A FAIR deal?

 Proverbs 11:1-3

King James Version

11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: 

but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: 

but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: 

but the perverseness of transgressors 

shall destroy them.

For the longest time, China was thumbing their noses at my country, the Philippines.

They thought nothing of fishing in our waters.

Neither with intimidating our coast guards, and fishermen, with their strengthened navy.

And only GOD knows how else they have infiltrated my country.

So we bore all that, but things changed since president Trump came into office.

Now, we have military exercises together.

U.S. bases can be found in strategic points all over the Philippines.

Obviously, we are hosting America, in our defense against the encroachment of China.

And most recently, president Ferdinand Marcos Jr was feted at the White House.

FULL: President Trump Oval office remarks with Philippine President

Our president held his own, speaking clearly, and elegantly.

Even as America only gave us a one percent reduction on our tariffs, now at 19%.

But president Marcos didn't scoff at the reduction.

As expected, those in opposition thought the reduction "humiliating".

Well, the Philippines does have a US4.9-B trade deficit with the United States.

The report above states it is 21.8% higher than in 2023.

There will be zero tariffs on American cars.

And you know how Trump loves cars.

He's been pretty steady about making America "great again".

Apart from the fact he is master negotiator.

Let's not forget that, even if he praises Marcos as a tough negotiator.

No way will Trump be out-negotiated.

It is the plight of the Philippines.

We will be subject to greater economies than ours.

We need a stronger economy.

But we do have a strategic location in the Pacific, and America knows that.

We also have an English-speaking, hardworking, friendly population.

Not to mention our rich, natural resources.

We certainly are an attractive nation to many.

Even as "corruption" has been spoken of, too.

America will bring in her soy, wheat, and pharma exports.

She is big on pharma, for sure.

Our generic products have come from India, thus, the sprouting of many generic drug stores.

India is also known for her fine medical doctors, and industries.

Now, America's come back big time.

This born again watchman is familiar with the medical field, and American business.

My late father used to prescribe top medicines from the U.S., Germany, France, Switzerland, and Japan.

Those were the days before generics came in.

I was also with the American Chamber at one time, and have become familiar with business meetings, which I covered for our monthly "Business Journal".

I can say that the Americans treated us fairly.

They worked at great lengths, with our local businessmen.

But we scared them off with our militants.

It may not be so now, because Trump has no use for such.

In the full interview above, he remarked how he drove ISIS out of the Philippines.

We also recall how president Marcos Jr's father was ousted from Malacanang, and the Aquino administration took over.

We have not recovered since, from various presidents.

And I always looked to how our relations with China were.

I feared our presidents were not strong in protecting our country.

Apart from old man Marcos who seemed to have friendly relations with most countries of the world.

The Philippines was able to hold her own then, even hosting many international events.

Until the left, and locals, protested at the Marcoses' excess, and corruption.

But now that the younger Marcos is in charge, and Trump is in charge, there is a proposed ammunitions hub in Subic.

Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro says to expect between 200-300 tech experts to work there.

That will also provide jobs for locals -- hopefully.

Young Marcos calls our re-established relationship with America as a "self-reliance defense program".

We also have our "Mutual Defense Treaty".

We shall see how that all works out, but definitely, we NEED America.

China has bullied us too long.

How far we capitulate, or compromise, to America's demands and to her strength, only GOD, and the proponents know.

Shall we trust America, then?

This article SPIRIT and I wrote on 6 March 2025 may be of help:

"Love him, or hate him, GOD chose him"

Related material:

A HISTORIC president

A RESILIENT race

GOD and Spratlys

On the PHILIPPINES

ARTICLES on AMERICA

GOD's GLORY blogs

BORN AGAIN classics

Related article:

Trump strikes tariff deal with Japan, auto stocks surge

Related videos:

She Ruined Her Nation: The Rise and Fall of Imelda Marcos || Full Documentary

Marcos, Trump Confirm Subic Bay Ammo Hub Plan in the Philippines | Taiwan Talks EP679

CARINA the cruel

Mark 4:37

King James Version

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, 

and the waves beat into the ship, 

so that it was now full.

She ain't sweet.

She ain't gentle.

She's mean.

She's abrasive.

She lambasts you.

She lashes at you.

And she's covering as much ground as she can.

First, the Philippines.

Now, Taiwan, and southern China.

Feeling the wrath of her winds, and whims.

Other storms "whammed" at you.

Carina STABBED.

I almost literally felt her "stabs" at my windows.

Threatening to break the few panes left.

I felt her growing threat, and power.

Ambushing me, as I wrote.

As if she wanted to stop me.

She's gonna stop a worker of GOD?

As Bart would say, "Eat my shorts!"

Ain't gonna happen.

Yesterday at 4am, I heard a loud explosion.

A transformer blew up.

A usual occurrence here.

Probably an overloaded circuit.

Maybe the wildly swaying tall bamboo trees hit the lines.

Power went out soon after.

And we tended to more leaks in our 50-year-old house.

Which, I'm grateful to GOD, has been holding up.

Yesterday, at dusk, I actually saw a lineman at work.

Saw him, from below our house, just at that EXACT moment.

He used a long pole, and "fished" a broken trunk from the lines.

If I had not seen it, I wouldn't have believed it.

That trunk hooked itself upside down upon the electric lines .

Leaves, branches, and all.

First time I'd seen that.

But the lineman did an astounding job.

With ease, expertise, and conviction.

Oh, the things GOD makes me witness!

Perhaps, that was the cause of the day's brownout.

We did have electricity in about an hour's time.

I just LOVE how GOD "plants" me in "strategic spots".

Where I can observe most things.

First hand.

He knew I'd tell you concrete examples.

To support all my articles.

Because man is usually skeptical.

But I've got proof.

I always want to make sure I've got proof.

No tall tales for me.

We've heard of "Ivan the Terrible".

"Bloody Mary".

"William the Bad".

"Charles the Mad".

"Louis the Do-Nothing".

All terrible monarchs.

So we shall call this storm, "Carina the Cruel".

International code name, "Gaemi".

Perhaps, we shall also call her "Gaemi the Gargoyle".

We learn this about "gargoyles":

"In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle (/ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/) is a carved or formed grotesque[1]: 6–8  with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between."

-- Wikipedia

Except in Carina's case, this "gargoyle" spouted water INTO buildings, not away from it.

Carina/Gaemi did NOT prevent water from "running down masonry walls".

She ERODED the "mortar between".

Have a look at what she's done (nine hours ago as I write this):

Of course, as Carina leaves our PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility), another LPA (Low Pressure Area) hovers south, in Mindanao.

When that happens, we in the north feel it, too.

Because we're high up, we feel weather changes.

Or at least, I do.

My dreams tell me "stuff".

Carina's probably the strongest storm we've had in years.

I've noticed the past couple of years our summer's short.

The rains would come soon enough.

This year, summer was longer.

But Carina dampened all those sunny days.

As we experience weird weather here, surely you do, too.

We've heard of flooding where it doesn't flood.

Tons of tornado outbreaks in the U.S.

Even had dreams about it.

And found ties of it with "elections".

Strange connection, that one.

As I write this, I hear the sky rumbling.

I also hear rains coming -- soon.

We were warned there'd be more rains, even up to the weekend.

Well, it's Friday in the Philippines now.

My country men are resilient people.

We shall get through this, once more.

Nothing can dampen our spirits.

Except if we turn away from GOD.

That would be it for us.

My city alone, being up in the mountains, gets battered a lot.

Whether typhoons, or earthquakes.

I thank GOD our house has held up.

From all that decades of battering.

Even as our walls, windows, and roof bear the scars.

Well, the rain's a battering ram again.

I have to tend to the leaks.

But first, this article has to get to you.

As architecture grad, I must also tell you another thing:

Have NO obstruction on your roofs.

Chimneys for one.

Fireplaces can be pretty.

But once your house is old, the leaks come.

Many other things I can tell you.

It will have to be for another article.

Soon as I've accomplished that, I'll include the link here.

So, come back here, every so often, thanks!

Lastly, as born again, this I must also tell you.

No matter the troubles we may all face, or be in.

Weather-wise, or other-wise.

Only through JESUS can we be saved.

In ALL ways you can think of.

Mark 4:37-41

King James Version

37 And there arose a great storm of wind,

 and the waves beat into the ship, 

so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, 

asleep on a pillow: 

and they awake him, 

and say unto him, 

Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, 

and rebuked the wind, 

and said unto the sea, 

Peace, be still. 

And the wind ceased, 

and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, 

Why are ye so fearful? 

how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, 

and said one to another, 

What manner of man is this, 

that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Related material:

POWER of JESUS

PEACE through JESUS

GOD's POWER over nations

GOD's GLORY blogs

BORN AGAIN classics

GOD and Spratlys

 

JESUS admonishes us:

Luke 12:13-14

King James Version

13 And one of the company said unto him, 

Master, speak to my brother, 

that he divide the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, 

Man, who made me a judge

or a divider over you?

Why this conflict between the Philippines, and China?

Over the shoals in Spratly Islands?

The past couple of days, I didn't quite know how to go about it.

How to approach, and start, this article.

There was too much conflict.

Too much data.

Until SPIRIT led me to some "funny" things yesterday.

And that always gets me going.

A born again is always childlike, you know.

Alternately shocked, and tickled, by man's ways.

And yet knowing GOD's ways.

A born again is not caught up in what the world bickers about.

But we do look at things, from a Biblical perspective.

Now, for the "funny" things:

My country left an old American ship in Ayungin shoal in 1999.

Obviously, to serve as "garrison".

A former president promised to "tow" it, the same year.

Which never happened.

A "gentleman's agreement" transpired between the two countries.

Which our current president "rescinds".

No construction materials are allowed to be brought to the ship.

Is that the reason for the recent "altercations"?

And then China says something like let the ship "rot".

With time, sea water, and weathering, it may just do that -- "rust".

At high tide, the shoals are covered.

At low tide, they become visible.

Since the late 70s. I had been hearing about the Spratlys*.

A group of atolls, reefs. shoals, and sandbars hotly-contested among at least six Asian nations.

I took not much notice then.

But the past days, China and the Philippines were especially at it.

Loggerheads.

Bullying.

Standoffs.

Provocations.

Skirmishes.

Like a fight between Goliath, and David.

And I meant, only in size, and military might.

So, I did research.

We learn Spratlys is CLOSE to "some of the busiest shipping lanes":

"The area is close to some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, accounting for 3.4 of the $16 trillion global trade in 2016."

-- Wikipedia

We also found crazy, funny things.

It is crazy, for six nations have claims, backed by their own history.

It is funny, for if you're born again, you'd know Who it really belongs to.

Psalm 24:1

King James Version

24 The earth is the Lord's, 

and the fulness thereof; 

the world, 

and they that dwell therein.

Of course, I told myself, the Spratlys is but part of a region.

Which happens to be the South China Sea.

Again, I find more historical information.

And again, I maintain GOD's right over everything.

Psalm 95:5

King James Version

5 The sea is his, and he made it: 

and his hands formed the dry land.

It is crazy funny, because too many explorers and adventurers laid claim to the Spratlys.

If they found an island, they'd plant their flag.

Or gave it a name.

Or exercise governance over it.

Then, other offended countries would dispute it.

On and on it went for too many years.

And to think we were once friends.

Ages ago, Taiwan would mine jade, and the Philippines would process it.

And then things turned sour over those shoals.

Possibly, this is the only time mainland China and Taiwan agreed on anything.

Ganging up on the Philippines, over the Spratlys.

What do the islands have anyway?

Rich fishing grounds, for one.

We learned China gave us "fishing rights" at Scarborough Shoal.

But they kinda "hijacked" our fishes in an incident that occurred six years ago.

In exchange for our 3,000 fishes, they traded two bottles of mineral water.

It was reported the bottled water only costs 20 pesos (33 U.S. cents) total.

Is that fair barter?

Another former president has his own version of the matter.

Well, we learn there's potential oil, and natural gas deposits.

But the U.S. says it's not what we think.

They say there's more in other parts of the South China Sea.

So maybe, we try to search there.

And find nothing.

While the U.S. "appropriates", during our "leave".

Anything is possible, with man.

We may both end up fighting an even bigger giant.

Now you see why it's funny to me.

Sometimes, it all seems comical.

Maybe I've watched too many cartoons.

Then, we learn, everyone wants the guano.

Now, why would anyone want bat "droppings"?

Okay, seabird droppings, too.

We learn this from Wikipedia:

"Guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients essential for plant growth."

Uh okay...

But we read further, and find this:

"Guano was also, to a lesser extent, sought for the production of gunpowder and other explosive materials."

Aha!

The plot thickens.

No wonder, nations want the plots.

China is known to have first documented their formula on gunpowder.

And surely, after that, world peace has gone down the drain.

Swords, bow and arrows, knives, axes, etc, were forgotten.

We all know how gunpowder finishes disputes.

Or so man thinks.

Is this how GOD wants us to be?

Are we to have potential war upon each other?

All because of money and power, over land and resources? 

When ALL belong to GOD anyway.

Not only that.

JESUS warned us about covetousness.

Luke 12:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: 

for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance 

of the things which he possesseth.

He also warned us about our evil hearts.

Matthew 15:19-20

King James Version

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, 

murders, adulteries, fornications, 

thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: 

but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Scripture also informs us of the cause of wars.

James 4:1-3

King James Version

4 From whence come wars 

and fightings among you? 

come they not hence, 

even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: 

ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: 

ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, 

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Again, covetousness.

And what is covetousness, but idolatry.

Colossians 3:5

King James Version

5 Mortify therefore your members 

which are upon the earth; 

fornication, uncleanness, 

inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, 

and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Now, that's what GOD hates the most.

Exodus 20:1-6

King James Version

20 And God spake all these words, 

saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, 

which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 

or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation 

of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands 

of them that love me, 

and keep my commandments.

From what I gathered, the U.S. and UN don't believe Spratlys belong to any nation.

No wonder, there is no real support for any nation contesting it.

Now, that finishes my exploration on the matter.

Let's stop bickering, biting, and blocking.

Skirmishing, sinning, and spying.

Those are of the world.

Translated, these are of Satan.

A born again looks to GOD for ALL authority.

This is all that matters to us.

GOD rules!

Daniel 4:17

King James Version

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, 

and the demand by the word of the holy ones: 

to the intent that the living may know 

that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, 

and giveth it to whomsoever he will, 

and setteth up over it the basest of men.

KNOW more here:

*Naming of Spratlys, after British sea captain, Richard Spratly.

"Philippines and the Spratly Islands"

"Notable confrontations":

Southwest Cay Invasion (1975)

East Sea Campaign (April 1975)

Johnson South Reef Skirmish (14 March 1988)

Scarborough Shoal standoff (commenced on 8 April 2012)

Hai Yang Shi You 981 standoff (2014)

(Source: Wikipedia)

"Military conflicts and diplomatic dialogues":

"The following are political divisions for the Spratly Islands claimed by various area nations (in alphabetical order)":

Brunei: Part of Brunei's Exclusive Economic Zone[69]

China: Part of Sansha, Hainan[70]

Malaysia: Part of Sabah state

Philippines: Part of Kalayaan, Palawan province

Taiwan: Part of Kaohsiung municipality

Vietnam: Part of Trường Sa, Khánh Hòa Province

(Source: Wikipedia)

Related material:

Our THREE countries

EVERYTHING is GOD's

GOD's 10 COMMANDMENTS

cause of wars

spirit behind wars

being free of the spirit of war

For the HEALING of nations

GOD's POWER over nations

On GOVERNMENTS

BORN AGAIN articles

Image: Wikipedia

GRANDFATHER's river STONES

 

Proverbs 8:19

King James Version

19 My fruit is better than gold, 

yea, than fine gold; 

and my revenue than choice silver.

If the stones could speak, they'd tell you of the day I saw them.

And plucked them out of the river.

But first, something about grandfathers.

I need to revisit my roots.

I am fortunate I have two grandfathers, who farmed.

I am fortunate, they lived off the land.

I am fortunate, they are well-grounded.

My father's father was from the south.

My mother's father was from the north.

And my parents met halfway -- in Baguio City.

Thus, it was with great delight I visited one grandfather's home in Bacnotan, La Union many years ago.

He had passed on sometime before then.

But I found myself there, visiting relatives.

For whatever reason, I was drawn to the river.

My grandfather's place was on a hill, and the river just below.

The water was low, below the ankles, and a carabao was there.

Alexey Demidov photo

To my great delight, I found lots of colorful river stones!

If you know anything about me, I always get excited when I see stones, pebbles, rocks.

What more these, made even more colorful by the water!

Smoothened by the river, kissed by the sun, they were at their most beautiful.

I wondered how long the river flowed around, and over them, for them to be smoothened and "weathered" like that.

Perhaps, they knew I'd be visitin', a rock lover, and shone their brightest light.

I didn't know how much I could carry, for there was so many.

I ended up bringing home four rocks.

The ones you see above.

I also learned the river would swell during the rainy season.

And it would reach my grandfather's area.

I looked up from the river, seeing how high the hill was.

I hurriedly gathered my rocks, and climbed back up.

Somehow, I could feel the river's potential "power".

Even during that sunny, quiet day.

As a kid at school, I was always fascinated with "geology".

I loved hearing the words "weathering", "fossils".

And all things "earth".

I would collect every fossil I could find.

My drawers were always full of cool "finds".

I didn't know I'd end up taking Architecture.

Even as my heart was in writing.

And archaeology.

As well as geology.

And psychology.

But never biology.

To this day, I still have plastic containers of stones I've picked up along the way.

Their shape, color, texture, and material keep calling to me.

When I got off "new age", I stopped collecting them.

Although I liked crystals, I didn't know what to do with them.

They were just lovely to look at.

I was puzzled how the new agers used them for "energy", and all that.

Although I was trained in Reiki, and that was also about "energy healing".

All I knew, even before becoming born again, is wanting to be able to "heal" without all the paraphernalia.

I envisioned I'd be able to sit in front of a person, sitting in silence, holding both their hands, looking into their eyes, gaining understanding of their suffering, and somehow, healing would transpire.

Right.

I don't have such power.

When GOD made me born again over four years ago, I turned to JESUS.

He was everything I needed to know about.

He is the ROCK.

1 Corinthians 10:4

King James Version

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: 

for they drank of that spiritual Rock 

that followed them: 

and that Rock was Christ.

He is the GREAT Physician.

Matthew 15:30

King James Version

30 And great multitudes came unto him, 

having with them those that were lame, 

blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, 

and cast them down at Jesus' feet; 

and he healed them:

He is HEAD of ALL principality, and power.

Colossians 2:10

King James Version

10 And ye are complete in him, 

which is the head of all principality 

and power:

Now, ALL rocks speak to me.

Of JESUS.

And not anything else.

JESUS is my foundation.

Upon Whom my soul is built.

And the river passing by my grandfather's land is GOD.

The FOUNTAIN of LIVING WATERS.

We only need to believe in JESUS, and we shall be nourished.

John 7:38

King James Version

38 He that believeth on me, 

as the scripture hath said, 

out of his belly shall flow 

rivers of living water.

I'd not have been a good geologist, even if I wanted to.

I'd have defied the corporations.

I wouldn't have used my skills to "mine" for gold.

And to strip areas of resources.

Causing denudation of forests.

Causing flooding in other areas.

Causing wealth in a few, and poverty to most.

Defacing the land, stripping it bare.

Being in the surface in comfort.

While workers can barely breathe underground.

Thinking of greed, while everyone was in need.

I'd have been very ineffective to the elite.

I serve only GOD.

Related material:

BORN AGAIN articles

RIVER stone image by author.

BORN on TOP of a GOLD mine

 

Proverbs 17:3

King James Version

3 The fining pot is for silver, 

and the furnace for gold: 

but the Lord trieth the hearts.

I was born on top of a gold mine.

I used to say that.

Only because my brothers would joke me.

They'd brand me a "native", an "Igorot".

Knowing I was born up in the mountains.

While they were city boys.

So I got creative.

Even then, my tongue got the better of me.

And thought up something, saying proudly:

"I was born on top of a gold mine."

And they'd be stumped, for a moment.

I bet they didn't know that.

That there was gold in them thar mountains.

The very mountains I was born in.

Where our father was company physician.

I was born on top of Suyoc Mines.

One of the oldest mines in the Philippines.

Now, I don't know if there's still gold.

If the mother lode was discovered, and all that.

But I did come across this recent article today:

"Indigenous Philippine village rejects gold mine, cites flawed consultation"

I also learned, from looking into "Mankayan", where the mine was located, that there were nearly 14,000 people living there when I was born in the 60s.

Now, they're over 37,000.

Other info that I unraveled revealed that Apex Mining Co., Inc. (ticker symbol APX) acquired Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) in June 2015.

Hmm...

There still seems to be gold in them thar mines.

My family stayed only for a year while I was a baby.

My mom developed allergies.

Maybe from the water, or something.

Or maybe, she got lonely up there.

So, back to the city we went.

I've become a city girl.

I have no love for gold.

A born again has no love for gold.

We can't take that where we're going.

Job 1:21

King James Version

21 And said, 

Naked came I out of my mother's womb,

 and naked shall I return thither: 

the Lord gave, 

and the Lord hath taken away; 

blessed be the name of the Lord.

No filthy lucre for us.

Only a LOVE for GOD.

1 Peter 5:2-4

King James Version

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, 

taking the oversight thereof, 

not by constraint, but willingly; 

not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, 

but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, 

ye shall receive a crown of glory 

that fadeth not away.

But it seems I've always had an interest in "geology".

This article was actually a result of something I had watched today.

About a Filipino geologist gone bad.

Listening to the report, I got back to my roots.

Thus, this article.

And another, after this.

On what kind of GEOLOGIST I'd like to have become.

Starting with a look at grandfather's river stones.

Related material:

BORN AGAIN articles

Image: Open Street Map