The War At Home
March 27th, 2009
by: Tsip Chao / HK Magazine
www.hk-magazine.com
The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.
But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.
As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.
Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.
Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.
Chip Tsao is a best-selling author and columnist. A former reporter for the BBC, his columns have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next Magazine and CUP Magazine, among others.
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This article is very wrong. The writer is so ignorant about the Philippines. Calling the Philippines as a Nation of Servants is unacceptable for all the Filipinos. We may be servants but we do not put melamine on foods just to lower production cost. We may be cheap but we do not hacked into classified documents from government and private organizations of other countries. We may be poor but we give everybody their freedom to live. We wash your toilets and windows and we are proud of it.
The issue on Spratley Islands should be discussed in the right place at the right time. We have the International Court of Justice to help discuss about the ownership of these islands. Do not put justice in your hands and never intimidate the Filipinos in your desire and in your ignorance.
If the most of bread and butter of HK OFW is from their Chinise masters then you have to think twice also. Your bread and butter comes from other countries who buy Chinise products. Imagine China without the US. UK, and others. Will you be progressive?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 9, 2008
CHANGE - Real or Imagined?
Change has been the main topic of every campaign in the US politics for the upcoming 2008 presidential election. Their primary goal is any change from the present situation of the country. Also, every candidate seems serious of their goal for change once they get the position for the white house.
Furthermore, this overused word seemed to be a good weapon for candidates in persuading people to vote for them. But who really among the candidates could be the catalyst for change?
If people are looking for change how will they know that the candidate they are voting for could be capable of positive change for them ? Isn't it confusing to choose within party's as to who would be the right candidate for the white house? Each of them believes that they can make difference. And each of them talks the same issues that they think can contribute for the betterment of the common people. They only differ in their strategies of presenting it to the voters.
So ask yourself, who will I vote for? How will I choose my candidate? And why will I vote for this person? These are just some questions that will help to enlighten your decision-making. Do not be influenced by those poetic words of candidates because we are accountable for our own decisions. One thing is for sure who ever will win the white house will be assured of personal change for him or herself.
Will the Tax Rebate be a Success for US Economy?
The United States market is doing well after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates. Yet, the economic turmoil is still the big problem. Thus, the US government is thinking of a Tax rebate to those of middle class and low middle class which is a good news for these group of people ;). But how sure is the US government that this plan will be successful in helping bring up the US economy?
Well, the result is still unpredictable. It's hard to say that either the middle class or the low middle class will go out and spend the tax rebate for shopping. Because of course if you have debt you prefer to pay it first rather than spending it for other things. And if you don't have debts, you'd prefer more to save it for the future. However, the US government can assure that low middle class will use the money for their daily needs. As to of that of middle class no assurance of spending it in shopping malls. Like what happened on 2007 Christmas Holidays, people were more vigilant of what their spending. I think they feel that they are not as rich as before because of the decreasing value of real state in most markets.
I don't want to be pessimistic and I don't want you also to think that way. Even if we perceive that this tax rebates will not help much to the recovery of US economy. Let us be supportive to the current situation of US. Let us always remember that hope is always with life.
Well, the result is still unpredictable. It's hard to say that either the middle class or the low middle class will go out and spend the tax rebate for shopping. Because of course if you have debt you prefer to pay it first rather than spending it for other things. And if you don't have debts, you'd prefer more to save it for the future. However, the US government can assure that low middle class will use the money for their daily needs. As to of that of middle class no assurance of spending it in shopping malls. Like what happened on 2007 Christmas Holidays, people were more vigilant of what their spending. I think they feel that they are not as rich as before because of the decreasing value of real state in most markets.
I don't want to be pessimistic and I don't want you also to think that way. Even if we perceive that this tax rebates will not help much to the recovery of US economy. Let us be supportive to the current situation of US. Let us always remember that hope is always with life.
Will Federal Reserve Initiative Help Save the US Economy?
United States Economy continues to be in turmoil. Federal Reserve did an emergency rate cut even at the middle of the night through teleconference to help the opening of US market on Tuesday. But will this move of Federal Reserve can save the US economy?
Analysts are still not confident that through interest rate cut the economic crisis will be resolve, as this crisis rooted from the sub-prime mortgage problem. The hot issue that was most talked about before this fear of recession. This problem is unlikely to be resolved until we know the value of the bad debt. If the bad credit problem has been resolved US economy may not be in this situation.
Although this economic turmoil is just in US, other countries such of those in Asia, Australia, and Europe are directly affected of what is happening at this time because of their interdependency. No matter how these countries want not to be affected, they don’t have opportunity to escape from economic activities of US.
I think for this time, let us just pray and be pessimistic that initiative of Federal Reserve to cut interest rate will make any positive changes to the US economy and to the global economy in general.
Analysts are still not confident that through interest rate cut the economic crisis will be resolve, as this crisis rooted from the sub-prime mortgage problem. The hot issue that was most talked about before this fear of recession. This problem is unlikely to be resolved until we know the value of the bad debt. If the bad credit problem has been resolved US economy may not be in this situation.
Although this economic turmoil is just in US, other countries such of those in Asia, Australia, and Europe are directly affected of what is happening at this time because of their interdependency. No matter how these countries want not to be affected, they don’t have opportunity to escape from economic activities of US.
I think for this time, let us just pray and be pessimistic that initiative of Federal Reserve to cut interest rate will make any positive changes to the US economy and to the global economy in general.
Impact of Emergency Rate Cut of Federal Reserve on Global Market
Prior to the opening of the New York Stock Market on January 22, 2008 the Federal Reserve cuts interest rate from 4.25 percent down to 3.5 percent. This unexpected slash of the interest rate was watched worldwide because it was believed to be an "essential move" by the Federal Reserve hoping that this will help to stabilize the US economic meltdown.
“Essential Move” as it may seem but for others they consider the Fed’s rate cut not sufficient for the total recovery of global financial market. Because according to some analyst, this lower interest rate will not fix the bad credit problems.
Meanwhile the Fed's action to save US stock markets was a positive surprise to most Asian countries. Most Asian countries rebounded strongly just after U.S federal reserve announced interest rate cut. This is a clear indication that US economic meltdown implicitly affects the world economic situation.
US economic meltdown may not of interest to common people. Perhaps they don’t even care of what is this crisis all about. But the fact is that economic problem in US strongly affects us. It may not be felt by ordinary people at this time but in long run this will be a serious problem that really needs to be resolve before its too late.
Nevertheless, we better watch for the result of this interest rate cut before we give conclusions. At least US government is doing their best to control and prevent the economic downturn.
“Essential Move” as it may seem but for others they consider the Fed’s rate cut not sufficient for the total recovery of global financial market. Because according to some analyst, this lower interest rate will not fix the bad credit problems.
Meanwhile the Fed's action to save US stock markets was a positive surprise to most Asian countries. Most Asian countries rebounded strongly just after U.S federal reserve announced interest rate cut. This is a clear indication that US economic meltdown implicitly affects the world economic situation.
US economic meltdown may not of interest to common people. Perhaps they don’t even care of what is this crisis all about. But the fact is that economic problem in US strongly affects us. It may not be felt by ordinary people at this time but in long run this will be a serious problem that really needs to be resolve before its too late.
Nevertheless, we better watch for the result of this interest rate cut before we give conclusions. At least US government is doing their best to control and prevent the economic downturn.
A Filipino View of 2008 US Presidential Election
Washington maybe on the other side of the Philippines but the political tension is reverberating throughout the world. Is this tension caused by issue on gender? Or this has something to do of being black or of being white?
Well its obvious that as US presidential candidates prepare for the upcoming 2008 US Presidential Election, each of them is trying to get the trust of the public by convincing them on why they can be a good president. The common issues that these "presidentiables" usually talk in their debates are issue on universal health care, withdrawal of troupe from Iraq, equal opportunity for education regardless of color and better tax policy for middle classes.
But as the day nears for "Super Tuesday" in February 5 on which 24 states will decide their delegates to the national convention, the political tension is getting stronger. Infact personal matters were being discussed in their debates. An indication that their massive political campaigns have been influenced by their personal motives.
As to if these tension is caused by issues on gender or race, NO ONE CAN TELL. Because one thing for sure, competition within party is tight --- BOTH of them want to WIN.
Well its obvious that as US presidential candidates prepare for the upcoming 2008 US Presidential Election, each of them is trying to get the trust of the public by convincing them on why they can be a good president. The common issues that these "presidentiables" usually talk in their debates are issue on universal health care, withdrawal of troupe from Iraq, equal opportunity for education regardless of color and better tax policy for middle classes.
But as the day nears for "Super Tuesday" in February 5 on which 24 states will decide their delegates to the national convention, the political tension is getting stronger. Infact personal matters were being discussed in their debates. An indication that their massive political campaigns have been influenced by their personal motives.
As to if these tension is caused by issues on gender or race, NO ONE CAN TELL. Because one thing for sure, competition within party is tight --- BOTH of them want to WIN.
Value of Peso Vs. Interest to Work Abroad
Overseas Filipino Workers are complaining regarding the sudden decrease of value of dollars against peso. OFW’s express their disappointment to this current exchange rate because the amount in dollars that they used to send to their loved ones in Philippine, has no longer of the same value at this time. If in the last quarter 1000 USD have an equivalent value of 44,000 pesos now its just 40,870. They lost almost 3,130 pesos. Because of this, OFW’s convey the idea of just working in Philippines (granting that there are job opportunities) if the value of dollars continue to depreciate.
The questions are: Will the value of US dollar against Philippine peso stop our OFW’s from working abroad? What about those who have the plan to go to greener pastures, will they still pursue their dreams? For sure some will say yes and others will say no. Regardless of what answers they have, the most important thing is they will decide according to their judgment guided by what is wrong and what is right.
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