23 years ago today, in 1991, the Philippine Senate voted against the US Bases Treaty in the Phils. It was one of the proudest moment in the Senate. The explanation of votes took a long and arduous process with each Senator taking the podium to explain and record their vote for posterity. To break the tie, then Senate President Jovito Salonga cast his vote for removal. That act was greeted by thunderous clapping of hands, cheers, embraces that meant so much to the people in the gallery. Most were tearing up. It was history in its full grandeur. I was there together with friends and colleagues. The Magnificent 12 were: Agapito Butz Aquino, Joseph Estrada, Teofisto Guingona Jr, Sotero Laurel II, Ernesto Maceda Jr, Orlando Mercado, Aquilino Pimentel Jr, Rene Saguisag, Jovito Salonga, Wigberto Tañada, Victor Ziga, and current Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Today, the AEDC will be signed allowing US ships, personnel access to all Filipino camps and military facilities for 10 years or covering 3 administrations. Under another Aquino who didnt bother making transparent the agreement to the public much more the Senate. With a uni-dimensional foreign policy, we are greeted to another chapter of PH-US relationship. I hope it is to the interest of Filipinos. Not because Pew Research said we like Americans more than Americans is a solid justification of what is to the interest of the PH. Waive your PH-US flag cause they are back and we go on a time warp again!
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 00:17:49 +0000