We condemn, they attack

By Alex P. Vidal

“I believe that if you treat China as an enemy, then it is likely to become one.” —Peter Mandelson

WE have been assaulted, harassed, threatened, chased, bullied many times in the West Philippine Sea. China has been repeating, perpetuating, stepping up the bullying in the disputed sea multiple times.

It’s an open sesame. And it appears there is no end in sight. Nothing and no one can stop China.

It’s a never-ending story. It’s been a rewind and reenactment. And it’s been in the news all these years.

In terms of volume of condemnation, the Philippines is a runaway winner. In terms of number of harassment and bullying, China is the gold medalist. It’s a veritable Punch and Judy show.

While Chinese navy ships torture Philippine vessels, Filipino diplomats and those from “concerned” and sympathetic countries condemn.

What does it tell us?

Well, it tells the world we are actually doing what the Holy Bible is telling us what to do: “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” (Matthew 5:38-48)

When will the bullying stop? Hell, hello. No one knows. In fact, no one believes it will end.

-o0o-

SOME politicians or political wannabes planning to file their certificates of candidacy (CoC) for the Philippine midterm elections on October 1-8, 2024 have become active in the social media.

They think they needed to be noticed and heard not only in the mainstream but also in the social media as the campaign period approaches.

Many of them were even impelled to pay a certain pre-conditioned amount arranged by the social media platforms to “boost” (this is the exact word written in one social media platform) their posts or messages which are being treated as forms of advertisement.

In many social media platforms nowadays, users who opt no to pay a certain amount get only a limited number of audience or those who can see what they post.

If you are an ordinary social media user, you don’t normally give a damn about paying a certain amount for every post you make, especially if you don’t compete in a popularity contest.

But if you are someone hankering for public attention and recognition in aid of your candidacy in the forthcoming elections, you will be compelled to shell out a certain amount to deliver your messages via the commercialized social media.

-o0o-

“Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby!”–Higgins, Act I

Another interesting book on sale (only at $5) at the Barnes and Noble Bookseller in Manhattan is Pygmalion, a king of Cyprus who could find nothing good in women.

As a result, he resolved to live out his life unmarried.

He fell in love with his own creation when he carved a statue out of ivory that was so beautiful and so perfect that no living being could possibly be its equal.

At a festival, he consequently prayed to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, that he might have the statue come to life.

To his amazement, he found that his wish had been fulfilled when he reached home, and he proceeded to marry the statue he named Galatea.

Author George Bernard Shaw used several aspects of the legend and most prominently one of the names in the title, viewers, writers, critics, and audiences have consistently insisted upon there being some truth attached to every analogy in the myth.

-o0o-

For the first time in many years, I skipped this year’s tennis US Open due to conflict in my schedule in school.

As of this writing, the US Open continued with the Round of 16. By this time, most of us already knew that world No. 3 and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shocking defeat in the second round, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets. Novak Djokovic was also stunned in the third round by Alexei Popyrin, and Frances Tiafoe won a five-set thriller over fellow American Ben Shelton.

Perhaps, there’s indeed a reason for me to miss the actions this year.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)