Is Fukuda’s new doctrine sustainable?

Friday, May 30, 2008

Today’s Japan Times editorial is very interesting:

———

Mr. Fukuda’s vision

In August 1977 then Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda in Manila gave a speech on Japan’s Asia diplomacy. Under what was later called the Fukuda doctrine, Japan promised to refrain from becoming a military power, to pursue “heart-to-heart” relationships of mutual trust in various fields, to seek solidarity with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on the basis of equal partnership, and to pursue mutual understanding with the Indochinese countries.

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Posted by thenutbox at 3:45 PM | permalink | Add comment

Pictures.

Me talking to Barny on Yahoo! Messenger a couple of weeks ago:

me: Hey, nice IDC pics on your blog

Barny: Yeah

me: Pero bakit wala ako solo-pic doon? (But how come I don’t have solo pictures there?)

Barny: Eh bakit ka naman magkaka-picture doon eh blog ko yun, diba? (And why would you have a picture there? That’s my blog, right?)

Barny: LOL

—-

Me and Suzy in an internet cafe in Intramuros the other day:

Suzy: You need to change your profile pic!  Let me find you a nice pic

*Suzy grabs my mouse, scans through my Facebook photos, and picks a pic of me in debate mode.

me: No, not that! My face is blurred in that picture!

Suzy: That’s the idea! 

Posted by thenutbox at 3:34 PM | permalink | comments[2]

Myanmar relents.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

The decision of the ruling junta to finally allow aid workers of "all nationalities" to distribute relief within Burma is a welcome development.

And this development, if seen through foreign news coverage, stems from the diplomatic efforts of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. It gives us another reason to consider the UN relevant, and to affirm our beliefs that the new UN chief is a highly able steward who can soften hard regimes through diplomatic offensives.

We can say that the Burmese people is on the winning side of the results of the Ban-Junta talks.

But if we take a second look at it, it seems that the junta only relented to Ban’s demands so it could gain more space for political manueverings, especially with regards to the referendum on the junta-drafted constitution. 

The international community, especially the ASEAN, should not let this recent development take our attention away from the referendum on the sham constitution. More than ever, there must be a calibrated effort to make sure that the vote of the Burmese people would be respected.

Posted by thenutbox at 4:26 PM | permalink | Add comment

Lyceum’s performance at the Intramuros Debate Cup.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Three out of four Lyceum teams broke into the semi-finals of the Intramuros Debate Championship being held at the Mapua Institute of Technology. The semi-final rounds will begin any moment soon.

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Posted by thenutbox at 7:49 AM | permalink | comments[9]

For the junta, cementing military rule is more important than the cyclone victims.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

There are a lot of a lot of angles to look at when analyzing the effects of the recent cyclone in Burma that killed over 100,000 people and destroyed millions of dollars in properties.

One implication that would most certainly affect the Philippines is another surge in global rice prices. It is reported that the damages on agricultural land in the affected areas are so dire that Myanmar officials are already stopping its rice exports. In fact, the Nyawpyitaw junta is expected to actually start importing rice to feed the people.

This is the culmination of the regime’s bastardation of Burma’s agricultural sector. Where once Burma was a major exporter of rice, the country’s contribution to the international rice supply has dwindled through the years. One major reason was the fact that, aside from neglecting agricultural infrastructure, the ruling generals have since set themselves up as the sole domestic buyer of rice in the country, according to the report of the Los Angeles Times. The bad thing about this is that since the junta buys rice very cheap, most Burmese farmers grow only what their families need, thereby slowing production.

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Posted by thenutbox at 11:58 PM | permalink | comments[4]

Trailing behind.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Man, my stamina has gotten seriously weak.

Out of boredom last night, my sister and I agreed to take a challenge: stay awake ’till morning, then jog around the village when the sun comes up. Our dog, Boots, joined us.

We ate chocolate brownies and drank iced tea while watching a marathon of National Geographic documentaries, waiting for the clock to hit five. My arrogant self warned my fourteen-year-old sis that she might collapse before making two laps. I was smug, she was just smiling.

But when we did the jogging, it was actually I who trailed behind her. I tried to keep her pace, but it exhausted the hell out of me. As we reach the fifth lap around the block, my chest started to feel heavy. It was like my heart was burning. I had difficulty breathing. I pretended to be okay, of course. But my sister knew better and it was her turn to be smug.

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Posted by thenutbox at 8:46 AM | permalink | comments[4]

FSE review at the Lyceum.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

My school, the Lyceum’s College of International Relations, will be holding review classes for the Foreign Service Officer Examination (FSE) next month. The classes would be conducted by retired ambassadors, career diplomats, and a journalist (who, I heard, will teach essay-writing techniques).

I’m not sure if registration is still on-going but those who are interested can call 527-8251, ext 132.

Fellow debater Cheenee Cengca, who graduated magna cum laude this year, will be taking the tests too. I wish her luck. She’d be my first personal friend in the Foreign Service.

So what is FSE all about? Here’s blogger and Foreign Service Officer Toe of KuroKuroATBP.com answering FAQs and giving useful tips on the tests:

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Posted by thenutbox at 11:02 PM | permalink | comments[10]

What food riots?

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Foreign news organizations should check the facts before reporting.

In its editorial last week, The Japan Times mentioned there are food riots here in the Philippines. CNN reports the same, according to Dean Jorge Bocobo.

Selling of government-subsidized rice has been limited to two kilos per family because of decreasing supply, and the government has been distributing food stubs to the poor. But there are no food riots in the Philippines. 

Posted by thenutbox at 6:33 AM | permalink | comments[8]

The beginning of Fukuda’s end?

Thursday, May 1, 2008

News feeds from NHK just a few minutes ago showed the ruling coalition ramming the controversial gasoline tax extension bill through the Lower House of the Diet, amidst protests from the opposition parties.

Members of the opposition boycotted the voting, and physically tried to block the speaker from entering the session hall. They held anti-government banners accusing the government of ignoring the people’s voice. Just outside the Diet building, motorists cue up to fill their tanks up before the price of petrol rise again by 25 yen per liter.

The Upper House of the Diet, which is controlled by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto), has initially rejected the proposed tax extension after negotiations between the opposition and the government reached a deadlock earlier this year. The proposal is quite unpopular with the public because of skyrocketing oil prices.

But under the constitution, the Lower House can legally force its will and disregard the Upper House. And this is what the Fukuda coalition just did.

(more…)

Posted by thenutbox at 2:13 AM | permalink | Add comment

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

J is a 20-year-old student of International Relations. This blog is about his thoughts on several issues and on his everyday life.

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PinoyLoveFroum:

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Nightdreamer:

Hey J, it’s been a while. How are things holding up on your end?

Fam:

Hey! Your blog’s brilliant. Super. :)

billy:

nice blog, continue entertaining us with stories about how world is chaotic

J:

Richard, sorry I don’t have pictures of japanese occupation. Wasn’t around yet when that happened. But you may try Wikipidia. Sorry can’t help you. Regards to FEU people.

richard:

JJ, dis is richard. we met na before sa ndc. i am from feu. favor naman, it seems na may archives ka ng mga pics ng mga historical events ng philippines. meron ka ba during the american and the japanese occupation? pwedeng, send mo sakin. hehehe. badly need those pics para sa project ko sa school. lotsa thanks!

Marlon:

As always, amazing blog! Musta LDS? i can see you’re all doing great. If it’s not much trouble baka naman pwede pa-add iyong blog ko sa blogroll mo…hehehe thanks! Happy holidays…htt://perspektib.blogspot.com

TonGuE-tWisTeD:

just driving by. Merry Christmas, J

isang:

saw you in frankahan last thursday at the office. wtg lds! ^_^

J:

ay oo nga pala. i forgot. stressed eh. sigue ill hide it muna.

barny:

you posted my article on the POI blog na. i thought you’re launching it together with all the other articles?

Blogger:

Hi! We are currently doing a study on blogging and would like to invite you to fill out a survey that we have prepared regarding this topic. This will only take 5-10 minutes of your time. 

katikat:

hi! just noticed your Pages here in your blog. How did you do that because I couldn’t see an option to do that. Thanks =D

ark:

Just dropping by bro. ;-)

thenutbox:

Hi Kris. been busy these past few days. Securing papers for my small store. And mom and siblings came from Tokyo last Monday.

Nightdreamer:

Whereforth art thou?

Carlo:

yeah, sure jj. My sister is in the hospital right now, she got dengue. See you tuesday. text you and ryan about it.

J:

carlo: see me at school. lets talk about it.

carlo:

J, I kinda need help in introducing debate in my alumni high school. could the LDS help in the form of an outreach. thanks man.

carlo:

J, I kinda need help introducing debate in our high school. I was wondering if the LDS could help in ‘outreach’ form. thanks man.

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