the monster within

My status as a FilAm citizen is constantly shifting. Sometimes I have the best of both worlds. Other times I am caught between a rock and a hard place. 

Celebrating our independence days and the founding of either nation can prove difficult or challenging. This year The Philippines celebrated its 128th day of independence. Soon the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary. 

The big news for Filipinos now is a double-edged sword. In a crushing 49-142 loss to Kyrgyzstan in the race for a UN Security Council seat, Marcos Jr.’s global rebranding campaign fell flat. The Philippines barely dodged another deadly Marcos launched bullet. 

The failed vote is proof that no amount of diplomatic gloss can hide a record tied to US-Israeli backed fascism and complicity in war crimes that continue to harm Filipinos and Palestinians. 

Our current protests center on #RejectPAXSilica. #weTHEpeople condemn the Marcos administration’s collusion with the US in their Pax Silica initiative. This so-called partnership not only sells our natural resources to foreign interests but also makes our country complicit in war crimes being committed by the US-Israel war machine across the globe. 

The conversion of 4,000 acres of Filipino land to give way for their industrial hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor surrenders land that could benefit the people. Instead of allowing foreign infringement to take our lands and drain our country’s natural resources as a strategic measure for securing geopolitical ties with the US. 

As with any dictatorial leadership and governing, most of its Machiavellian machinations are done behind our backs - without consulting us or obtaining our vote, agreement or permission.

While either government positions its initiative as economic partnerships that will benefit the country - it is their greedy grab for our natural resources and their blatant use of power to use us to feed their war machine. 

As the US approaches its 250th anniversary, Trump turned 80 on Sunday. Visibly no longer capable of delivering his duties as president but with lots of money and power sloshing around him and his appointed cabinet and government leadership. 

Among Trumps' many AI generated posts of younger stronger images of himself one has him leaving his trial in Manhattan criminal court in 2024 when a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts under the caption, "Only Trump." 

Another post was another AI image of himself on a ship looking out at battleships from different eras, including a wooden vessel flying the American flag with fighter jets in formation overhead.

The back of his jacket is emblazed with commander-in-chief and the caption reads, "You're getting discombobulated." 

Tomorrow night, UFC fighters will enter the ring from the Oval Office. The fight on the Whitehouse south lawn will be aired live on Paramount Plus for a fee starting at of $8.99. 

Just like Judas of old and his pieces of silver - Trump is selling whatever he can while he still can, sitting in his self-gilded cage. 

While #FrumptyDumbty has his display of violence on OUR Whitehouse lawn, #weTHEpeople have organized a peaceful #FlagDay celebration across the states and around the globe to show that we need #no #kings in OUR beautiful country!

The next 250 starts with us. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we have a choice about what story we tell.

While the Committee for the First Amendment leads and hosts this powerful concert, Indivisible and No Kings are proud to partner with them to build the durable, hyper-local infrastructure our movement needs to win and counter the president's spectacle. 

On June 14, the national concert event celebrates the freedoms that belong to all of us - speech, assembly, protest, religion, press, and expression.

Across the country, communities gather for local watch parties to sing along, make art, share food, connect with neighbors, and take meaningful action together.

Join a Rise Up, Sing Out event near you or host one in your community. On June 14, we rise up, we sing out, and we keep organizing.