Video Transcript / Subtitles:( AI generated. About AI subtitles » )

* AI ("Artificial Intelligence") subtitles on Tagalog.com are generated using "Whisper" by OpenAI (the same company that created ChatGPT and DallE2). Results and accuracy may vary.
* The subtitles do include errors occasionally and should only be used as a tool to help with your listening practice.
* You can request this website to create a transcript for a video if one doesn't already exist by clicking the "Request AI Subtitles" button below a video. Transcribing usually takes 30-40% of the length of a video to complete if there are no other videos in the queue. For example, a 21 minute video will take 7-8 minutes to transcribe.
* Running a super fast cloud GPU server to do these transcriptions does cost money. If you have the desire and financial ability, consider becoming a patron to support these video transcriptions, and the other tools and apps built by Tagalog.com

... Now let's talk about this, let's talk about foreign policy. Before we go into visit of Prime Minister Kishida this week, let's talk about Japan, Philippines, VFA. From a more progressive standpoint kasi the mainstream discussion I know what's going to happen. After all Japan also has some baggage, the comfort women issue among others we have to discuss.

So these are things that I hope our Japanese counterparts take into consideration as they push for closer ties with the Philippines. Before going there, let's talk about the ongoing crisis.

Now in defense of, in fairness, I mean one of the things that impressed me, if not the only thing that has impressed me with Sara Duterte so far is that she took a principled position in favor of a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, right?

Because of the really horrible catastrophic situation happening, thousands of children killed, I mean more than half of the population of Gaza is below 18 years old, based on some of the counts I've seen.

So if the current airstrikes continue, this civilian casualty catastrophe is going to reach unimaginable levels, as heinous and unimaginable the crimes were also in October 7 attacks.

But in fairness to Sara Duterte, in fact interesting, she ended her intervention with Shalom, right? Because she also has Jewish background via her mother and she visited Jerusalem back in the day together with her father.

This is when the Dutertes were really supposedly the dominant force in Philippine politics. But she emphasized, now for the sake of children, for the sake of civilians, we have to have ceasefire.

And that was when she was the officer in charge, meaning the sitting, the de facto president, while BBM was outside the country.

But it looks like that intervention was not necessarily reflected in the final vote of the Philippines in the United Nations, because the Philippines was not few countries, I mean more than 40 countries voted abstain,

but the Philippines did not join the 120 countries, including France, Thailand, and Nepal, which had among the highest foreign national casualties in the October 7 heinous attacks.

More than 30 Thais were killed in those attacks. Dozens have been taken hostage. Nepal also, many died. France had the biggest casualty among foreign nationals in the October 7 heinous attacks.

And yet they voted for humanitarian ceasefire because for them, politics is complicated. Of course, we have to condemn terrorism, we have to condemn attacks against civilians, but also in the same spirit, we have to also try to save children and prevent a catastrophic situation.

I don't know, can you say that Sara had a more quote-unquote progressive stance on this issue than the BBM administration?

Because the person in charge of our UN office is like the mayor, not a career diplomat, ambassador, and I felt his statement explaining the Philippines' abstention vote was not fully substantiated.

Abstention looks like safe, but actually it's not safe when many Muslim countries where millions of Filipinos are residing are very passionately behind this resolution.

In fact, this resolution was led by Arab countries together with Brazil, the current president of the United Nations Security Council, our neighbors Indonesia, our neighbors Malaysia, our potential friend in the South China Sea against China, they all feel very passionately about Palestine.

So I think if you're not going to join them in calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, you need to make an effort. Of course, we didn't join the Tonga, Marshall Islands, and those kinds of countries that joined the 13 countries that voted against the resolution,

but I felt as a developing country, as a global South leader supposedly, and the fact that Thailand also voted for ceasefire despite even their more horrible casualties in the heinous October attacks,

I just felt we needed a more professional and more robust kind of explanation of that. What is your take on this? The Duterte aspect, the PBM appointee aspect, our voting aspect? I mean as a progressive Filipino, how did you feel about that vote?

First, to Sarah. I'm willing to give credit where credit is due. I hope that Sarah's position is like that because the position of the Marcos government is the opposite. I hope that's really her principle position and not just because that's also the position of China. Because that's also the unfolding position of China.

You're right. Can you pause on that? Because China, sorry for cutting you there, just to be clear, China is presenting itself right now as a defender of the Palestinian people, as the superpower behind the Muslim countries. Just go on YouTube and look at statements of Wang Yi. He constantly talks about the plight of the Palestinians.

If you close your eyes, you would think this is a Norwegian talking or this is a progressive from Germany or whatever. Or a democrat like Bernie Sanders talking. If you open your eyes, wait China? Wait what? How's Xinjiang?

Especially if you open your eyes to Urumqi, Xinjiang, and you see the two million Uighurs in a refugee camp. I'm not saying that their position is wrong.

You're thinking Ronald, it's the China connection that explains this principle stance? Because to give credit, I think China is making the right call. But I'm not sure that China is doing it purely based on good intentions because 50% of their oil comes from Arab Muslim countries. You know what I'm saying right?

Yes, yes. So we know the cynical politics. If this is the position of your opponent, you're in the opposite position. Hopefully, the position is principled, political, ideological. But in the fight for superpowers, I doubt it.

Especially if there is a certain level of hypocrisy in your own Muslim citizens in Urumqi and Xinjiang. Maybe tomorrow they will remove all the Uighurs from their concentration camp. Maybe I will believe that their sentiments are like that for our Muslim brothers. But until that happens, I'm not sure that I will believe it.

Yeah, the sincerity of this is very questionable. I mean, for me, the impact is real because you have a superpower lining up behind it. Of course, the Russia one is just beyond the pale. I mean, for Putin to talk about protecting civilians, life is just out of this world, right?

But for China, they still have plausible deniability because they haven't invaded the country yet. The Urumqi situation, they're shrouding it in all sorts of propaganda. They're bringing all of these YouTubers with minders and these YouTubers go there to Urumqi or Xinjiang and say, oh everything is perfectly fine. Of course, it's perfectly fine because you're guided by this guy to go to the perfectly fine people.

In fact, I saw memes that talk about how everyone cares about what's happening in the Middle East and then there's a booth of Uyghur people, Uyghurs, with the flag of East Turkestan. No one is lining up there. So as much as I care so much about what's happening in the Middle East with this recent conflict, I care about the children there. I also care about children in Myanmar. I also care about Afghan children being kicked out of Pakistan. I also care about children in Urumqi and Xinjiang and all of that.

You know what I'm saying? For me, that's through humanity. As much as we want to be balanced in terms of the current crisis in Gaza and all, let's not also forget the plight of other minority groups in Rohingya, Rohingya, in Myanmar, Urumqi.

But what you're talking about here Richard is not about scale. What you're talking about here is 24x7. This is what you see on social media. You see children being brought out of the rubble. You see a refugee camp.

Have you seen the crater there? Not even Superman can survive that missile attack. That's what we're saying. Then they will say all of this is done for self-defense. What self-defense are you talking about?

We asked them to leave. They didn't leave. Does that mean it's their fault when the victims of that huge bomb were drowned? Is it their fault that they didn't leave?

Where will they go? The whole of Gaza is closed. Even the ones who are leaving are dead. How many families have died when they left their places to go to a safe corridor? They are dead. Nineteen. One family is gone. That's the problem here.

We can't abstain.

Just to be clear, the borders are controlled essentially by one and a half countries, right? But also Egypt. But the Rafah border is important because many Palestinians are scared. If they leave their homes, go to Sinai.

They can't go back.

They can't go back, which is something quite familiar to them. Because in 1948, if you look at the whole Nakba discourse, those who said it's their fault because they didn't move.

That's what the IBM spokesman said. So I think the problem with the collateral damage here is the US.

Which is very isolated.

Even within the Democrats, they are fighting. Actually, the progressive movement in Europe is divided.

Imagine the Labour Party in the UK, which will be most probably the next government in the UK. They are divided on this issue.

Imagine more than 100,000 from London. That's a lot for the Palestinians.

Despite all of these laws against waving the Palestinian flag, which is not the flag of Hamas. This is the flag of the Palestinians.

This is within the left progressive movement all over the world, especially in Europe.

So the impact of this is more than the size of Gaza. That's two million population.

In a very small space.

That's far from what's happening in Myanmar. That's far from what's happening in Kashmir.

But the Middle East is in the cusp of our history for a long time.

The Palestinian issue, in spite of its small size, dominates our international politics for a long time.

It's biblical. I mean it's literally a biblical issue.

Except I hope people don't just read the Bible, they also read actual history about what happened in the 7th century.

Because the Bible doesn't cover entire history. It doesn't cover 7th century, 12th century.

Actually, it's a disservice to those killed by Hamas in Israel. They are running away. Their narrative is disappearing.

Including our countrymen.

This victim of terrorism of Hamas is unforgettable.

Because what we are seeing now are the 4,000 dead children.

The 7,000 to 8,000 dead civilians.

And those huge craters.

There's no one left to live.

That's the image now.

It's a pity for those who were killed, those who were driven to Israel by Hamas.

That's the biggest disservice, ironically, of Israel to their own countrymen who were killed by the attack of Hamas.

Rona, let me ask you this.

As a progressive who is very internationally oriented.

So you have been following this one of the, let's say, gushing would of this conflict for quite some time.

Do you think there's a change in a global opinion?

Because the U.S. seems to be very isolated on this issue.

And you seem to see more and more countries vocally, more and more powerful.

Turkey is not just any other country nowadays.

Saudi Arabia is a very powerful country.

Indonesia is the next potential superpower.

All of these countries take a diametrically opposed position on this issue to the United States.

For how long can the United States alone stand by its top ally in the region against all of this opinion, the weight of this opinion?

Even if they got India and the Philippines to abstain in the meantime.

But still, the weight of international opinion, the weight of sympathy is shifting.

Or is it not?

Since the second Intifada, it started to disappear in the international media, in the international consciousness, Palestine.

Right?

Especially since there are more Arab states that are willing to sign an accord with Israel.

What happened to this incident?

The signing of those accords with the Arab states did not continue.

You can say it was sabotaged but it disappeared.

It was obliterated.

Second, the U.S. that is trying to go to Asia, away from the Middle East, suddenly came back.

Their aircraft carrier is now there in the Middle East.

It is leaving.

They are turning away.

Now, they are coming back.

And now, every day, this small strip of land with two million population is now dominating the conversation from Uruguay to Greenland.

You just came from there.

To everywhere.

I saw many Palestinian flags in Stockholm.

I saw many pro-Palestinian graffiti in Copenhagen.

So, you know, it doesn't leave.

I mean, honestly, when I was in Greenland, because in the Middle East, actually, it snows.

People don't know that.

But in northern regions, it actually reminded me of the Middle East.

And so, while I was in Greenland, I was thinking all about this and listening to Ezra Klein and the Jewish progressives, Democrats in America talking about it.

I mean, for me, Ang Fear Corona is a global culture war of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia going to new heights.

And none of this community is feeling safe.

I mean, one of the tragedies is one of the first victims of this latest round of culture wars was a rabbi.

Was it in Chicago, if I'm not mistaken, who was actually an interfaith advocate for stronger solidarity between Muslims and Jews in America.

And she was targeted.

I mean, it's just so, so sad, this anti-Semitism, Islamophobia.

It's horrible.

And you could see the Biden administration is all over the place, right?

One day talking about Israel, the next day talking about Islamophobia and fighting it.

You could see they're scrambling.

They don't know what to do because you cannot choose a side anymore in a sense of you really have to balance this because the Islamic world is too powerful to be ignored.

Look at how the reactionary forces are driving it.

Like Putin.

Russia, China.

Look at the anti-Semitism at the Russian airport.

It's just a start.

It's just a start.

If there will be a continuation of that kind of genocidal war, those massacres.

Not only the disservice to the victims of Hamas in Israel on October 7.

If not, this global anti-Semitism will come to life again.

It will come to life.

There's a justification now.

These reactionary elements all over the world, in the US, in Europe.

They're going to take advantage of this.

That's the reactionary wave that can be driven by these populist reactionary elements and the enemies of democracy.

They're going to drive it.

They're going to say, we were right all along.

That's what they're going to say.

Using these victims, using these children.

That's what's going to happen.

I think there was an attack on the Israeli embassy person in Beijing if I'm not mistaken.

And there were a lot of reports of very anti-Semitic statements also circulating on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter and Facebook.

So this is really worrying where this is going.

And we know anti-Semitism is also very strong in countries like Russia, among others.

So yeah, I'm worried about this for our Jewish brothers and sisters.

I'm worried also for our Muslim brothers and sisters because this conflict really has a psychological and moral impact like no other.

Even though this has been around for very long.

But now, yeah, you're right.

The images of children dying, images of just scores of civilians being killed here and there.

It's just something that it's hard not to see people being moved by it.

I mean, just look at the massive protest in Turkey.

A NATO member.

Look at what Erdogan is saying.

I think Bolivia already withdrew their representative from Israel.

So it's possible Arab countries that signed the Ibrahamic Accords may also reconsider it.

United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Jordan, among others.

I think Jordan is also signaling that they may do something drastic.

I think recalling their envoy also is one of the things being considered as we speak.

So wow, this is big.

This is big.

Imagine Biden saying that he doesn't believe the Kashwater reports.

Imagine Kirby, National Security Advisor Kirby saying that...

National Security Advisor, right?

Yeah, there are all of these memes about what they say about Ukraine and what they say when it comes to Gaza.

There are all sorts of memes like that right now.

It looks so cynical, right?

Their statements.

These people are media savvy, right?

Why are they deteriorating so much in their speeches, in their presentation, in their justification?

It's like the Philippine government, their explanation...

It's like Harry Roque.

It's so plagmatic.

It's so plagmatic.

It should be corrected.

It should be corrected.

They should get Richard Hidari as a spokesperson to explain why our abstention is not that plagmatic.

Put a little framework.

Put a little...

Right?

It's embarrassing.

It's embarrassing when people will hear it.

Ronald wants that.

When I'm in the United Nations, we're always in New York.

Podcast live from New York, right?

Next to the United Nations.

I want face-to-face.

Exactly.

That's why there are two live streams.

You're our consultant.

Now we're all friends.

We're all friends.

We're all consultants.

We're all consultants.

Thank you so much Ronald for this.

I think this is just a transition for the last part of our discussion.

We're getting better.

Of course, Prime Minister Kishida is now in town.

So Japan seems to be also stepping up.

In fairness to Japan, in fact, yes, they abstained.

It is the latest votes of ceasefire.

But if you look at their initial position, it was quite nuanced in a sense that we have to condemn acts of terror against civilians.

But at the same time, we should look at the root causes of the problem.

We should look at two-piece solutions, so on and so forth.

So Japan, unlike the United States, it's not a Western country really, right?

I mean it's considered part of the West, but they are an Asian nation.

They understand the sentiment of Asian people.

I think they're very much in touch with how we in the non-Caucasian, non-Western world have very different feelings about things,

especially when we feel that a life of a person who doesn't happen to be part of the West is not treated equally,

and sometimes far from equally compared to a life.

And I'm very glad that Senator Bernie Sanders, among others, reminded President Biden that every life matters.

Palestinian life, children's, matter just as much as an American life or just as much as a Jewish life or Israeli life.

So this is a civilian life, right?

So this is what we're talking about here.

Now, what is your sense with Japan?

What is the game that Japan is playing?

Because Japan is now pushing for a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines to push it up to the next level.

But Japan also has skeletons in its own closet, right?

I mean, have you been to Yasukuni Shrine and their version of Second World War?

Pretty remissionist.

No full, I mean, apologies in terms of the comfort women situation here.

My own grandmother was partly Chinese.

I mean, they were very targeted badly back in the day because, you know, in Ilocos region, the hook was very active against Japanese.

So my grandmother, she's like, what, 86-year-old.

She can still sing the national anthem of Imperial Japan because she used that to save her parents from being buried alive.

That's how brutal, brutal the history of Imperial Japan was in this part of the world.

Now, of course, they did a lot of good things.

They essentially turned into a Hello Kitty, you know, this nice, cuddly carton kind of giving you money.

But the reality is that once we talk about VFA and security cooperation with Japan, right?

The last time they were here militarily, they didn't do very good things, right?

But the hope is now with Japan, we can move forward.

But moving forward also means that coming to terms, right, with the past, just like Germany.

Because Germany came to terms with its past, its horrible atrocities against the Jewish people, among other minorities back in the day.

Well, first of all, Richard, Japan is not immune to hubris, right?

For a while, they're the second richest country in the world, right?

So it's not lost on them that we won't just apologize to anyone.

Second, they're also catering to a section of their population.

Even if it's not the majority, it's very significant.

They have a nationalist bloc within their population, within their parliament, within their political parties.

If they see an opening, the government will also go down.

So they have that kind of balancing act.

And third, they're leaving the security framework imposed on them because of their defeat in World War II.

That you should only be defensive, you should not have offensive capability, etc.

So they're going out there and that part is to walk the talk.

Like us, like the U.S.

The U.S. is also kind of finished with Apology because it's a superpower.

Not even recognition. I mean not even recognition of the horrible things.

The Balanguiga was forced on them by the government of all people.

That's why the U.S. is not a member of the ICC. They're afraid that the ICC might use them.

And they were punished. They sanctioned the former head of ICC, right?

Yes.

For trying to investigate American servicemen engaging in atrocities allegedly in their foreign operations.

That's what they did personally in the U.S.

So that means Japan is also inculcating their main supporter, their main ally.

Who are the Americans?

It could be all of the above.

It could be all of the above.

But one thing to be clear, Japan is also not immune to hubris.

They think of themselves as superior.

You're right.

We are the first among equals in Asia.

That's why China is very angry with them until now.

Because their treatment of China has not changed.

For us, it has changed a bit.

Right.

Because they're welcome here. We sent a lot of Filipinos to them.

Our treatment of them is good.

Even though when the emperor arrived in Malacanang, I'm a minister, I told the Filipinos,

it's a good thing that my father, my uncle and my grandfather are dead.

If not, I would be cursed right now.

Because all of them are guerrillas.

All of them are guerrillas.

So that's the...

They're hooked.

Yes.

That's the one.

For example, during the time of Digong, Japan's projects in the Philippines did not shrink, even though China is pay-board.

Why?

Japan knows that they have more control over our system.

Japan knows that they cannot be marginalized by China, especially if it's only MOUs.

That's where our subway program happened with Japan during the time of Digong.

One of the biggest...

While the fast trains of China were gone, the subway of Japan continued.

Why?

Because Japan knows how to do it.

They know our system.

Our Byzantine system of governance and projects.

They haven't consulate in Davao for 100 years.

They know Davao better than you and I.

By far.

Japan is very well-informed about the nuances of the Philippines.

I'm very impressed by their...

For example, Digong is angry with the U.S.

He's not angry with Abe.

He's not angry with Japan.

Digong's time is almost at the level of China and Japan.

It means that must be something.

Japan is our all-weather friend, right?

Yes.

Digong, Japan.

Akino, Japan.

BBM, Japan.

I think they're the only major power.

Because they are a major power.

They don't act like one because they don't have the kind of swashbuckling offensive military capability

or at least offensive military mobilization that many countries can do because of their pacifist constitution.

But even that is changing, right?

Because Japan is realizing that you can't rely on America for long.

And speaking of you can't rely on America, let's talk about this, Ronald.

Because I think I'm among very few people who keeps on coming back to this issue.

We in the Philippines should care about what's happening in the Middle East for many reasons.

Of course, on a moral basis.

But also because we are worrying about a greater conflict if this spreads beyond.

You already see Houthis, for instance, from Yemen trying to get involved.

Hezbollah is already looking at its next move from southern Lebanon towards what's happening in Gaza.

But the other one is the U.S. is asking for tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine and Israel.

And there's just so much that the U.S. can do.

I doubt the U.S. can effectively fight three major wars in three theaters simultaneously.

Because God forbid, invasion of Taiwan happens or in South China Sea something goes very bad and crazy.

I don't know a U.S. that is active in Ukraine against Russia, in the Middle East against enemies of Israel.

So for me, if you look at the United States for a very long time, even if they wanted to pivot to Asia,

they're always coming back.

Don Corleone said that in the third part,

even when I thought I was out of it, they brought me back into it.

Remind me last time when I was in Maguitar,

Don Corleone brought me back into it.

Mafiosi really suits you.

Sir Ronald, I was telling you.

I was looking at the numbers, it's crazy.

Pakistan gets a billion dollars a year from the U.S. before.

It got more than 30 billion pounds in less than half a century.

Jordan in 2014 alone got 1 billion dollars in military aid.

Israel got more than 300 billion dollars since its founding.

Ukraine got 46.7 billion last year alone.

And the Philippines got since 2015, since Pinoy, 1 billion dollars.

So what's going on here?

Our enemy is the strongest country aside from the U.S.

You don't have a Jewish lobby.

We're weak in the lobby.

You don't have a Jewish lobby.

Imagine, what will Israel do?

In this military aid, they have a lot of military hardware.

They're the strongest military in the Middle East.

Their population is small.

You can only hold two guns at the same time.

What will you do here?

And you lost to Intifada.

Your only enemy are the terrorists.

They will slingshot the children.

Asymmetrical warfare.

Unless you use up all your gas.

You use up all your bombs.

You wipe out the 2 million.

Unless that's your objective.

What will the U.S. do?

More missiles to destroy refugee camps?

To kill children?

I don't understand.

Israel has more than enough.

It has more than enough.

So Rona, your argument, and of course, there's also the Ukraine aspect with Russia.

It's effectively a deadlock.

I don't know how Ukrainians are going to pierce through this defensive position.

Russians were horrible invasion, but they're much better in defensive position.

Scorched earth tactic.

They did that to Napoleon.

They did that to Hitler.

So they're pretty good in that defensive, aggressive, scorched earth position.

Now, the thing is, we have 5 million Filipinos in the U.S., right?

Or 4 million, right?

So why is the Filipino lobby so weak?

Because Filipinos are more Americans than the Americans.

Huh?

We can see the flags in our field offices.

The U.S. flag is big.

We have flags.

In a way, the little brown Americans are right.

A lot of Filipinos are more loyal to the country they went to.

We're vacationers, right?

We're vacationers.

We're naked.

We're naked.

We're cultural.

There are more Filipinos who are in the Republican Party than in the Democrats.

Imagine that this party is anti-immigrant and there are a lot of Filipinos there.

I don't want to go to the U.S. I'm just fighting my fellow Filipinos.

There are more Americans than the Americans.

The Republican version of Americans.

I think if they were more Democrat, progressive, Bernie Sanders.

Maybe you can understand.

Yeah, yeah.

We're very conservative.

The 5 million Filipinos in the U.S. are very conservative.

There are a lot of them.

And a lot of them work in the military like my uncles, etc.

So it explains.

But I just want to talk about this.

Because the joke I always get is that if there are two Filipinos, three organizations appear in the U.S.

Yes, yes.

It's really a barangay-level policy.

I witnessed that firsthand.

The Masbatenyo Association in New Jersey.

If you lose, as president, you will form your own.

So in New Jersey, there are 90 Masbatenyo Associations.

If you lose, you run.

That's just Masbate.

Yes, that's just Masbate.

That's our reality.

Our expats, our migrants, that's where they live.

That's where those associations are.

I will go to those associations, weekend, reunions.

They will improve.

They will change cars, appliances.

There's no discussion like what Richard Aydarian is discussing here.

There's nothing like this.

They're talking about buying a new credit card.

It's really a credit card society.

It's really about...

It's a big SUV.

It's a good question.

It's all outlets.

It's a good question.

They're talking about where the outlets are cheaper.

They're not talking about the price of the Lambo.

They're not talking about that.

I'm thankful to your uncle in Adidas S1.

I'm updated when I'm in America.

What's the latest Nike shoes?

I'm updated.

What's the latest gadgets?

Sunglasses that have a video.

Ring band that has a camera.

That's what they're talking about.

And Pornhub.

I'm a fan of Pornhub but I've seen a lot of Fox News.

I think it's the most Asian-American Fox News.

That's why even if I look for a lot in the US, I would rarely go there.

That frustrates me.

I've been in touch with the Philippine-American community.

I have many good friends there in Washington, D.C.

who have been active in pushing for Philippine...

Considering that there are 5 million Filipinos there,

a second generation, a large population, cousins, etc.

I was expecting the Philippines to be at least as organized.

Look at the Indians, for instance.

A lot of Indians in the US are super successful.

Look at the big tech companies.

Indian-American companies like Google.

But they're also very active in pushing for support for India.

Even if a lot of them don't like Modi,

even if they may not like Modi because that's the big version of India,

they'll say, this is about India, pushing India to be the next superpower.

The Indian-American community is very active.

Interestingly, Filipino-Americans are among the wealthiest foreign-born immigrants.

The average income of Filipinos is high.

It's really priority and coherence and unification, right?

That's what's lacking.

And you're right about the tribalism.

I remember every time I go to Hawaii,

when I'm in a taxi or Uber, I speak Ilocano.

Because if you speak Filipino to the driver, you know they're Filipino,

they won't...

But once you go Ilocano, then suddenly there's camaraderie.

Like, I'm sad.

So that's when you see it.

They rather say, I'm Ilocano than I'm Filipino.

This is in Hawaii because, of course,

the history of Ilocanos working there back in the day in the plantations and all.

So I completely agree with what you're saying.

But because it's not like Indians are not divided too, right?

Indians are so diverse.

But somehow they kind of got it together.

So I'm hoping the Philippine-American lobby will be more coherent

and more active in pushing for more assistance to the Philippines

because we really need to develop our strength.

And we cannot do it with our taxpayers' monies alone

because it goes to the confidential funds, to the maharliga funds,

to the barangay election funds.

We can only get a limited amount of our strength.

So we really need support from our allies.

Especially now, right? Especially now.

Especially now, exactly.

The issues in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea are so intense.

Why can't we get one or two state-of-the-art,

the latest battleships?

Why can't we get one?

Why do we still get the old ones?

We're so important to them now.

So the Americans should put their money where their mouth is.

I hope it's at the Jordan-Pakistan level.

Maybe they'll open up like China, full of MOUs, full of commitments.

I need it.

Not next month, but last month.

They should do that.

I think they're willing to do it.

But we should also push.

We're too far away.

It's okay. It's okay.

We're happy there.

They're kind, right?

They're taking care of us when we went to the Pentagon.

We're okay with that.

It's okay. It's okay.

But where's the beef?

Where's the beef?

It should be seen now.

That's what you should say to your friends on international trips.

Where's the beef?

Where's the money?

Where's the money?

Where's the money?

Ronald, our colleagues are angry.

Why?

We're going to buy rubber shoes and all.

Ronald was talking about the general culture.

It's not as politically oriented.

But in fairness, I noticed that in recent years when I go to the U.S.,

we talked more about the West Philippine Sea.

Because of the latest elections, we talked more about the elections in the Philippines.

Of course, because of my Ilocano background,

obviously Marcos will keep on popping up.

But there are also many pro-Lenny supporters that meet Filipino-Americans.

So I'm slightly more optimistic now that because of the West Philippine Sea issue,

the sense of, yes, we're already Americans, we're already here,

but the Philippines, our original country, our country of origin,

needs this.

Actually, a few months ago, I heard that, and I met some of them,

Filipino-American soldiers saying they're willing to fight the war if it comes down to the war.

They are volunteering to be part of the Expeditionary Forces just in case.

Because of course, the Pentagon is preparing already for a war with China.

It can happen any moment.

So actually, the Filipinos are attached.

These are the second generation of Filipinos.

They want to fight for the Philippines.

That's why I'm saying, Richard.

There's an attachment.

I'm not saying that I don't know everything.

For example, I have two podcasts.

We're just kidding.

I have two podcasts in the US twice a month.

Oh wow.

So twice a month.

There's also a section that's very political, very ideological.

Even though they're not that many.

I just hope that this project expands.

For example, before, Ms. Kimpo, a sister of Nathan Kimpo who already got married,

she has filama youth that I give seminars every year.

They are volunteering here because these are the third generation that are looking for roots.

They don't have a problem with resources or finances.

They're looking for ways to help.

I give seminars every year, sometimes twice a year.

They're volunteering here.

These are the youth, third generation, that are looking for political relevance

and want to return to their country.

These are the ones with a future.

Others have already integrated.

Their link to us has already suffered.

We're just on vacation.

But you said earlier that there might be people willing to fight.

There's a song that goes,

The one who will die is because of you.

I hope that Magiliw is in the hearts of many fila.

Yes.

For me, Ronald, again, because I have a lot of family members in the military,

I noticed that the issue of the West Philippines is kindling a kind of a fire that perhaps was not there before.

Because for a long time, we were in America's shadow, security umbrella,

archipelagic country.

We were separated.

But now, the prospect of the Chinese invasion is real.

In Taiwan, in the West Philippines, it's possible that it will happen.

So I think that's changing the dynamics very much.

It's insulting.

We're being mocked.

Secretary Guibo was right.

We're being mocked.

We're the ones to blame for the environmental destruction of the corals.

We're the ones to blame for the bigger navy of China.

We're the ones to blame.

We're the ones to blame.

In your face, it's too much.

It's too much.

Even though I don't usually support the people in the government,

in this case, I support their statements.

But the people in the government, when they were in the government of Digong,

they did nothing but remain silent.

Now, you have a former DILG secretary who is now very anti-China.

During the time of Digong, he ran for the Senate slate of Digong.

He was not appointed for five years, six years.

He didn't say anything about Digong's pro-China policy.

He didn't say anything about the thousands of people who died in the EJK.

Now, he's born again a Democrat.

We have a lot of people like that.

Did you hear who I'm asking to be hit?

Actually, they have a lot.

Actually, I have a lot of thoughts.

My head is getting hot.

We should call them out.

We should call them out.

We should call them out.

Especially those who are dancing like that in the China-Asia Games.

Those who are dancing like that in the Asia Games, West Philippine Games.

But Bong Go, did you see his statement last week?

He rose from the harassment of China.

But he forgot that he's with Digong when he went to China to talk to Shin Jibin.

He's just organized.

The elections are near so people are finding their sense of...

I'm not saying that he's doing this because he's an electioneer.

Of course.

Our country really loves him.

The timing is also good.

Because a lot of things happened in the West Philippines.

For me, Ronald.

Ronaldo, Ronaldo.

For me, one reason is the West Philippines.

Which makes me optimistic about the Philippine-American community.

More solidarity.

But the other one for me, especially after we filed an arbitration case.

As in, our Filipinos are really fighting.

I mean, they know who I'm referring to.

They're really fighting in China.

Because the Chinese ambassador is really bullying the Filipinos.

We're going to make you Syria.

One of them told me that the Chinese ambassador said that to the think tanks in Washington, D.C.

But the other reason is because Trump and Digong joined forces at some point.

Suddenly, we realized that there's no fight.

I went to the Philippines, I met Digong.

I went to America, I met Trump.

Something is going on there, right?

But Bolsonaro in Brazil.

I'm just talking about the Filipino-Americans, how they felt.

Coming from two countries with similar history or shared history.

So I think because of that, many became also very active.

There are so many people who are very active in the U.S. now contributing to the progressive movement.

But also very big Lenny fans.

In fact, a lot of our leading supporters.

I mean they are Ma'am Jocelyn, Ma'am Eden Olone.

There are a lot of our followers here.

These are Filipino-Americans who are very active in pushing for...

Next year Richard.

Next year again.

Next year again.

I hope the number of Filipino-Americans who will vote for Trump will decrease.

But you know my fear is not that more will vote for Trump.

My fear is many will not vote for Biden anymore.

The Muslim-Americans, a lot of them are angry.

I can see a lot of my academic friends, the Turkish, Arab Americans.

Biden is 36% now.

They're not gonna vote for him now.

Yeah, he will lose.

Not because Trump will have more votes.

But it looks like Biden is gonna lose.

Because he's gonna lose a lot of Muslim-American votes.

And also a lot of progressive-Americans are very, very disappointed about the turn of events.

A lot of people think maybe Biden should rest now.

You need someone else.

Except they have no one else.

Kamala Harris, no offense.

But I don't think so.

So, yeah.

I think a Trump presidency is more and more possible as we look at things.

But let's see.

Hopefully things will happen better.

But thank you very much again, Secretary Ronald Diamas.

Not yet two hours, but I appreciate it.

Anytime, Mr. Greenleafer.

Anytime, Mr. Human Trafficker.

Anytime, Mr. AK-47.

Mr. Axe Finder.

Mr. Arrow Man.

Golden Horde.

Of course.

I'm prepared for an invasion.

So let's catch up soon.

We will talk about the outcome of the visit of Prime Minister Kishida.

There's so much more to discuss.

We will go back to this bardagulan, tambaloslos episodes.

Because we have to watch.

You said it, Ronald.

Let's watch what will really happen in the final version of the budget.

Because the discussion is not yet finished.

You never know, there could be a kind of a final ASEAN caring sharing deal, Scott.

Look, there are billboards in ELSA.

I don't know if you can see it.

Actually, yeah.

Pink letters.

It's written.

It's written.

It's written.

Cease fire in Gaza.

Stop the bombing in Gaza.

Stop murdering children.

It's written.

There are billboards in ELSA.

You're really something.

You've been gone for a while.

It's pink.

And below it's written, sending love hashtag.

It's written below.

What is it?

I'll send it to you.

It's an item.

I just saw it.

I'll send it to you.

Okay.

Let's talk about those hashtags.

Even if our explanation is very plagmatic in our abstention policy,

there are more active hashtags in billboards.

Okay.

I'll check it, Ronald.

Maybe you'll have a billboard of your own endorsed there.

Next thing I know, right?

Thank you very much.

Grazie.

Grazie.

Ronaldo.

Ronaldo.

Ricardo.

It's R and R.

Ronaldo and Ricardo.

Thank you very much, Secretary Llamas.

I hope to catch up with you weekend or early next week.

Sorry if you're tired.

But I really appreciate you giving us time to discuss a whole.

Can I have a slave labor?

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

God bless.

Thank you.