Dallas shoots the lights out, goes up 3-2 in the NBA Finals

LeBron James(notes) didn't drop 40 points, or remind anyone of Michael Jordan. Miami's defense faltered, at times. Several Mavericks hit shots they weren't supposed to hit. And in the initial reaction, honestly, that's all you can criticize on both ends before crediting the Dallas Mavericks to no end for earning a 3-2 lead after winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals by a 112-103 score on Thursday night. Because this was some brilliant basketball.

 On top of that? The hope is that this is Dallas' version of a one-sided win, before we settle in for two more games. In a series where both teams have played each other to a near tie, overall, this was Dallas' nine-point answer to Miami's eight-point win in Game 1. The Mavericks pumped in 130 points per 100 possessions, an astonishing mark against Golden State in February, much less against a vaunted Heat defense that has made mincemeat of all comers for the entire postseason.

Further examination and the scorn of both media and the Miami coaching staff will reveal missteps that the Heat made along the way in letting Dallas pile up 112 points, but it's the appalling optimist in me that is telling you that Dallas made this game its own.

LeBron James had just 17 points on 19 shots (including just two points in the fourth quarter) in what was essentially a shootout, poor numbers no doubt, but he also registered 10 rebounds and 10 assists as he orchestrated a Heat offense that was (once you account for pace) miles beyond some of the best offenses we saw in the NBA this year. Dwyane Wade(notes) missed time with a hip contusion, suffered in the first half, and he didn't even start the second half while being worked on. Miami had its chances, offensively, but could not work as consistently as the Mavericks on that end. This is not why the Heat fell behind in the series, though.

The difference was defense, and the fact that Dallas just nailed a litany of tough, "ga'head and take it," shots. James' fourth quarter three-pointer clang was the wrong call, and you hated to see him happy to stay off the ball in the first half, but you can't pin this entirely on the deservedly-beleaguered star.
No, this was in Dallas' hands, as they lined up to spin in 13 three-pointers in 19 attempts (68 percent) and 52 percent of their two-point makes. Miami screwed up in its communication at times, leaving Mavs alone in delayed transition and failing to take away three-pointers (though they did close out properly and contest well) on several attempts, but you have to hand it to Dallas for rising to the challenge that comes with being favored, at home, while being asked to do what's expected against an opponent that has a way of destroying all reasonable expectations.

Dirk Nowitzki(notes), free from obvious sniffles and biding his time in the offense as usual, dropped 29 points while hitting all 10 of his free throw attempts. And while he was rock, Mavs guards Jose Juan Barea and Jason Terry(notes) were the deciding factors, putting Dallas over the top in a way that Miami just could not counter. Despite, upon first glance, smart and desperate close-out defense.

Barea continued to miss following his drive, as he clanged three out of four shots within nine feet, but he also hit for 4-5 three-pointers, and Terry's three-pointer with 33.3 seconds to go in the game (for those of us vinyl-philes) cinched the deal, putting Dallas up seven after being down four points with six minutes left in the contest. Jason Kidd(notes), who had missed all three of his long range attempts in Game 4, hit for 3-5 in the win.

James could have done better. The matchups, clearly, do not serve him in a pairing like this, but he also could have taken Nowitzki's lead and attempted to play ugly, draw more fouls, and put his team in the penalty earlier in each of the quarters he played in. James shot just two free throws all night, missing a needed one in the fourth quarter, and his length and wingspan were no help as Barea and Terry ducked underneath screens or spotted up off a drive on their way to 38 combined points.

LeBron will take in criticism for yet another passive, at times, performance. Those critics will ignore the way he was running his team's offense, while nodding toward the idea that Wade's absence (he played 10 fewer minutes than James) gave LeBron ample opportunity to take over. LeBron should have taken over, and he should have played a more desperate, and less exacting, brand of basketball. One hand-check call that James earns early in a quarter, resulting in no free throws, will allow Mario Chalmers(notes) a chance to get to the line once Miami is in the penalty later in the quarter.

An athletic team like Miami should not be merely nearly equaling Dallas' attempts (the Mavericks out-shot them 27-26 from the stripe) from the line.
James could have been the difference in the win, but he wasn't the reason for the loss. No, you'll have to just pin this on a Dallas offense that still seems to be getting better, 102 games into its season. Barea, Kidd, Terry, and even Shawn Marion(notes) (even if he wasn't as successful, at 4-11 shooting) shot with a level of confidence and smarts that they'll have to replicate if they want to win their first NBA title.
And they can win it, in Game 6 on Sunday.

But considering how close Miami was in this loss and in this series, that figures to be no small feat. As it has been since October, the Heat still seem like some monster that has yet to be prodded enough into wanted to scorch some earth. With two potential chances left at the championship most had them pegged for, they'll still have time to breathe a bit of fire.
On Thursday, though, that was Dallas' realm. Those nets are still smoking.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Miss USA Rima Fakih Under Fire For Alleged Partying Behavior

Rima in Sin City. David Becker/FilmMagic Uh oh: Miss USA is in trouble. Not crown-losing trouble, but enough to put The Tiara Patrol on high alert.
According to Fox News, current titleholder Rima Fakih broke rules of conduct when she was suspected of sneaking out to party all night last week -- and then lied about it.

The Miss Universe Organization, which rules over its winners with an iron fist, requested security tapes to judge whether a cover-up was in play.
"There was one night last week where she had some interviews the next day," says Paula Shugart, the organization's president. "First we thought she wasn't at the apartment (which she shares in Manhattan with Miss Universe), and someone (from the PR team) was trying to get her to the interview. She was sound asleep, and looked like she'd been out all night. She made the interviews, but we did ask about the security tapes, as it is a serious business especially after Tara Conner."

The striking 25-year-old will surrender her crown during the Miss USA Pageant on June 20. Given the personal restrictions that come with the gig -- you have to be on your best Kate Middleton behavior, at all times -- it might be a bit of a release for the fun-loving Fakih.

"We usually like to keep a handle on them," Shugart tells Fox. "We have talent managers to keep track, and they are supposed to tell us when they go out. Rima is definitely a high spirited, fun person. If she went out that night it wouldn't surprise us. ...

I don't know if I'll ever know where she went, or when she got in."
Uh, seriously? Then the Miss Universe Organization is a strict all-girls boarding school, and Fakih's so-called transgression is the equivalent of sneaking out the window. She can blame Conner, the disgraced former Miss USA who was allowed to retain her crown on condition that she go to rehab for substance abuse issues. (Recall Donald Trump held a press conference to address her fate.) That's not the case with Fakih, but Shugart encouraged her to have a sitdown with Conner, who reportedly told the embattled, current sash-wearer that telling the truth about slip-ups makes things easier on everybody. Nobody wants another public scolding by The Donald.

Fakih's run as the 2010 queen has not been the smoothest: last May, photos emerged of the former Miss Michigan dancing on a stripper pole circa 2007 as part of a promotional event.

Memo to aspiring Miss USAs, Universes and Americas: stay off the pole, and get some beauty sleep.

Source:  OMG

Wet cell phone rescue

Did you just drop your cellphone in water? Or maybe you'd like to know what to do if that happens! This week on Upgrade Your Life, Yahoo! News' Becky Worley shows us first aid techniques for rescuing a drowned smartphone.

To test them out, Becky took a BlackBerry, a Droid, and an iPhone, and dropped all three into room temperature water for 60 seconds. Then she went through the following steps:
Step 1: Do NOT turn on the phone
Why do water and smartphones not mix? Because the water shorts out your smartphone's electrical circuits. So whatever you do, don't turn it on to check to see if it still works.
Step 2: Pull out the battery and SIM card
You want to remove anything removeable: Pull out the battery, the SIM card and the memory card, if your phone has one. As long as that battery's in there it's providing power to your phone, and that's what you need to stop immediately.
Some phones, like the iPhone, don't have a removable battery. Unfortunately, you'll just have to skip this step and hope for the best if you dunk one of them.
Step 3: Freshwater rinse
Did you drop your phone in salt water? The salt can corrode your device. So after you pull out the battery and SIM card, immerse your phone in fresh water to rinse out the salt.
Step 4: Dry your phone using compressed air
If you have a compressed air can handy -- the kind that's used to clean computers or keyboards -- run it full-blast all over your phone, with the back cover taken off if you can. A vacuum cleaner also works, even though it's pulling the air in the other direction. As long as it's blowing cool air over those circuits to dry them out, it's all good.
Don't stick your phone in the oven, even on low. The heat can warp your phone's circuits, and melt its internal components. You shouldn't use a blow dryer either, unless it has a heatless setting. A fan might help, but a microwave is out of the question.
Step 5: Cover your phone with uncooked rice
The premise of our experiment was to test if putting a wet phone into a sealed container of rice would actually dry it out, and bring it back form the dead. See, the idea behind the rice is that the dry grains will absorb moisture. So get a sealable plastic container, and fill it with enough rice to cover your smartphone. (A plastic zipper bag will work too, in a pinch.) Then bury your phone in the rice, along with its battery and other parts. You'll want to wait at least 24 hours for the rice to do its job -- Becky waited for 48 hours, in her test.
What would work better than rice? Silica gel, the stuff in those packets that keep new clothes or shoes dry. But most of us don't have a shoebox full of the stuff laying around, so rice will probably have to do. It may get pieces of rice into the crevices and cavities in your smartphone, but this is an emergency, and time is of the essence.
Should you use white or brown rice? It doesn't matter, so long as it's hard and dry and uncooked. You can even use rice from boxed meals like Rice-a-Roni. Just don't add in the seasoning packet, unless you want your phone to smell like mixed vegetables.

Step 6: Turn your phone back on
After you've waited at least 24 hours, it's time for the moment of truth. Reassemble your phone, charge it and try to power it on.
The results of our experiment weren't encouraging: the BlackBerry that Becky tested did restart, with no seeming long-term damage. But the iPhone and the Droid were dead. After two days in the rice and a full battery charge, neither phone came back to life.
One in three may be slim odds. But since water damage isn't covered by most warranties, it can't hurt to try.


Source: Yahoo! News

China-Vietnam tensions rise

China-Vietnam tensions rise

Vietnam protested to China Thursday after what it claimed was a "premeditated" attack on an exploration ship in its waters, but Beijing hit back, warning its neighbour against violating its sovereignty.

This picture released by the Vietnam News Agency on Monday shows Vietnamese Navy personnel walking up from a ship which has just arrived at Truong Sa Dong island in the Spratly archipelargo. Vietnam protested to China on Thursday after what it described as a "premeditated" attack on an exploration ship in its waters, raising tensions between the Communist neighbours.

.

The latest incident comes against a backdrop of increased anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam, where hundreds of people staged a rare protest Sunday over the activities of Chinese ships in disputed waters.
With ties between Beijing and Hanoi at their lowest ebb in years owing to territorial spats over potentially oil-rich waters, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung vowed to protect Vietnam's "incontestable" sovereignty.
Hanoi said a Chinese fishing boat "intentionally rammed" the exploration cables of a vessel, chartered by state energy giant PetroVietnam, conducting a seismic survey inside its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone Thursday.

The incident was "premeditated and carefully calculated" as China aims to bring an undisputed area into the territorial row, foreign ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga told reporters.
"This is unacceptable to Vietnam," she said, adding the foreign ministry had met Chinese embassy officials Thursday afternoon "to express our opposition to such acts".
Two Chinese fishing enforcement vessels and other fishing boats arrived to assist the Chinese boat, Nga said, adding that the collision had damaged the Vietnamese ship.
She said the area in question falls completely under Vietnamese sovereignty according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
But, in apparent reference to the same incident, China gave a different version of events in a report carried by official news agency Xinhua early Friday.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Chinese fishing boats were chased away by armed Vietnamese ships on Thursday morning.

According to Beijing's account, during the incident the fishing net of one of the Chinese boats became tangled with the cables of a Vietnamese oil exploring vessel, which was operating illegally in the area.
The oil exploration boat continued dragging the Chinese vessel for more than an hour with Chinese fishermen forced to cut off the fishing net, the report said.
Hong said Vietnam's oil exploration in the area and the actions of the Vietnamese vessels had grossly infringed Chinese sovereignty.
The incident comes just two weeks after three Chinese marine surveillance vessels severed the exploration cables of the Binh Minh 2, another Vietnamese oil survey ship inside the 200 nautical mile zone, according to Hanoi.

Vietnam said it has since deployed eight ships to "escort" the Binh Minh 2 -- without saying what kind of vessels -- a move analysts say raises the stakes in the dispute.
After the May 26 incident, China said Vietnamese vessels were operating "illegally" and urged the country to "refrain from creating trouble".
Beijing says it is committed to peace in the South China Sea, but its more assertive maritime posture has caused concern among regional nations.
Tensions have also risen this year between China and the Philippines, another claimant to the Spratly islands, where Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also say they have a stake.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned last weekend that clashes may erupt in the South China Sea unless nations with conflicting territorial claims adopt a mechanism to settle disputes peacefully.

Hundreds of people held a peaceful anti-China protest outside Beijing's embassy in Hanoi on Sunday, the largest action of its kind since 2007. Protests are rare in authoritarian Vietnam.
Tensions have also spread to the Internet.
In the past few days a number of Vietnamese websites have been hacked including one connected with the foreign ministry, with information in Chinese and images of the Chinese flag left behind, Nga said.


Source: Bangkok Post

Max'es Chicken All you Can

It’s Official! Max’s Restaurant Chicken All You Can Is Back!
Need I say more? I know you guys are very well aware of the promo! :)


Promo Details:

1. Chicken will be served in quarter pieces, and parts will be based on availability.
2. Add P28.00 for bottomless Softdrink (Pepsi Products).
3. Promo period is from June 10 - July 10, 2011 and from 6 PM to 10 PM only.
4. Promo valid for dine in only.  Not available for take-out, delivery and bulk orders.
5. Cannot be combined with other offers. No sharing. No Leftover. Chicken will be served after each piece has been consumed.
6. Max’s will give away free PhP 20 money coupons for every PhP200 spent during the Chicken-All-You-Can promotion. Maximum of 3, and can be used on your next visit.

So for those who missed the Chicken All You Can Promo last year or those who want to break their previous record. Here is another chance! One whole month of Chicken All You Can for you guys!
Now time to fall in line...

Let me see if i can beat my all time record of 9 Chicken!!

Some Filipinos who makes us PROUD

Some Filipinos who makes us PROUD 

By: Lorem De Jesus


Charice Pempengco - World Class Singer

 Apol D ' AP of The blackeyed Peas

 Dave Batista - WWE / MMA Fighter

 

 Brandon Vera - UFC Fighter

Edward Folayang - URCC Fighter / Champion who also fights overseas

 Efren "Bata" Reyes = World Champion Billiard Master

 Mark Munoz - UFC Fighter / California Wrestling Hall of Famer

 Nicole Scherzinger of Pussy Cat Dolls

 Rob Schneider - Hollywood Actor

 And ofcourse, The 8 division conqueror - Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

They are some of the Filipinos who makes us proud!!! So what's wrong being a Filipino? I'm proud to be ONE!!!

PINAS PRIDE - Imagine the world without Filipinos

Steve Jobs makes surprise presentation on new hi-tech Apple headquarters

Pueng Vongs, Y! SF Editor
Apple CEO Steve Jobs made an unannounced visit to the June 7 City Council meeting in Cupertino, home of the computer giant, to reveal plans for a new, state-of-the-art Apple headquarters, reports the Cupertino Courier.

The stunning design resembles a "spaceship;" it will be four stories and house 12,000.
"I think we do have a shot at building the best office building in the world," says Jobs, who also made a rare appearance earlier in the week at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

The current Apple campus has some 2,800 employees, with the rest disbursed in rented buildings throughout the city.
The new base will sit on 150 acres near Pruneridge Avenue and Wolfe Road currently home to Hewlett-Packard, which will be relocating next year. The circular building will be an architectural feat and will tout a large inner courtyard.

"There is not a single straight piece of glass in this building," says Jobs.
The grounds will be transformed from primarily asphalt to green. Parking will go underground and the CEO says Apple plans to almost double the 3,700 trees on the property. He wants to add apricot orchards like the ones he recalls growing up with nearby.

The structure will also be fueled primarily by natural gas.
Councilman Orrin Mahoney said of the proposal, "The word spectacular would be an understatement." He added that the Council looks forward to working with Jobs to move it through the process.
Construction is expected to begin next year with the opening in 2015.

Source: Yahoo News!

Millionaire dog dies at age 12

A millionaire heiress died at age 12 in December, and the world is just finding out now.
Don't feel too bad, though. Trouble Helmsley, perhaps the world's most pampered pet, was 84 in dog years when she succumbed to illness and died, according to the New York Daily News.
She also, unbeknownst to her, outlasted several vows to bring her to a more violent end. Trouble received multiple death threats from people angry that her doting owner, billionaire real estate tycoon Leona Helmsley, left her a stunning $12 million in her will.

 While Trouble hit the jackpot, Helmsley also unceremoniously cut two of her grandchildren out of her will. They sued, arguing that their grandmother wasn't of sound mind when she signed the document in 2005. Disgruntled grown grandchildren Craig Panzirer and Meegan Panzirer Wesolko each received several million in the ensuing deal, and a judge knocked $10 million off Trouble's inheritance, putting the sum back in the $8 billion The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Carl Lekic, the general manager of the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel and the Maltese's caretaker until her death, told lawyers in 2008 that $2 million would be "enough money to pay for Trouble's maintenance and welfare at the highest standards of care for more than 10 years, which is more that twice her reasonably anticipated life expectancy."


Helmsley's other, not-disinherited grandson and brother both passed on guarding the "bitey" pooch, according to the New York Post.
Lekic told the Daily News he spent $8,000 for grooming, $1,200 for food, and about $90,000 more per year on a full-time security guard for Trouble. That unspent money will also go back into the trust.
Helmsley wanted Trouble buried next to her in the family's 12,000-square-foot mauseleum, but a Sleepy Hollow Cemetery board member told the Daily News that no (dead) pets are allowed. Trouble was cremated instead.

(Helmsley with Trouble in 2003: AP/Jennifer Graylock)

Source

Katy Perry Does 8-Costume Change Magic Trick In 'Hot N Cold' Performance

Katy Perry Does 8-Costume Change Magic Trick In 'Hot N Cold' Performance

Katy Perry has 15 costume changes during the set for her "Teenage Dream" tour that opened Tuesday at the Gwinnett Center Arena in Atlanta. But eight of the outfit swaps take place during the performance of her song "Hot N Cold."
Katy uses a magic trick she first saw on "America's Got Talent" to help her switch dresses in seconds. Seven of the changes are captured in a video that surfaced online Wednesday.
When Katy sings, "You change your mind like a girl changes clothes," the magic happens.
In the video, Katy opens "Hot N Cold" in a royal blue dress. She's standing in the middle of a cylinder made of fabric. A dancer raises the make-shift changing room and shakes it for two seconds. When he drops it, Katy is wearing a red dress, trimmed in white.
Katy heads to center stage to party with her female dancers when the guys roll out a tall cart covered with curtains. You can see Katy's blue wig above the drapery as she enters the right side of the cart and walks through it uninterrupted.  When she exits stage left, she is wearing a yellow outfit.
Katy resumes dancing and returns to the right side of the stage. This time she steps into a cylinder made of gold cloth. Like during the song's opening change, a male assistant lifts the circular contraption to cover Katy's head and sways it back and forth. Three second later, Katy emerges in a lime green costume.
Katy walks the runway before returning to the front of the stage and is again met by the mobile dressing room. This time she enters the left side, zips through it, and walks out in another red dress with white accents.
Katy does another change in the cloth sack before returning to the top of her set for the coolest trick yet. Two male dancers standing on opposite sides toss above her buckets filled with big chunks of glitter. Literally, before all of the shiny confetti hits the floor, Katy is donning yet another dress, this one white.
Katy recently explained to Entertainment Weekly what prompted her to add the trick to her routine. "I saw these two magicians do it on 'America's Got Talent' or one of those shows, and I thought, ‘I'll have them teach me the trick and we'll incorporate it into the show,' " she said. "I had to sign a nondisclosure agreement saying that I wouldn't give away the secrets behind the magic trick."
While Katy's version of the trick is impressive, it does not contain all the elements showcased on the first season of "America's Got Talent." Quick-change artists David and Dania pulled off the stunt with a transparent cylinder with shredded pieces of fabric, and even changed people.

Source:

What makes you proud to be Pinoy?

FN wants to know what part of our heritage makes your heart swell with nationalistic pride. By Belle Yambao

It’s Independence Day on Sunday, FNites, and there's no better time to list the things that make you proud to be Pinoy than this special occasion. It could be something you only see or experience in the Philippines, your favorite Pinoy food, or even Filipinos whose accomplishments are recognized worldwide!

As TV host Bianca Gonzalez Tweeted earlier this month, the phrase "only in the Philippines" would make a great tagline for a Department of Tourism campaign. After all, we all love using it to express what we love about our heritage. She even shares some choice statements about Pinoy pride on her Twitter account, as quoted on her blog: “Where family and faith are the center of our lives, making us one of the most hospitable people in the world. :) #onlyinthePhilippines”

How about you? Do you feel your heart swell when you sing the National Anthem? Have you traveled all over the country and found yourself feeling grateful you live in a place with such inspiring natural wonders?

Source

Manny Pacquiao wants to ban condoms in the Philippines

Rick Chandler

So Manny Pacquiao is afraid of needles and condoms? Pac Man has been a politician for exactly a year now, so he figured it was high time he did something controversial. He now respectfully asks that you throw away your condoms. He says that it’s a sin to use them, and is joining with the Catholic Church in backing the opposition to a bill in the Philippines that would mandate government support for contraceptives. Pacquiao was elected in May, 2010 to the House of Representatives.

“God said, ‘Go out and multiply.’ He did not say, just have two or three kids,” Pacquiao said.
“It’s sinful to use condoms and commit abortion,” he said and when questioned about overpopulation said “my parents were poor… they had four children, it was very difficult but we persevered.”

Or, as it says in the bible: Sex without condoms: what could possibly go wrong?
In my opinion it’s a greater sin not to fight Floyd Mayweather.

Source

My thoughts, 

     Pacquiao is blinded by these Stupid Priest who doesn't want to pass the Reproductive Health Bill.
They don't want to stop the hunger? The early pregnancy which results to broken family because the teens are not yet ready to handle the obligation as parents?


Wow, This one doesn't make PINAS PROUD. We can't call it PRIDE either. It's just pure STUPIDITY

World BJJ 2011 Results (Mundials)

Filipino Representatives from Different BJJ team:

Deftac - Ribeiro JJ :
Kyle Kapunan
Andrew Laxa
Myron Mangubat
Prof Alvin Aguilar


VPF-Atos Philippines:
Eros Baluyot
Carlo Pena
Ralph Go

Full result will be found here : Mundials 2011 RESULTS

U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner’s wife pregnant

The wife of U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner who was allegedly caught in a sex scandal is now pregnant, New York Times reported. Weiner’s lewd pictures of himself spread over the Internet and hits Twitter
Huma Abedin, an aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who married the congressman a year ago, is expecting the couple’s first child. 35-year-old now faces the ordeal of coping with the fallout of her husband’s scandal as well as the physical and emotional turmoil of the early stages of pregnancy.

Source: TMZ.com

On Monday Weiner admits sending the pictures after denying it for more than a week ago. He also claimed that he was the victim of hacking. Weiner tearfully admits lying about the scandal at a news conference in which he also disclosed having sexually charged chats with several women.

Spratly's Island

Spratlys: Where does Aquino stand?

With the visits of high-ranking military and defense officials from the United States and China in the past two weeks, the dispute over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea has heated up again.
Prior to the arrival of Chinese Defense Minister Liang Gaunglie, there were reports that two Chinese naval boats shadowed a Philippine exploration ship around the disputed area, and that Philippine Air Force planes were buzzed by two Chinese jets over the region.

While Liang was in the country for talks with President Aquino, the Philippine Star came up with photos of new Chinese military garrisons in some of the disputed islands while News5 reported on Vietnamese structures built on other islands in the disputed area.


While the Philippines formally protested the first incident before the United Nations, the government was nonchalant on the other reports. Aquino said the government would investigate the reported buzzing incident while downplaying the report on new Chinese military garrisons, saying that they have been there for years.
Aquino conveniently overlooked the fact that the Chinese government had initially claimed that the structures on Mischief Reef were built by Chinese fishermen as rest areas a few years ago, and later said that they were actually weather stations.

The Chinese have obviously been lying about the military garrisons, and Aquino would rather not confront the Chinese defense minister over the structures during their talks.
The Aquino administration cannot continue to close its eyes to China’s recent aggressive behavior in the disputed islands without weakening the country’s claims over the Spratlys. While we concede that the country does not have the capability to defend its claim militarily, it must, however, continue to assert its valid claim by filing formal diplomatic protests over such disturbing incidents.


More importantly, the Philippine government must come up with a long-term strategy and policy vis-à-vis its claim over the island group.
The Spratlys are being claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. The area consists of 26 islands and islets and seven groups of huge rocks in the South China Sea. The disputed islands have a maritime area of 160,000 square kilometers and land area totaling 170 hectares.
Among the six claimants, the Philippines was the first to officially make its claim. As early as 1933, a Philippine senator protested after the French annexed the Spratlys. During World War II, Japan occupied the islands for military reasons. After Japan relinquished its claim after its surrender, the Philippines claimed the territories in 1946.


In 1956, Filipino navigator Tomas Cloma claimed ownership and occupation of the Spratlys by issuing a “proclamation to the world.” In 1957, in reply to Cloma’s letters demanding that the Philippine government settle the question of ownership of the islands, then Vice President and Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Garcia assured Cloma that the government “does not regard with indifference the economic exploitation and settlement of these uninhabited and unoccupied islands by Philippine nationals,” but stopped short of officially claiming the islands.


In 1978, President Marcos issued a proclamation declaring ownership of some islands in the Spratlys group. President Ramos reaffirmed the proclamation in 1995. The Philippines now occupies eight of the islands.
In February 2008, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo entered into a so-called “Spratly Deal” with Beijing, which according to former Speaker Jose de Venecia was done in exchange for loans attended by bribery and corruption. Malaya publisher and columnist Jake Macasaet said he was told by a source that under the “Spratly Deal,” China would be allowed to explore territorial waters of the Philippines.
In the same month, Far Eastern Economic Review’s Barry Wain accused Arroyo of selling out to China the Philippine and regional interests in the South China Sea. Wain argued that Arroyo violated a 2002 regional agreement that called on Asean member-states to deal with China as a bloc on the six-country Spratly Islands dispute.


Wain said that during Arroyo’s state visit to China in 2004, the two countries signed the “Agreement for Seismic Undertaking for Certain Areas in the South China Sea By and Between China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Philippine National Oil Company” which, Wain said, angered Vietnam. Surprisingly, the Philippines allowed the eight islands the country occupied in the agreement.
We do hope that President Aquino would not follow the lead of his predecessor in selling out Philippine sovereignty over the disputed islands in exchange for economic and other favors.


China is obviously eyeing the islands to gain control of the important South China Sea shipping lanes, the rich fishing grounds, and the vast oil deposits estimated at 18 billion tons underneath the disputed territory.
The US, on the other hand, is not about to give up its military domination in the region to China as shown by the American military’s show of force in August. During the period, the US conducted joint military and naval exercises with South Korea and Vietnam, the latter a most unlikely but now willing ally. That month, China staged its own military exercise with North Korea.


The conflict between the Americans and the Chinese in the region is expected to escalate in the coming years as the world’s second biggest economy prepares to become a military power, too. The Americans, on the other hand, need to reestablish their domination over Southeast Asia, which is fast becoming a very important focal point in both world economy and politics.

In this brewing conflict, the Philippines is certain to be caught in the middle. Among the six claimants, the Philippines is nearest to the islands; in fact, the southernmost tip of Palawan is just 136 miles off Mischief Reef, where the Chinese have built a military installation. And although officially the US has no bases in the Philippines, it can use either the Mutual Defense Treaty or the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to launch any counter-attack against the Chinese from the country.
The US has assured the Philippines that it would come to its defense in the event of an armed conflict with China over the Spratly Islands. The US position was reaffirmed by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. during a speech delivered on board the USS Carl Vinson, which visited Manila after playing an important role in the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
In his remarks, Thomas said: “Now and in the future, we will maintain our strong relationship, and we are dedicated to being your partner whenever you are in harm’s way… this is a commitment born of our shared histories and close ties, and we are proud to stand by your side.”


The dispute over the Spratlys will eventually come to a head, hopefully not militarily. International intervention would not resolve the crisscrossing claims. Only a fair and enforceable agreement among the claimants could possibly resolve the long-standing dispute. The government has to decide now where the Philippines stands on this, and aggressively work for such resolution before the conflict turns into an ugly military confrontation.
Likewise, the conflict between the US and China over military domination in Southeast Asia will eventually come to a head. It is important that the Philippine government knows where its position would be when these two events present themselves.

China denies incursion into West Philippine Sea

Manila, Philippines - China yesterday rejected allegations of recent illegal military incursions into Philippine territorial waters.

“The reported ‘incursion of Chinese ships’ is not true,” the Chinese embassy in Manila through spokesperson Michelle Zhao said in a statement.

Zhao said Beijing is merely being consistent on the issue.

“China holds a clear and consistent position on the South China Sea issue,” she said.

The Philippine government alleged Chinese naval vessels had unloaded building materials and installed a number of posts and a buoy last month near the Iroquois Reef and Amy Douglas Bank, both of which are within the Philippine territory near the Spratlys.

However the Chinese embassy gave a different account.

“It’s only China’s marine research ship conducting normal maritime research activities on the South China Sea,” Zhao said.

The Chinese government earlier reiterated that there is nothing to claim on Spratly Islands, which they call the Nansha, since it is rightfully theirs.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had formally protested to the Chinese mission over recent activity in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and Chinese plans to anchor an oil rig there next month.

President Aquino said the government could only lodge a protest against China in asserting its claims over the oil-rich Spratlys.

Even without military might, the Philippines – or any other country for that matter – is no match against giant China, particularly when it comes to asserting its claims on the disputed oil-rich Spratly Islands, Aquino said.

Aquino conceded late Wednesday that even in boxing, a sport where Filipinos excel, “we are no match against them (China) even on one-on-one.”

“We are only 95 million (Filipinos) but there are 1.5 billion (Chinese),” Aquino remarked in jest in trying to explain to reporters here the realities of asserting Philippine claims on the oil-rich island chains.

Aquino said any statements on the claims would always be counterproductive as it would not help the long-standing problem among claimant-nations in the Spratlys.

“Tensions will just increase if we engage in a verbal jostle. If they (Chinese government) lose face, how will they compromise?” he asked.

“So, in our meetings with our fellow claimants, we say we discuss this as a group. There has to be centrality,” he said.

Aquino said the best option to assert claims would be through diplomacy.

Aquino though noted that no amount of diplomatic efforts would stop the Chinese from intruding in the Spratlys.

Coming up with a central position on the South China Sea dispute among the claimant-countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be the best way to deal with a superpower like China, Aquino said.

The DFA on Wednesday summoned Beijing’s charge d’affaires in Manila Bai Tian to protest the intrusion of Chinese surveillance vessels into the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese vessels were reportedly unloading building materials and also placed a buoy in waters inside Philippine territory.

The Philippines earlier lodged a diplomatic protest against Beijing over a March 2 incident in Reed Bank, which is within Philippine territory, where two Chinese patrol boats reportedly harassed a local exploration vessel.

While remaining optimistic that a peaceful resolution can be achieved, Aquino said the Philippines is preparing to file a report before the United Nations on some “six to seven instances” of Chinese intrusion or provocative actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“We are completing the data. We will present it to them (China) and then bring these to the appropriate body, which most of the time is the United Nations,” Aquino said.

During his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guangjie two weeks ago, Aquino already warned that continued provocative actions in the area could trigger an arms race in the region.

‘Multilateral dialogue’

Aquino and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei agreed Wednesday to adopt a “multilateral dialogue” policy among claimant-countries in the Spratlys.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma told Manila-based reporters in a briefing that the two heads of state wanted all stakeholders to “engage in a multilateral dialogue” along with fellow claimants China, Vietnam and Malaysia.

“The principal objective is peace and stability in the region. There should be peaceful cooperation and dialogue. There are many stakeholders, and they are all committed to share those goals,” Coloma said.

Coloma, who was with the Philippine delegation, quoted the Sultan as saying “it’s best to have good relations with China,” but would not want to interpret it any other way, except to say: “The two leaders emphasized the need for a peaceful solution to the (Spratlys) issue.”

Coloma said Aquino – whose two-day official visit here ends today – is looking forward to seeing the Brunei leader when the ASEAN Summit closes in Bali, Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is held in Hawaii in November.

The President reiterated earlier the need for a Code of Conduct among claimant-countries in the Spratlys so that jurisdictional matters will be defined clearly, especially in the wake of reports China had built permanent structures and garrisons in the disputed reefs.

The rationale behind the Code of Conduct is to lessen such incidents of intrusion and avoid conflicts.

Likewise, Aquino hinted the reported sighting of fighter jets buzzing a Philippine Air Force patrol plane in the area might not result in a diplomatic protest on the basis that Philippine authorities could not clearly establish if it really was Chinese aircraft.

‘A serious concern’

Malacañang said the sightings of Chinese Navy vessels erecting posts at the West Philippine Sea were a serious cause for concern and would like to diplomatically resolve the issue in favor of the Philippines.

“You’re speaking of western Palawan, you’re not speaking of the Spratlys. Western Palawan is part of our territory, so that’s not a disputed area,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda though was careful not to say China had acted in bad faith as the sightings of the Chinese vessels came after Chinese Defense Minister Liang came to Manila and met with President Aquino.

“We had a meeting (Wednesday) on China and the agreement was that the Department of Foreign Affairs will be taking the lead role in explaining the situation regarding China,” Lacierda said.

“The Philippines asked China to explain what they’ve been doing there. If you notice, they were supposed to put in place an oil rig, so they were asked specifically what area are you going to place them. But certainly, it’s a cause for concern for us. And that’s the reason why the deputy chief of mission (of the Chinese embassy) was summoned to the DFA,” Lacierda told a press briefing in Malacañang.

Lacierda cited the Declaration of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as basis for asking China to explain its actions in Philippine waters.

China and the ASEAN have yet to adopt a legally binding code as China wants to resolve the Spratlys issue bilaterally with each claimant-country as against the position of the Philippines to allow ASEAN as a whole to be a party, including non-claimants.

Undertakings

On the other hand, defense and military establishments are coming up with a new strategy that would address the country’s territorial defense due to the unfolding security development in the South China Sea.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said they would be refocusing efforts to revive all its external defense undertakings.

Over the years, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) temporarily shelved all its external defenses to deal with internal security threats like the communist rebels and the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group.

“Right now we are trying to mix both ISO (internal security operations) and territorial defense in our planning,” Gazmin said.

While the ISO has been the top priority of the military in its previous undertakings, the developments in the Philippine-declared territory in the South China Sea also calls for an urgent need to address the concerns, he said.

“Because of the increased incursions and violations of our territorial waters (by foreign forces), we have to take a serious look into external defense or territorial defense,” Gazmin stressed.

Gazmin referred to the latest incursion of Chinese missile-firing surveillance vessels within Palawan Sea with construction materials like steel posts, specifically at the Amy Douglas Shoal last May 21 and May 24.

Amy Douglas Shoal is located less than 100 nautical miles from mainland Palawan and near Lawak and Patag Islands, which the military leadership wanted to develop as a prime tourist spot.

Gazmin though admitted that the country’s military is no match to a superpower like China.

However, Gazmin pointed out that the Philippines, being a sovereign nation, must have at least a credible and respectable force to safeguard and maintain her territorial integrity.

AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said the military is planning to set up a coast watch system in the western seaboard in the next two to three years to monitor and secure the country’s maritime borders and natural resources. – Delon Porcalla, Aurea Calica, Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero

from reader's comments:

Quote:

batu wrote: I fully agree with most of the observations here. Our President sheepishly stated his weakness. When it comes to our sovereignty and territory, nobody and I say nobody should ever compromise our position to our claim and integral territory however militarily weak we are. If you continue to do that, you are sending the message to our neighbors that they can do whatever they want because we are a weak country and all is left to us is just TALK. P-Noy should reasses his stand towards the chinese. Chinese are shrewd and slick as far as their interests are concerned. You're a friend to them so long as you don't go against their interests.

Quote:

pinoytoits wrote: What a WEAK statement of our weak president.. You don't hear these kind of surrender statements to Israel leaders who's tiny country is surounded by bigger arab countries eager to wipe them out...

Quote:

makabayan2 wrote:

The president is right that the proper way to solve the problem is through diplomacy, and the united nation as the venue. Provoking words would make things worst. This is not ordinary issue like your problem with your neighborhood or a family member. Remember guys, there are numerous claimants on the island not only china.