TWO-NATION FRIENDSHIP DAY July 4, 2020

When I was a child, I remember this day was supposed to be a holiday, in our case named the “Philippine-American Friendship Day”, to commemorate the U.S.’s giving the Philippines independence from their colonial rule.  It also was made to coincide with their Independence Day.  But as we went under several administrations, especially after EDSA Revolution, I observed that this day has ceased being named as such and hence became un-holidayed.  I wonder if there is any one today who remembers this day as once a holiday of our land.

I am not a political person and so, I can only say how I understand about our current foreign relations in simple terms, particularly the love triangle we are now blatantly having with Uncle Sam and the Middle Kingdom (the Visiting Forces Agreement, a.k.a., EDCA for our ties to the east, and our leader’s deference to our populous big brother to the northwest).  However, there is much to be said about keeping our own values and culture, and recognizing our own histories and territorial and administrative jurisdictions, as of higher importance than foreign investments or economic aides.

When the rest of the world too, are closing borders, but thankfully very cautiously opening them up the last few days to business travelers, one cannot help but wish that hopefully a few of our neighboring countries could include us in their “bubble” too.  As a developing nation, which is supposed to be progressing forward, but thanks to the pandemic we are now undoubtedly taking several steps back, we really need the help of those who are considered bigger and richer economies.  Thankfully too, some of them are extending a helping hand, but then, we must also be careful of the costs.  Our northwest big brother has been widely accused of its ‘debt-trap’ style, along with its heavy-handed handling of its Financial SAR, and its treacherous reclaiming of islands and atolls in our hotspot-disputed SCS/WPS.  Our northeast former conqueror during the second world war is very much willing to help us too, but then, I believe it too is undergoing some financial difficulties because of the pandemic, its economy has been in recession for a few years now, its labor force is slowly being depleted with the low birth rate, while social security seems to sap more and more of its funds due to its highest rate of elderlies who are beyond retirement age.  So, we wonder how long will the help last, and would it be beneficial for both of us in the long run?

These make one wonder if friendship, help and cooperation among nations are still highly relevant today, and will it still be feasible in the future.  When things get worse, what are we going to do? How are we going to lift ourselves up and move on, if the investments stop coming, the businesses fold up, many of us are thrown out of work, and we are left to fend for ourselves?

Thankfully, as always, we have hope in GOD’s Word.  Today, we read in the book of Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 to 10: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It shall be health to your belly, and marrow to your bones.  Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all your increase.  So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.” 

When we trust Him, we can be assured that we will not be confused about what to do because He will lead us in the right path.  If our leaders would only stop thinking that they are the wisest persons, and stop believing themselves invincible and all-powerful, acknowledging and fearing GOD for the consequences of their actions, then He will bring health to our bodies (physically and spiritually), and like marrow that produces new blood in our bones and to our circulatory system, GOD will also restore our drive to work willingly and enthusiastically so we can get back to life and live better.

Then, there is also the matter of giving.  In times of financial difficulties, the challenge to give to GOD and to honor Him with what we have earned, in the proportion He commanded, is difficult to comply with.  But that is a test of faith too.  If indeed we take Him up at His word and give rightly, He promised to always fill our storehouses with plenty and make us always produce new and fresh products, and these will be free from pests and decay.  There will never be a need He will not meet, there will never be a want for what is good in life that He will not grant, if we just give what we have and what we can.  Because our agriculture industry then will flourish too, and it might be that our farmers will not go hungry anymore, our produce will be overflowing, and we need not make so much imports to the detriment of our local producers.

But since no one is an island, and no nation (even an archipelago) operates in a vacuum, we also have to consider our responsibilities to our neighbors too.  We learn in verses 27 to 32: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.  Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when you now have it with you.  Do not devise any evil against your neighbor, who lives securely alongside you.  Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.  Do not envy the oppressor, and do not choose any of his ways.  For the disobedient person is abomination to the Lord, but His secret is with the righteous.” 

These passages are applicable individually and even on a global level.  There may not be much we can offer in terms of financial aid because we are always the one being given to, but we can always do good willingly and voluntarily, be justifiably diplomatic and remain firm in our conviction not to cause harm and inconvenience to others.  On this note, I am also reminded about the cultural clash on the wearing of masks.  Many in the western world and those with liberal ideas detest the practice because they believe it is a mark of subservience or a violation to their right to free speech and breathing, but in the east, it is a mark of respect for others.  As what doctors and health experts say, wearing masks do not protect us from sickness, but it protects others from any sickness we might have that we might unknowingly pass on to them when we speak, and our droplets so joyously spread from our mouths and the microscopic horde of bacteria-and-virus-laden mucus burst out of our nostrils when we exhale.  (sound gross, right?) So when you mask up, cover BOTH your nose and mouth.  Have difficulty breathing and speaking? Trust me, we are all in this together.  This is the time for mumbling and difficulties in hearing.  That is why, we must all do our part: even if you are not, just think that you have the virus already, and disinfect obsessively and compulsively, and be religious in mask-wearing, so as not to make other people suffer.

Truly, we may have forgotten international friendship days, but may we not forget that being a good neighbor starts from one to meters away.  And just as we are religious and full of faith not on our goodness but on the grace of GOD, may we be fitting instruments of His grace and be more gracious to those around us, not only physically, but even virtually and with those who may be separated from us continents away, but always just within a six-degree of separation.