has become their guarded captive possession, a profitable preserve. It is only when the citizenry awake and stage a revolutionary change when the corrupt order changes.

Early Americans in those days had no feeling of compassion in enslaving Negroes, and other racial minorities like the "coolies." However, majority of Americans were said to bitterly oppose to slavery, but powerful elitists persistently act as slave-owners. As in the present where elite politicians use it as a handy artifice for eternal corruption.

Third World Victims

In the Philippines, and in Third World countries, copy-cat elites have managed to infiltrate government and the business sector to establish semi-military elites – which have amassed money to achieve their selfish ends. Greed as been the name of the game ever since. The Marcos regime have impoverished the country with the imprimatur of some top avid U.S. politicians.

World War II - provided the as-ascendancy of neo-elitism. It is a Xerox copy of an enlarged means of social-economic violence that have come to root locally.

On the other hand, weak demo-democracies are prone to be subjugated by elites especially when the country’s civil service lags behind, and is manipulated. There becomes a social and economic vacuum – a perfect climate for elites to take control and debase society.

One Class as an Exemption

A class (Jews) was said as an exempted race from lynching in the past because they are less differentiated from other races in the past when they were still few in the early days of immigration. But just the same, in the later days - they were also harshly discriminated. However, currently, it is totally a different ballgame. They have gained dominance and hidden power. It is a closely-knitted race to reckon with. They have been viewed as having tremendous influence on government.

Powerful Race Group

Controlling crop of elites began to recognize the Hebrew who have gained prominence. They later became elitists themselves, with lots of money and influence. Much later they became awesome elite capitalists. They struggled to become intellectuals. Now they are very much in control. They were reported to call the shots over government. It is not an accident. They are more fortunate than other races in America. It was nobody’s fault because they have learned to struggle together compared to other races.

Greener Pastures

Operational weaknesses in young democracies became haven for enterprising elites. The goal is to use power through corruption. It gave birth to war-lords, powerful political partisans and greedy elites that control society in nations.

Pentagon’s Capital Economy

Military power elites abound in the U.S. especially under Pentagon eco-economic capitalism. And so with nations using religion as prop for power, as in the case of some Arab nations using Islam as a national administration of power that we see today. The US despite of its billion dollar support for the CIA, FBI and the military intelligence apparatus – now face the huge problem of homeland security due to its past complacent posture.

And there appears a holy accord with elite civilian entrepreneurs. A brotherhood of specialized graft of the "old boys " club in power, so to speak. Just take a good look at all those in any administration and partisan party, and they are members of the select and exclusive council that has the sway in national policy.

It has existed also in the U.S.S.R. before Communism collapsed. Albeit, now they are learning the ABCs of American elitism. And the Mafia system.

Keeping Citizens Destitute

Of Knowlege

Keeping the citizens ignorant through diversion, has been a successful artifice of elites through control of the financial system, the media, and the educational system. And in order to deceive citizens they make-believe they are the government. Take the sample of the implanted "Federal Reserve" implanted in government - that was reported to have been manipulating inflation protecting the elites at the expense of the struggling poor. This sounds like an annoying broken CD.

Bogus Federal Reserve

History of the "Fed" reflects that of a waif given legal personality, and borrowed authority. Its constitutionality is vulnerable to constitutional challenges. Since 1913, (as in the case of the Federal Reserve) the U.S. has been the notorious violator of the U.S. Constitution.. When it comes down to dollars and cents, who cares about the constitution?

Why the Bogus Substitution?

Just examine closely the dollar bill today. It is quite different than the old reliable green back that said it was the legal tender of the U.S. Today’s green back is a Federal concoction, not printed or minted by the government. And it true valueless than what it should be.

Under the US Constitution, it is only government that is mandated to mint and print the legal tender. But what is this? It is the Federal Reserve (a private monopoly) that un-constitutionally mints and prints the almighty dollar. Congress has been a part of that unconstitutional savagery,

Political Machineries

They are driven to invent political machineries i.e. partisan parties which are financed from graft and even from corrupt foreign lobbies. There really is no distinct difference in those political parties. It has been a "put-up dramatization, a (stage show) or otherwise dubbed as bellicose jingoism providing nothing but entertainment and national hardship, no less a vaudeville of political jugglers.

Taking turns in mesmerizing the citizens under promises and make-believe reforms. It is a two-party system of corruption taking turns at each election. No third party of reform could exist under the monopoly by corrupt elites which has the upper hand.

Legalized Bribery System

From the broadside, elites have invented vested interest groups, zealous enough to buy Congress and the Administrative branch as well. Through the ever-corrupting lobby system, and soft money in politics, in a nutshell – is no less faultlessly tolerated as open bribery and perversion - while the toiling masses frustrate under fatigue and extreme disappointment. It mimics a government of men rather than a government of laws.

Top-Level Hypocrisy

The old invention such as the legislative lobbying is nothing but legalized briber afforded only by those who has the money.. One can not also explain why there was so much fuzz about getting after contributors to partisan candidates and parties, when the candidates themselves were the ones who solicited those contributions.

Examples of Giving and Taking

This top-level hypocrisy has extended to foreign contributors (i.e. Rep. M. Jimenez, and Imelda Marcos who has been openly reported in the media to have contributed huge amounts to US politicians). What pull does Imelda have? Jimenez served time here in jail for being caught contributing to politicians, but Imelda didn’t. Was there any cover-up, as to who, and how much was actually given to whom? Nobody would ever know. Elitists’ top-level chimps business!

Approach Towards Reform

Big government can no longer be reduced. Why? It has been the "Baca Lechera" (milking cow) of elite politicians. The U.S. as well as some developing nations look up to it as model for continued partisan co-existence and enduring spoil. They merely pay lip service to reducing big government, but in reality and action, it is the mortal sin of politics of exemptions.

Deficit Spending Frenzy

The history of deficit spending has been a history of ruin. Most of us never want to worry about deficit spending and debt, because – sooner or later we would face the danger it has created towards chaos beyond our control.

The ordinary housewife was said to have more economic sense than those economists in power who have totally changed the rules of accounting and audit. The semantics of government bookkeeping have confused the tax-payers. Both government and large favored conglomerates have abused book-keeping and accounting processes. Only a few had been .exposed, but many elitists had been spared.

Big Government

Growth of big governments have paved the way for more corruption – simply because politicians have encouraged it for their own selfish ends. And at the expense of the tax-paying citizens. It is time to make the necessary corrections both in Congress and the Administrative departments or face a surging people’s initiative simmering expected to explode sooner than any one think. A revolution is in the offing quietly in many nations.

Seething Volcano

This situation has been a seething volcano awaiting to violently explode. In the Philippines, the starving masses no longer eat three time a day. They have fund "people power" as a means to make government listen to them. Something has to give sooner or later. Time ticks closer to a bloody upheaval sooner than any elite can see.

Democracy is Under Scrutiny

At a time as now – when this country is under siege by terrorists, the Philippines and America is at a critical risk of subversion and foreign attack like what already happened last September 11. Domestic national security should not fail to head off any reported terroristic attempt to subvert a country’s national security. National disunity with stems from government’s insincerity .And uncontrolled poverty.

Reality of Poverty

It means not only domestic safeguards but also domestic disorientation of the people’s sense of false security, nonchalance and adversarial attitude toward the non-white population as in the case of the U.S.. This is a huge national public relations crisis – which would take time and huge outlay from the national treasury. The surging over population has been ignored – and is now taking its toll.

Government’s Double-speak

Despite the tight monopoly of advertising and public relations entities, they all have failed to identify the enemies of today within.

It is a great challenge to the present educational curriculum and unity which sorely need overhaul. Why so much fear in the U.S. of providing as much higher education to the citizens? That control of such field – has its great drawback to the advance of any nation. Keeping the citizens from reality – in the end - would eventually boomerang .

Betrayal of War Veterans

War veterans has been mistreated so badly, that the citizens now see that nobody wants to wear the uniform.

If at all, the needy (with no jobs) are forced to volunteer to sacrifice their lives and properties, Citizens are sent to harm’s way by government, but double-crossed and defrauded after struggling out of the service. Both military retirees and veterans are given a raw deal liken to serving under "involuntary servitude" ( no less as slaves under broken promises and government lawlessness.

Double-cross, a New Artifice

It is always the tax-payer that holds the short-end of the stick. And the moral peril of democracy is - we owe it to ourselves to end these insidious undemocratic practices.. The rust that eats the steel of democracy survives because we, the docile citizens - are part of the problem as consenting citizens.

"Honi soit qui may y pense" (Evil, more accurately; Shame) to him who thinks evil.) Not all the time the underdog will lick his weight in the wildcat of this world. For God made us our brother’s keepers. (Broun)

Member, VFVC National Committe: Frank B. Quesada (Col.Ret.) #
[This posting is unedited-PHNO]