THE 117th anniversary of Philippine independence was celebrated by Filipinos in America from coast to coast, shouting out a new mission: Defend Philippine sovereignty against China’s bullying by protest actions and a global boycott of goods made in China, as well as of companies that sell products that are made in China.
The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America covered some of the protest actions. In New York and San Francisco, Filipinos rallied in front of Apple Stores. In Los Angeles and Washington DC, they assembled in front of Wal-Mart.
The boycott against products made in China was spearheaded by the Fil-Am group US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG), as a show of anger against China’s incursion in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea).
This includes protests against China’s reported massive illegal reclamation of 2000 acres of the Philippine-claimed reefs, now reportedly being used as military outposts by China.
In a report by Correspondent Don Tagala on Balitang America, even non-Filipinos were out in the streets protesting against China in the nation’s capital. These include people who are from other Asian countries like Vietnam, which are also claimants of the disputed areas, and are against China’s bullying.
“We ask the Communist Party of China to stop invading the West Sea of the Philippines, the East Sea of Vietnam, the seas of all Southeast Asian nations…and attacking the freedom of navigation of the whole world,” Vietnamese-American Jenny Nguyen told Tagala.
Community leaders from USPGG like Eric Lachica in Washington and Atty. Rodel Rodis in San Francisco explained why the boycott is important and effective in our fight for sovereignty.
They point out that the boycott against China (which Fil-Am leaders have called for almost two years ago) is working.
As Eric Lachica explained on Balitang America: “Almost 15 percent decline in China’s sales to the US, and that has been verified by the Reuters News Agency. We hope to get a 50 percent goal by the time President Zee Jai Ping arrives here in Washington.”
“We are trying to show our Filipino American community leaders to take a lead and create a boycott in their at their local level by going to their Walmart, KMart, Target, their Apple stores, and choose wisely by not buying made in China products,” Lachica added.
As Don Tagala reported, the members of US Pinoys for Good Governance say they are urging Americans to join the boycott as well.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
