Microsoft invests Billions in other SEA Countries, except US “Ally” Philippines

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One of the biggest News in the entire South East Asian (SEA) Region recently was how “Microsoft Corporation”, who is not only one of the biggest Companies in the United States (US) but also the entire World, is going out and investing billions of US Dollars in three SEA Countries, none of which is the Philippines, which is supposed to be the “Ally” of Microsoft's Country, the US. 

First, let's start off with INDONESIA where Microsoft said that they will be investing around Usd 1.7 billion to construct Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure within the next four Years. 

Visual Capitalist 2024 Infographic on GDP per Capita in SEA

Visual Capitalist 2024 Infographic on GDP per Capita in SEA

The Visual Capitalist has just published an Infographic showing the "Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita" of all Countries in South East Asia (SEA) as of April 2024, and as usual, the Philippines is among the bottom Part of the Rankings. 

"GDP per Capita" simply means the GDP of a Country divided by its Population Size. It is one measure of a Country's Progress and Prosperity, meaning the higher it is, the better and vice versa, the lower it is then the worse. 

Php 19.32 billion Davao-Samal Bridge funded by Loans from China starts Construction

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More Good News for the People of Davao as aside from the Bucana Bridge or Davao River Bridge that China is donating to them, the long awaited and long anticipated Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Bridge has now also started construction. 

This is as per the latest Inspection Report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as published on their Facebook Page. The DPWH didn't provide as much important Details about the Project, probably because the current President Bong Bong Marcos (PBBM) has not been very friendly to China, but they did say that as of now, the Project is around 3.5% complete. 

NPA back to murdering Civilians after helping force the AFP to focus on China

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The New People's Army (NPA), the armed Component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is back on a killing spree again after they murdered five innocent Civilians whom they accused of as "Military Informants" in Negros Occidental. 

No less than four different Commands of the NPA publicly assumed responsibility for the Murders: The Leonardo Panaligan Command, Roselyn Jean Pelle Command, Armando Sumayang Command and the Mount Cansermon Command. 

Philippine-China Relations, 2024

April 20, 2024: China’s Response on the planned sinking of a Chinese-made Ship in the SCS

Here's another Political Cartoon with accompanying Article by the Chinese News Publication, "Global Times" from a Week ago about the Philippines and the South China Sea (SCS), you can find the Link to it below. Here are some selected Excerpts from the Article: 

* "The "BRP Lake Caliraya," formerly "MT Lapu-Lapu," was an Oil Tanker built by a Chinese Shipyard for the Philippine National Oil Company, and was also a witness to previous cooperation between China and the Philippines. It was later converted by the Philippine Navy into its first-ever Replenishment Ship. The Philippine Side is preparing to use it as a Target in a simulated "Enemy Ship" Scenario, showing clear Provocative Intent. However, they are attempting to cover it up and refuse to acknowledge it, making the Farcical Claim that it is "Not Intentional." This Approach of trying to have it both Ways has turned Manila into a Joke in the Region and is an Example of its Opportunistic Behavior in the entire South China Sea Issue."

* "Perhaps Marcos Jr. is fantasizing about exchanging Economic Investments with the US by cooperating with it in its competition with China. But, the Problem is that the US has been the Philippines' most important Ally for the past few Decades. If the US really wanted to help the Philippines, would it have waited until Today? During the recent US-Japan-Philippines Summit, Manila expressed hope that the US and Japan would invest $100 billion in the Philippines. To Outsiders, it seems like the Philippines is demanding Support from the US against China, but what it received was a Vague Promise of "Stimulating $100 billion in Investment" from the US and Japan. Just from this one Detail, it is clear that the Philippines cannot possibly obtain the Benefits it Desires by cooperating with Washington, let alone solve its increasingly serious Domestic Development Issues."

* "We hope that the Philippines will not allow the "Spiritual Victory" of sinking Target Ships to make them too excited, leading to the Illusion that they can take on real Ships. China's Restraint is not unlimited, and if the Philippines and external Forces cross the Bottom Line and Red Line of Peace and Stability in the South China Sea, China will definitely take Action when necessary, which is something the Philippines cannot afford."

Here is the Link to Article on the GT Website: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1310935.shtml

SOURCE: Using Chinese-made Ships as Targets for Military Exercises is a ridiculous Stunt by Philippines: Global Times Editorial {Archived Link}

April 25, 2024: Philippines as the US’ Cannon Fodder 

The Chinese News Publication "Global Times" published this Article recently about the Philippines, and accompanied an Article with it. Here are some selected Excerpts from that Article: 

* "While the Philippines is absent from this Year's Western Pacific Naval Symposium, a Regional Naval Cooperation Mechanism Platform, it is exerting Maximum Effort in the Balikatan, or "Shoulder to Shoulder," Military Drills with the US. This is not a Coincidence, it displays an Attitude - the Philippines is uninterested in engaging in Dialogues and instead opts to escalate Tensions."

* "It cannot be ruled out that the Philippines choosing to skip the Western Pacific Naval Symposium is an attempt to hype up Discussions on the South China Sea, attracting international attention and disrupting the Forum. However, Manila did not succeed. The Meeting was successful, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese Military Expert, told the Global Times. Even US Pacific Fleet Commander Stephen Koehler told CNN "I think it's a great opportunity for all navies to get together and discuss all the Isues.""

* "Rational Filipinos are well aware that the US is taking Advantage of the Philippines. "The US is using us to implement its 'Pivot to Asia,'" writes former Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Rigoberto D. Tiglao, adding that "the US is not going to risk War over these desolate Islands.""

Here is the Link to the Article at the GT Website: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1311266.shtml

SOURCE: Flexing Muscles only speeds up pace of Philippines turning into US Cannon Fodder {Archived Link}

Php 3.126 billion Bridge donated by China to Davao to be completed sooner, now at 16% complete

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I posted a Video about the Davao River Bridge or Bucana Bridge a couple of Weeks ago, and now there’s another update about it from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after their latest Inspection Report of it. 

And its all great News, first of all is that the Progress of the Bridge is now around 16% complete, or twice that of the 8% complete as per the last update. And second, the Bridge is now scheduled to be completed around four Months earlier, to November 2025 instead of the first Quarter of 2026 that was announced before. 

The President Bong Bong Marcos (PBBM) Presidency, 2024

April 28, 2024: Maisug Peace Rally in Bulacan, April 28, 2024

There’s going to be a “Maisug Peace Rally” in Bulacan later today, April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm, just see the Pictures below for more Details about it. If you are in the Area or is willing to travel there, then I hope you can join the Rally.

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UPDATE: 04/28/24, 1:40 pm

As per the official Facebook Account of Atty. Vic Rodriguez, former President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to CANCEL the Maisug Rally in Bulacan that was originally scheduled later this Afternoon to avoid Trouble due to the constant Harassement by the Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM). Here is Atty. Rodriguez's Statement: 

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PAHAYAG NG MAISUG

Alinsunod sa naging pasya ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa-Duterte, nais kong ipabatid sa lahat na HINDI TULOY ang pagdaraos ng HAKBANG NG MAISUG, isang payapa at malawakang PEACE RALLY, na nakatakdang ganapin mamayang 5pm sa Bustos, Bulacan. 

Ang naging desisyon ay upang maiwasan ang anumang gulo at sakitan na maaring idulot ng lantarang PANGGIGIPIT ng pamahalaan para hindi matuloy ang ating PEACE RALLY.  

Hindi po tayo papasupil sa pagmamalabis ng administrasyon. Antabayan po ninyo ang mga susunod nating pagkilos. 

Protect and Defend the Constitution!🇵🇭

Here is the Link to Atty. Vic Rodriguez's official Statement on the cancellation of the Maisug Rally in Bulacan: https://web.facebook.com/attyvicrodriguez/posts/pfbid0MCdFSjXf71DQNRYNr95R5JS5FP6T3XpAbuS65RiyhHT3XGjGgpU8zgFvtAKhneePl

April 8, 2024: The US origins of BBM’s “Assertive Transparency” Strategy against China

This recent Article of The Manila Times (TMT) talks about the United States’ (US) origins of the “Assertive Transparency” Strategy that the Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) is now using against China, and warns of its Negative Effects on the Philippines. Here are some selected Excerpts from the Article, the Link to which you can reach it is below: 

* “From Washington's perspective, the Collaboration is designed to weaken China prior to a potential Taiwan Crisis. Tokyo shares the view. Though the Philippines is positioned to bear the most Risks and Losses, it is not entirely clear how it will benefit from the new Trajectory. Without Policy Recalibration, Manila seems to be stumbling into a major Geopolitical Minefield even before an expected Taiwan Crisis, while the Filipinos' trust in their Political Leaders' Domestic Policies is dwindling.”

* “During the Electoral Campaign, Marcos pledged he would build on Duterte's Legacy. After the Election, those Vows were turned upside down. In the SCS, the past cooperative approach was replaced with the Tactic of "Assertive Transparency," that is, "publicizing the aggressive aggressions of China. In Washington, the Tactic is portrayed as Manila's response to counter China. Yet, the Architects of the Policy seem to be linked with the US Department of Defense. Instead of just a narrow Information War of "Naming and Shaming," the Tactic involves broad Counterinsurgency Operations.”

* “In the Philippines, the use of the "Assertive Transparency" Doctrine has been paralleled by the plummeting of the Approval Ratings of President Marcos and other Government Leaders. The Decline is due to growing Filipino concern regarding Issues like Inflation, Corruption and perceived weak Leadership. In such circumstances, SCS Tensions are a convenient distraction away from Filipino Bread-and-Butter Issues — unless and until the SCS Tensions finally explode, in which Case those Issues will get a lot worse.”

Here is the Link to the Article on TMT Website: https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/04/08/opinion/columns/bringing-vietnamese-counterinsurgency-to-the-philippines-and-south-china-sea/1940313

SOURCE: Bringing Vietnamese Counterinsurgency to the Philippines and South China Sea {Archived Link}