What does PNoy intend to do?

President Benigno Aquino III and his entire Cabinet face a formidable problem in their hands. Soon, they must be able to come up with counter-measures to prevent further harm to the national economy with China flexing its economic muscle.

The first thing we hear is the claim that the tourist from China represent only nine percent of the total volume of our favorite countries for tourist – the United States, Europe and Japan.

True, there is no reason to doubt the government statistics on that score. The question, however, begs. What do you do when so many bookings and reservations for hotel rooms have been cancelled?

And what about the flights of local airlines to and from China and the Philippines? The comforting word – they are only temporary and will resume soon. Well, and good. Meanwhile, what takes up the slack?

True, we have sent our agricultural experts to China to look into the problem of some P1-billion worth of bananas rotting in a Chinese warehouse because of a technical problem regarding their admissibility because of an infestation by a bacteria which has been known to infect other than just coconuts. So what now?

These are challenges that now beset the Aquino administration. And they are whether we like it or not, going to grow worse in the days to come unless the administration can come up with measures to ease the economic vise that has been administered to us by China over the dispute on the Scarborough Shoal and neighboring islets.

It is non-violent. But effective. And it may soon have us on our knees. No amount of Noynoying will be able to ease the headaches of our local hotel operators and owners as well as the suppliers of food, etc. for tourists.

Take the case of Boracay and Bohol so far, the cancellation of bookings for 46 state rooms must be minuscule. But that means losses which are irreparable. Even the United States, our supposed ally, is not able to step into the breach. It just cannot send tourists here. Or make them patronize our hotels and scenic spots.

It is good that CNN has been playing it’s more fun in the Philippines. But that is a message that takes time to convince travelers to change their plans about overseas travel. And with Europe also in the doldrums with several EU countries in the grip of political, turmoil because of their sagging economics, chances are that we may not be able to cash in on them now.

The future seems somewhat dim for the Philippines under the present economic whipping being applied on us by China.

And China is just starting. And it is our foreign secretary doing all the hustling. Breaking his head on how to look for diplomatic solutions to the Scarborough impasse.

And the president still has to appoint our Ambassador to Beijing. Not that persons could really do better than what DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario is doing now. But Aquino should have been able to at least mollify to a certain extent the slight to China felt with that obvious slight to its dignity as the second largest and powerful country in the world.

But is seems that even just that simple matter of correcting a major slight seems to have paralyzed the President.

Instead, the Malacañang landlord keeps harping on the Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. As if Corona holds in his hand the entire solution to our problem with China.

Oh, well for the time being, the impact of the economic offensive by China has not yet been felt by the entire country, but sooner or later it is going to take its toll on our fortunes.

It is good that the administration has taken pains not to stoke the fervor of Filipino patriots with calls to rally round the flag and take up the cudgels for our claims over Scarborough Shoal.

But even the spontaneous efforts by some Filipino communities abroad had already draw claims by China that the government is behind these protest demos.

Major headaches now confront the president and his cabinet. But, for the moment, they have eyes only for the next election.

Perhaps, the country’s Catholic Bishops should launch a call for the faithful to undertake a nationwide prayer asking God’s help to settle the issue between the Philippines and China.

That may sound ridiculous. But one should remember that prayers had always been the silent but effective weapons of the Filipinos during crisis moments. God, in some mysterious ways always summons His creative approaches to difficult and seemingly insoluble problems. So, why not give it a try. A determined try?

***

Perhaps, police authorities should try to have the two teenage suspects in the killing of Dr. Andres Gumban undergo tests for drug use.

The way he was murdered shows very touching indications that the suspects are not only robbing him but also were driven out of their minds in killing the physician.

I had seen some of the wounds of Dr. Gumban whom I viewed Saturday night at the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapel extension. And I was bothered by the many stab wounds he had received including the one on his neck.

For all it’s worth. A drug test for the two must be considered imperative.*

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