"The only use of an obstacle is to be overcome. All that an obstacle does with brave men is, not to frighten them, but to challenge them." Woodrow Wilson
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Through this article, I wish to convey my most sincere apology to Mrs. Loida Nicholas-Lewis, who reportedly waited for us at 11o'clock in the morning at the Philippine Consular General on W 46th and Fifth Avenue for an exclusive interview last June 9.
We failed to arrive due to last-minute unforeseen circumstances, which we would explain to her personally in the event she is still willing to meet us in the future.
We saw Nicholas-Lewis wearing a Filipiniana dress during the 117th Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue last June 7 and she waved at us while we were taking photos.
"Mabuhay ang Pilipinas," she loudly shouted while waving a small Philippine flag.
We wanted to sit down with her to talk about the mass actions against China which she spearheaded on June 12, among other global economic and political issues.
She lives in a posh mansion several blocks away from the official residence of the Philippine Consul General on 66th Street and Madison Avenue.
BOYCOTT
As chair of the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG), Nicholas-Lewis had called for a boycott of all "Made in China" products as the "most meaningful way" to celebrate Independence Day.
The boycott of Chinese made goods was to protest China's bullying of the Philippines and the Chinese' continued militarization of the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
Wal-Mart and Apple are the largest distributors of China products in the United States, Nicholas-Lewis said during the rally. "That's why we are calling for a boycott of these stores," she said.
Nicholas-Lewis led protesters before noon on June 12 in picketing the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue and 58th Street here.
Nicholas-Lewis said the unexpected decline in Chinese exports to the United States may have been the result of "a sustained organized boycott of China-made products"
Chinese exports to the United States and other countries "fell by a massive 14.6 percent in March from a year ago," Nicholas-Lewis revealed quoting a Reuters report.
The decline surprised many economists who had projected that China's exports would increase by double digits in 2015, added Nicholas-Lewis, who is the richest Filipino-American businesswoman in the United States.
DIFFICULT
Records showed that boycotting all Chinese products in the Philippines, which include a wide range of goods may be more difficult.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in 2014, the Philippines imported P418.5 billion from China but exported to China P373.5 billion.
No Filipino-American businesswoman has done what Nicholas-Lewis did last June 12.
She was consistent, intrepid and straight to the point in her crusade.
This earned her the reputation as a "brave and strong Fil-Am woman in America."
We won't hear the last of "Madame Loida" in the crusade against Chinese bullying.
For several years now, she has been in the front line voicing her stand on various issues.
We hope to finally nail an exclusive interview with Mrs. Nicholas-Lewis soon.
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