Fighting the Invasion

"Fight with words, not with swords."

A century after the death of our national hero, Jose Rizal, the Philippines is still left with "fighting with words" as its best option. Perhaps, even its only option.

Today, I read on Yahoo! that the Philippine government is preparing the necessary documents as they file a formal protest against China before the UN. China, our giant neighbor, has again ventured into our territory and its navy even fired shells onto Philippines-registered fishing vessels doing business within our territorial waters.

That is some weighty news, I should say. But the story of the story is not about two equally-powerful countries individually claiming a territory as its own, just like the Russia-Japan narrative on the Kuril islands.

This is about Manny Pacquiao jabbing a midget who's still reeling from illness; about The Big Show eating a sick Rey Mysterio for dinner; or Gary slapping a helpless Mara Del Valle.

It simply is no fair. (Wow, this is beginning to sound like a socio-political blog! Who would have thought?! Wahaha.)

Anyway, so the people of the Philippines is now faced with a horde of questions?

1. Do we fight back, just like the Katipuneros before us? Just like the Starks of Winterfell against the Lannisters? (read Game of Thrones)
2. If we fight back, then with what? WW2-vintage aircrafts and ships? Oh, that would suffice.
3. Do we again open our bases to the Americans?
4. Where are our ever nationalistic activists who are always wailing, yelling and screaming outside the US embassy? Where are you now? There's plenty of space outside the Chinese Embassy.
5. If the Chinese government attacks our military bases in the Kalayaan Islands, will their bombs actually explode because they're Made in Russia instead of being, well, Made in China?
6. If I list down all the relevant questions, will it ever fit this blog?

I don't have answers to those questions and I'm in no position to answer those questions. I just raised those questions because, maybe somehow, somebody in position will come across this blog and answer those questions for all of us.

Maybe it's true, fighting with words may be the Philippines' only option. But even then, those 'words' are written on paper or on word processors installed on laptops that are all -- Made in China.