‘What’s going on?’

“Never hide things from hardcore thinkers. They get more aggravated, more provoked by confusion than the most painful truths.”

―Criss Jami

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AS we have been saying over the past few weeks, as long as protagonists in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio continued to swamp the proceeding with legal gobbledygook and parade their prowess in King’s English, the common people would never understand what’s going on.

They won’t even waste valuable time to be glued to the event even if many of them own electronic gadgets and can monitor the trial elsewhere.  

Highfalutin English is too painful to the ears of some people busy making both ends meet in the street and public markets.

Trial court-style snafu isn’t always in the menu of utility men and women, vendors, construction and farm workers.

The common tao, the masa is the class D that makes up about 60 percent of the populace, consisting of lower-middle-income workers and average wage earners.

While the impeachment trial debaters tear each other apart “live” on national TV and radio networks, the poor are more worried for their earnings or profit.

Financial security is strongly correlated with nearly every measure of political engagement, including the ongoing impeachment trial.

 

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Bus, taxi, jeepney, and other kalye or habal habal drivers engaged in pamasada fret about and prioritize their daily net "boundary" (after accounting for the vehicle rent).

These individuals don’t even care if someone will be “convicted” in the precarious and divisive trial.

They care about their children, the food on the table, high gas prices, expensive grocery items, rice, etcetera.

And if somebody has been “convicted” it won’t change the economic life of the hoi polloi.  

Low-income individuals often disengage from politics because the system feels unresponsive to their daily survival struggles.

When working multiple jobs or facing constant financial insecurity, civic participation is often crowded out by the immediate, overwhelming demands of securing basic needs like housing, healthcare, and food.

Many low-income citizens feel that politicians, including VP Sara and President Bongbong Marcos Jr., only represent the wealthy and special interest groups.

This makes many of us fear the prosecutors might not be able to convince the senator-judges to convict the vice president despite her shenanigans while in office because the trial will be decided by politicians, not trial court judges.

 

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Below is the official statement of the United States regarding China’s actions against Philippine Navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal I obtained from the Department of State:

The United States condemns China’s dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on July 20, 2026, and calls on China to immediately cease its destabilizing conduct.

China’s troubling pattern of provocation against lawful Philippine maritime operations undermines regional peace and stability and directly contradicts China’s repeated commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.

We stand with our Ally, the Philippines, and commend the professionalism and restraint shown by Philippine navy personnel in this incident.

We reaffirm the July 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which found that China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have no basis in international law.

That decision is final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines.

We will continue to stand with our Allies and partners in defense of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Sea aggression confronts new Ilonggo AFP boss

“What would you have? Your gentleness shall force more than your force moves us to gentleness.”

—William Shakespeare, As You Like It

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE congratulate Lieutenant General Antonio Gustilo Nafarette of Calinog, Iloilo for being appointed as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Another pure-blooded Ilonggo in the country’s highest military echelon. Another challenge to protect the country and keep it safe from internal and external enemies, more particularly Beijing.

As the new commander of the Philippine military, Nafarette, 57, will be responsible for enforcing the country's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, a responsibility left by the retired former AFP boss, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr.

Nafarette’s appointment came days after the latest major conflict in the West Philippine Sea at the Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), where a member of the Philippine Navy sustained serious injuries after being aggressively struck on the head with a wooden baton by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG).

The CCG also reportedly rammed and damaged a Philippine navy rubber boat during a resupply mission to the grounded warship, the BRP Sierra Madre.

China’s maritime forces claimed they took "control measures" against Philippine vessels for entering contested waters.

The CCG accused the Philippine military of maliciously initiating the attack, arguing that Philippine personnel rapidly approached and encircled a Chinese patrol boat, prompting an escalatory response.

 

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This latest standoff has drawn swift condemnations from defense officials in the Philippines and their international allies. The United States criticized the "dangerous and reckless" actions of the Chinese Coast Guard.

This latest flare-up occurs just as Southeast Asian foreign ministers, alongside Chinese diplomats, gathered in Manila for regional security discussions.

Nafarette will now direct operational strategies, sustain credible troop presence at outposts like Ayungin Shoal, and counter political, cyber, and informational threats.

Nafarette’s specific responsibilities include:

-directing the Western Command (WESCOM) and the Philippine Navy to conduct regular maritime, sovereignty, and resupply missions;

-enhancing maritime domain awareness and upgrading the basing support systems on Philippine-held islands.

-coordinating closely with the Philippine Coast Guard to protect local fisherfolk and secure national interests; and

-preparing forces for non-kinetic battles, which include political, cyber, and information warfare.

 

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(Sadtong ika-20 sang Nobyembre, 2025, si retired Ambassador Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr., abogado kag katapû sang Sumakwelan, Iloilo, Inc, nagbalhin sang diutay para sa Poetika, 28 Nob, sa Magnet Café, Dumangas.)

MAGHALONG KITA SA MGA BAGIS

I

Sang magulang nga bagis,

Ang iya manghod, kag ang iya nga misis,

Sa sugilanon nga kuno naga-druga,

Iya makahas nga ginpiripis,

Samtang siya hilaw, nga nagabungisngis,

Aton bala nga patihon, ining magulang nga bagis?

Nga, maathag masat-uman, nga latum sa unod kag ugat, ang pagkamabangis?

II

Ukon, sa sini nga tion,

Pagamaayuhon,

NGA MAGHALONG KITA SA MGA BAGIS,

Kag aton lang anay SILA, pabay-an nga magkinaalutay,

Sang ila nagalukmat, nga sa pulitika, arikis,

Ukon, labing maayo, nga aton anay nga  pasulabihon, kag hunâ-hunâon, nga kon mag-upas na ganî, ang mga gabunan, nga bagis,

KON SA TUNGÂ SINI MADAKPAN, Mangin, Makalulu-oy lang ang mga agihis!

MGA KAUTORAN, PAHANUMDOM,

MAGHALONG KITA SA MGA BAGIS!!

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Spain’s FIFA success also our success

“If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.”

—Mike Ditka

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THIRTY minutes before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, I saw several NYPD cars parked outside the Boca Juniors “territory” on Queens Boulevard in New York as I walked by at around 2:30 o’clock in the afternoon July 19.

Why were the NYPD cops “guarding” the area? I asked myself. Ah, they must be anticipating a wild celebration if Argentina captures their second consecutive world soccer crown they last won in 2022.

But they didn’t. Spain steamrolled the highly regarded team from the southern half of South America, 1-0, on extra time as substitute Ferran Torres scored the game-winning goal in the 106th minute after Argentina was suffocated and reduced to 10 men.

Originally based in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Boca Juniors or Club Atletico Boca Juniors is a legendary Argentine professional sports club founded in 1905.

It is most renowned for its men’s football team, which is one of the most successful and widely supported clubs in South America. And the popular bar in Queens, New York is named after it.

In my personal opinion and observation, many Argentines I met in the United States weren’t friendly unlike other nationalities also involved in soccer.

Maybe it has something to do with their status as soccer superpower. Or maybe it’s part of their culture.

 

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I first began to question their character when they mobbed Johnriel Casimero, a Filipino boxer who knocked out local favorite Luis Alberto Lazarte in Mal del Plata in Argentina on February 11, 2012.

Following Casimero's 10th-round TKO victory for the IBF junior flyweight title, angry hometown fans rioted, hurling chairs and storming the ring after Casimero mauled Lazarte en route to a 10th-round TKO win for the IBF junior flyweight crown.

Casimero and my matchmaker friend Sammy Gello-ani were forced to hide under the ring for safety until police intervened. Argentine fans were rude, violent, sore losers, dangerous.

Back to FIFA soccer, if not for Lionel Messi, only a handful of Filipino fans would have rooted for Argentina when the defending champion collided against Spain for the 2026 title in East Rutherford, New Jersey Sunday afternoon.

Early in the morning, I told Victor, my fellow Ilonggo sports enthusiast from Bacolod City, I rooted for Spain because we can always identify ourselves as Filipinos with the talented soccer players known for their distinct, free-flowing "tiki-taka" style of play that emphasizes mesmerizing passing, relentless possession, and technical brilliance.

 

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We notice fans, including Filipinos, admire how the Spaniards prioritize beautiful football over physical, defensive tactics.

Spain dominates games by controlling the ball rather than relying on rigid defense. 

They consistently lead tournaments in possession (often exceeding 60 percent), utilizing a style that relies on patience, quick movement, and the geometry of the pitch.

Their mastery of breaking down aggressive man-to-man defenses with seamless fluidity is celebrated by football purists and casual fans alike.

It is always said that Spain frequently captivates the world by blending seasoned veterans with exciting teenage talents.

There is another reason why we wanted Spain to roll past Argentina in the FIFA final: the average Filipino has minimal Spanish DNA, typically ranging between 1 percent and 5 percent.

While Spanish influence in the Philippines is highly visible through names and culture, true genetic admixture, however, remains low because few Spanish settlers and families actually migrated to and lived in the islands.

Spain won its second FIFA World Cup. We can say that because we have many things in common religiously and culturally, Spain’s success in soccer is also our success in one way or the other.

 (The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Does Imee Marcos want her brother Bongbong killed?

“It's simple enough, I killed Abel because I couldn't kill you, so, in intent, you are dead too.”

―Jose Saramago

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IMEE Marcos, older sister of Bongbong Marcos Jr., hasn’t stopped disparaging her younger brother in public.

In every given opportunity, Imee Marcos didn’t hide her rage lashing at him in public like an archenemy. Which made many Filipinos perplexed and terrified.

Imee Marcos’ vitriolic was frightening and she delivered it like Queen Fredegund of Neustria, a Frankish 6th century queen who went from a royal servant to the king's mistress and is considered one of the most ruthless women in history.

Did she want Bongbong Marcos Jr. removed from the Malacanang Palace and toppled as president? Or she wanted him killed?

We thought among Christians familial relationships and family ties are stronger, more important, and more loyal than any other relationships, such as friendships?

The popular idiom that says “blood is thicker than water” is supposed to imply we have a deeper obligation to our biological relatives than to people outside our family.

 

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But it appears Imee Marcos is more loyal and enthralled with the Duterte family than the Marcoses.

She is more inclined to side and die for Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who had threatened to behead Bongbong Marcos Jr. and dig the body of their father, the late former President Ferdinand Sr. and throw the cadaver to the West Philippine Sea.

In her most savage attacks during a boisterous Iglesia ni Cristo (INK) rally in Manila, Imee, a senator, publicly accused Bongbong, the Philippines’ 17th president, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the couple’s son, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, of using illegal substance.

Imee also dragged Bongbong’s former "barkada" and accused the president without showing any evidence that his drug use worsened following his 2016 vice-presidential defeat to Leni Robredo, now mayor of Naga City.

The two have not been on speaking terms for years. The bitter sibling rivalry and Imee Marcos’ unprecedented aggressions reminded us of Madonna and her brother Christopher Ciccone.

They worked pretty closely together as Madonna launched her career. Christopher has been her assistant, stylist, and artistic director at one time or another.

The two stopped speaking right before his 2008 memoir, "Life With My Sister Madonna," hit shelves.

 

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The book details intimate information about Madonna's ex-husband, kids, and career, among other things that didn't sit too well with the "Material Girl."

Madonna and Christopher continued avoiding each other for another five or six years but reportedly were "back to being brother and sister," Christopher told The Huffington Post in 2012.

The feud was reignited after Christopher claimed Madonna had "blacklisted" him from Hollywood, calling her "horrific" in 2017.

There was also tension between the pop star and her brother Anthony. Christopher is only one of the pop star’s seven siblings, according to The Guardian.

The feud is now over, according to Radar.

"We are at peace now and just spoke last week," Christopher told Radar.

"I recently moved from Los Angeles back to Michigan where my father and family own a vineyard and winery ... She regularly speaks to our dad while some of our siblings work at the winery. We are all united."

 

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Another weird family feud in history was shared to us by Mental Floss.

Cleopatra and her younger brother (and later husband), Ptolemy XIII, were born into one of the most incestuous and familicidal dynasties in ancient Egyptian history.

After their father, Egyptian king Ptolemy XII, died in 51 BCE, a teenaged Cleopatra and her prepubescent brother Ptolemy (said to be around 11 at the time) were appointed co-rulers of Egypt. Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII were married, as was customary for Egyptian royalty, in a bid to consolidate familial power.

When Cleopatra later tried to take full control of Egypt for herself, she was ousted by her brother/husband and replaced with her younger sister, Arsinoe.

Cleopatra headed to Rome in a bid to rally support and retake the throne from her siblings—something her father, Ptolemy XII, had done years earlier when he was exiled by his daughter, Berenice IV, whom he had executed upon his Roman military-backed return to Egypt.

While in Rome, Cleopatra embarked on a storied sexual and political relationship with Julius Caesar. With Caesar’s support, Cleopatra returned to Egypt in 47 BCE, retaking the throne from Ptolemy XIII and Arsinoe (the former drowned in the Nile while battling Caesar and the latter was captured).

Once back in power, Cleopatra remarried her younger brother Ptolemy XIV, who was still a child at the time. She chose to keep Caesar as her lover and advisor.

Cleopatra gave birth to her first son, Ptolemy XV Caesar, shortly after regaining power; the boy is widely believed to have been fathered by the Roman dictator.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)