By Virgilio L. Leyretana, Sr.
(Part 1)
The Philippines was initially named the “Filipinas” in 1542 by Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in honor of the Prince of Asturias, who later became King Philip II of Spain. Historically, the archipelago that we now know as the Philippines was referred to by various names, until the Spanish named it “Las Islas Filipinas” and became widely used.
In 1751, Spanish Jesuit priest Juan Jose Delgado first dubbed the Philippines, and specifically Manila, the “Perla del Oriente” in his book “Historia general, sacroprofana, politics y natural; ode las Islas del Pointe llamadas Filipinas”. He used the name to describe the city’s importance as a center of trade. In 1896, the name gained more widespread recognition when national hero Dr, Jose Rizal used the term “Perla del Mar de Oriente” in his valedictory poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios”, written on the eve of his execution. While it is not the official name of the country, “Pearl of the Orient Seas” remains a widely used nickname and symbol of the Philippines rich endowment and natural beauty.
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands with rich natural endowment – aboveground, underground, below the ocean and beneath the seabed. This is primarily because of its unique geological location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and as a large archipelago in a tropical region.
Aboveground, the country is near the equator thus, it has a favorable tropical climate with abundant rainfall, which supports rainforest and fertile agricultural lands. In terms of biodiversity, the environment combined with the isolation of the various islands from the Asian mainland, has led to a high degree biodiversity with many species of flora and fauna being endemic and found nowhere else. Thus, it is considered as one of the world’s “megadiverse”.
In terms of agricultural resources, the fertile volcanic soil resulting from volcanic activity is excellent for agricultural support of a wide range of crops because it is rich in essential minerals that have a slow-release effect, leading to higher crop yields and better plant health.
Underground, the Philippines is the fifth most mineral endowed country in the world. Its location along The Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates converge and volcanic eruptions occur has led to the formation of abundant metallic mineral deposits. It has the third largest deposits of gold, fourth for copper, fifth for nickel, and sixth for chromite globally. Other minerals included iron ore, zinc, silver and non-metallic minerals like limestone, marble, and gypsum. The high volcanic activity makes the country rich in geothermal energy potential and a major source of renewable power.
The Philippines is a part of the Coral Triangle, a marine region of incredible biodiversity that spans from Papua New Guinea and includes the waters around Indonesia, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. Its location makes it an epicenter of marine biodiversity containing over 600 coral species or (about 76% of all known species) and more than 2,000 fish species and coral species. The Philippine area of the Coral Triangle encompassing waters and coasts around Luzon, Palawan, Bohol, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago is particularly rich. Areas like Verde Island Passage are often called the “center of the center” of marine biodiversity.
The Philippines, particularly the central region, is considered to be the apex or the “heart” of the Coral Triangle, known for exceptionally high marine biodiversity and endemism. The Philippines estimated coral reef area is around 26,000 square kilometers, making it the second largest in Southeast Asia (after Indonesia). The total marine area is approximately 300,000 square kilometers, and its extensive coastline of over 36,000 kilometers provides abundant fishing grounds.
In terms of hydrocarbon deposits, significant deposits of petroleum and natural gas are found in the areas of Palawan basin, and the potentially resource-rich West Palawan Sea/Reed Bank. The Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) and the Philippine Trench areas are potential sources of deep-sea mineral resources such as manganese nodules and cobalt-rich crusts which contains metals for modern technologies like electric batteries. In essence, the Philippines position at the convergence of tectonic plates and in tropical marine biodiversity hotspots are the primary drivers of its vast natural wealth.
Aside from its natural wealth, the Philippines is a strategic geopolitical crossroad for Asian security and world peace primarily because of its geographic location along vital maritime trade routes. Its position as a key part of the so-called “First Island Chain” (a strategically important contiguous series of islands that runs from Japan South through Taiwan and the Philippines to Borneo, along the East Asian continental mainland. It acts as a primary barrier in the Pacific Ocean, limiting access to the open sea for the Chinese navy and serving as key component of the US military strategy in the region) which is central to the geopolitical competition between the United States and China.
Moreover, the Philippines sits at the eastern boundary of the South China Sea, through which an estimated 30 percent of global maritime trade passes. This makes it a crucial location for controlling or contesting access to those essential sea lanes.
Likewise, the Philippine archipelago is adjacent to several critical maritime checkpoints, including the Luzon Strait, which is a key passage for the Chinese navy and its nuclear submarines to access the broader Pacific Ocean.
Furthermore, the northernmost islands of the Philippines are less than 200 kilometers from Taiwan, making the country a potential strategic hub for allied forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. This proximity has made the Philippines a nexus for allied defense integration efforts aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the strait.
As a long standing democratic ally of the United States, the Philippines is a critical piece in the U.S. alliance network in the Indo-Pacific, which also includes Japan and South Korea. Enhanced defense cooperation agreements (EDCA) allow US forces greater access to Philippine military bases, enabling power projection and rapid response capabilities in the region.
(to be continued)
PHILIPPINES CORRUPTION: EROSION OF A NATION
By Virgilio L. Leyretana, Sr.
Part II
The Philippines’ strategic location and its strengthened partnerships with like-minded countries (including Japan, Australia, and the EU) serve as counterbalance to China’s assertive territorial expansion in the South China Sea, which many nations view as a threat to regional stability and the rules-based International order.
The Philippines also plays a key role in advocating for rules-based international order by using diplomatic and legal means to address disputes, such assist successful 2016 arbitral tribunal case against China’s expanding claims in the South China Sea. Furthermore, the Philippines is an active participants in regional organizations like ASEAN, and pursues permanent membership in the UN Security Council, using these platforms to promote dialogue, deescalate tensions, and build regional solidarity and cooperation.
By strengthening its military capabilities and engaging in joint military exercises and patrols with allies, the Philippines contributes to regional deterrence against potential aggression which helps prevents miscalculations and the outbreak of major power conflicts in one of the world’s most critical geopolitical flashpoints.
The Philippines views itself as a “ bridge builder” between different powers and regions (e.g., between the Pacific and the rest of Asia, aiming to foster mutual understanding end ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains peaceful and stable for global commerce and security.
Ironically, after its golden years during the 1950’s and early1960s under President Ramon Magsaysay, and from 1965 to 1972 under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s first term, and after a period of stability and significant economic reform and growth characterized by the program “Philippines 2000” during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos from 1992-1998; the Philippines was mired in the quagmire of complex and cascading crises aggravated by endemic corruption. Consequently, the country struggled with interlocking socio-economic, cultural and political problems including poverty and inequality, political instability and cultural erosion, which resulted to the weakening of the nation’s governmental control and influence. .
Today, the Philippines, once widely regarded having significant potential, has now fallen like what was once a robust, strong, hardworking, and resilient carabao. The Filipino nation now lies prostrate in the sun with the stench from its carcass attracting the relentless circling scavengers like crocodiles, monitor lizards, vampire bats and other opportunistic predators fighting each other to take a bite of the hide, the bones, and sinews of public funds for personal gain.
How and why did this happen to the Philippines? Is this the consequence of the colonial systems of Spain and America which created institutions favoring the elite and prioritizing the interests of the colonizers over the welfare of the people? Is this because of the colonial legacy perpetuated by pre-colonial “pinuno” (leader) and “sakop” (wards) relationships, where local elites used their position to enrich themselves and their families through the new colonial power structures, or a system that persists today in the form of political patronage, nepotism and or, the “padrino” and the “kumpare” or sponsorship system? Or, is this the outcome of the elite consolidation after the country gained its independence?
To say that colonization is the reason for the entrenchment of corruption in the Philippines is tantamount to admitting that the Philippines is a country without memory of its past – lacking in identity, unable to learn from its mistakes and, like a driftwood, is without a cultural compass. To reason why we are what we are today is because of our colonizers is admitting that we Filipinos never learned an iota of lessons from 337 years of Spanish colonization from 1565 to 1898; 48 years of American rule from 1898 to 1946; and 3 years of Japanese occupation of the country from 1942 to 1945 following its invasion that began in December 1941?
Can today’s situation in the Philippines be attributed to a breakdown in the character and values, principles and philosophies of Filipinos? Have Filipinos lost their conscience? What happened to the Filipinos core values of Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Maka-Bayan, and Maka-Kalikasan or faith and spirituality, humanity and compassion, patriotism and civic duty, and environmental stewardship? These core values are central to Filipino culture and enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution’s Preamble. Furthermore, these values are officially recognized as the national motto of the Philippines, and officially adopted by Republic Act No. 8491. Have these Filipino core values been overtaken by the mores of times and circumstances?
Metaphorically, “an infant is born with clenched fist signifying he wants to grab everything – as if to say the whole world is mine. But when a man dies, he does so with his open hands, because he can’t take anything with him to another world – emphasizing that all worldly possessions must be left behind after death.”
If the perpetrators of corruption are aware that they cannot bring even a shred of their loot to another world, what compulsion prompted them to violate their oath of office and betray the trust of the people who voted them, or those who appointed them to their positions? What drove them to commit fraud to quench their unquenchable thirst for power, and to satisfy their insatiable, selfish, and morally depraved lust for wealth? How much really does a man need to live a life of comfort?
Are those accused of graft callous and oblivious to the ramifications of their malfeasance to their families, to Filipinos and to the country? Don.t they have any delicadeza? Have they lost their conscience or has there been a breakdown in their characters?
Is the current situation a manifestation of political corruption, systemic corruption, erosion of political ethics within governance, decline in public integrity among officials of government, moral decay, and depravity or degeneracy of the country’s political leaders and government officials? What can Filipinos do to end this betrayal of people’s trust, abuse of power, and fraudulent siphoning of the government treasury for personal gain? Will the ongoing investigations finally end these kleptocracy?
ORA PRO NO BIS!
Mr Virgilio L. Leyretana Sr. served as the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilor in Cotabato City. He was also the former Undersecretary and Chairperson of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).
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