By Atty. Howie Calleja
Scriptures in 1 Samuel 17, narrates the story of Goliath, a heavily armed Philistine giant, who challenged Saul for 40 days to send out a man to fight him. No one would face this warrior until David, armed only with a sling and stones, volunteered. David hit the giant in the forehead with a stone and killed him.
This biblical narrative communicates an important lesson of valor, courage and faith. It was with enormous faith that David faced Goliath and came our victorious. From the giant Goliath’s brashness, we also learn that pride leads to fall and one should never undervalue their opponent.
Sharing this story gives context to our country’s current plight against China in the West Philippine Sea. BNN Bloomberg reports that according to an analysis by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Chinese coast guard ships spent at least 1,652 ship-days patrolling the five most contested shoals, islands and banks in the South China Sea last year, a statistic it said was an underestimate because of the lack of commercial satellite data available.
Chinese propagandists and shamefully Filipinos who continually spread the Chinese lies downplay not only the legal claims and sovereign rights of the Philippines over the west Philippine sea. Sadly they down play the Filipinos resolve and courage to fight for what is right and what is ours. However beyond all of their propaganda we remain strong n steadfast. And despite their show of military might they are no match to the BRP Sierra Madre.
Standing true to its name Sierra Madre mountains protect and shield us from calamities brought by strong typhoons. The BRP Sierra Madre shields us from the aggression and occupation of China.
In fact, just recently two Chinese coast guard vessels used high power water cannons directly at a Philippine ship sent to resupply the isolated crew of the Sierra Madre, a grounded and decrepit warship in the contested Second Thomas Shoal, where a small cadre of rotating military personnel defend Manila’s claim to a reef that sits within its exclusive economic zone. The Philippine craft reeled under the barrage, pushed backwards and sideways as the Chinese ships circled it. With the water cannons blasting out windows on the ship, the clash left several Filipino crew members injured.
To quote Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, “The government’s stand is now to openly expose China’s bullying behavior and provocative actions, Some Filipinos believe silence is the best option due to fear of certain defeat. We must assert ourselves. We are the victims here, aggrieved by their aggression.”
We are obviously, outnumbered and outgunned but the Filipinos are courageous and have the “heart” of our heroes before us. In fact, in times like this I would always recall the words of Carlos P. Romulo during the third UN General Assembly, held in Paris in 1948, when the USSR’s deputy foreign minister, Andrei Vyshinsky, sneered at Romulo and challenged his credentials: “You are just a little man from a little country.” “It is the duty of the little Davids of this world,” cried Romulo, “to fling the pebbles of truth in the eyes of the blustering Goliaths and force them to behave!”
