Defend Scarborough, defend the Philippines

In our Constitution, Section 2 of the Declaration of Principles says that the defense of the State is a prime
duty of the government, and in the fulfillment of this duty, all citizens may be required to render
personal military or civil service.

The controversy in the Scarborough Shoal brings to mind this particular principle contained in our
Constitution. The peaceful resolution of an issue is the wish of the Filipino people even with China’s
claim of territorial control of Scarborough Shoal despite the almost 1,000-mile distance from its nearest
shore compared to the 220-mile distance from our Zambales coast.

China has the military superpower while the Philippines is a country struggling to rise above third world
status. I'm certain that Filipinos do not want war.

However even a rat, when cornered, will fight back. The choice to put us in a corner is China’s, while the
choice to fight or not is ours. I believe that enough Filipinos will risk sacrifice and death if China takes
over Scarborough Shoal.

Today, Filipinos are being influenced to confront their fears in the face of the Chinese claim. As far as I
understand, we are no match against China militarily.

China is our neighbor. We should be the best of friends, not adversaries. However, there is tremendous
wealth in the long area west of the Philippines, from Scarborough Shoal to Sulu, including the lands of
Palawan and Western Mindanao. These represent $26 trillion worth of oil and gas deposits which could
last beyond a hundred years as well as oil and gas that are vital to production and consumption.

On my point of view it is a timely moment to accept reality with more clarity. Our fate is ultimately in our
hands. Our sovereignty, our independence, our freedom, these will not be gifts from superpowers, they
will be fruits from our blood, sweat and tears. If we are not willing to give all, we will not be able to keep
all.

Let us look at our families, our communities, our land and our seas, our race and our motherland. These
are worth keeping, worth fighting for, worth dying for.

Heroism is not always an act of a moment. Heroism grows from day to day, in small acts that do not ask
much right away. It is our duty to respond to any call of the State to provide military or civil service in the
face of danger. It is best to check ourselves if we have it in us to sacrifice and risk in little ways today
when it may be all or nothing tomorrow. We must step up, we must volunteer our time and services, we
must show China that we may be smaller but not less braver.