‘Today, the world economy is confronted with unprecedented challenges: economic confrontation between the US and China, the arms race, the severe impact of climate change…’
WEST Philippine Sea — Pag-Asa sa Gitna ng Kalayaan. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines and the National Library of the Philippines, among others, continue to celebrate (with traveling exhibits) the eighth-year anniversary of the Arbitral Award from the Arbitral Tribunal at the Hague. Timely given the unceasing provocations by the Han chauvinists. In fact, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last 11 August 2024 denounced the unjustified, illegal, and reckless actions of the People’s Liberation Army—Air Force aircraft which almost collided with a PAF aircraft during a routine maritime security operation over Philippine sovereign airspace: “I strongly condemn the air incident in Bajo de Masinloc earlier this week.” [https://mirror.pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-condemns-air-incident-over-bajo-de-masinloc-urges-china-to-act-responsibly/] Moreover, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in a media interview in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City that the Philippines must brace for China’s increasingly aggressive actions, even as Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, in a text message to reporters, confirmed that the Philippine government has formally protested China’s dangerous maneuver and dropping of flares in the path of a Filipino aircraft conducting patrol over Scarborough Shoal last week. [https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231042]
The NHCP is also supposed to lead the observance of National History Month 2024, having unveiled the historical markers of “Remedios Gomez-Paraiso” last 10 July 2024 and of “Labanan sa Bangkusay” last 14 August 2024. The marker for Ms. Gomez-Paraiso: “Guerrilla leader during World War II and advocate for women’s rights. Born in Anao, Mexico, Pampanga, on July 12, 1918. Active in advancing farmers’ rights in Central Luzon. Member of Frente Popular, Anak Pawis, and Aguman ding Maldang Talapagobra. Fought Japanese occupation as a member of Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon (Hukbalahap), known as ‘Commander Liwayway.’ Leader of Squadron 3-V in the Battle of Talampas ng Camansi, May 1943. Emphasized Filipino women’s role in the fight for national freedom. Advocated for recognition of Huk veterans and their contributions post-war. Passed away on May 15, 2014.” [https://nhcp.gov.ph/news_and_updates/nhcp-unveils-the-remedios-gomez-paraiso-historical-marker/]
Favoring a whole-of-government approach, the NHCP took part in the Historians’ Fair organized by the GSIS Museo ng Sining last 08-10 August 2024. So did the Manila Studies Program and the B.A. Social Sciences (Area Studies) Program of the University of the Philippines Manila whose Convenor Dr. Wensley M. Reyes and Program Head Prof. Atoy Navarro, respectively, emphasized their contributions to historical research and education.
National History Month must, of course, include a review of past events like Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Report On Pacific Trip (Removing the Menace of Japan)” delivered at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Seattle, Washington, 12 August 1944, whereby the President of the United States said: “The people of the Philippines never have wished and never will wish to be slaves of Japan.” Yet 80 years later, after Japanese Ministers Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara met with Philippine President Marcos Jr. in Manila, the two governments signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will grant the Japanese Self-Defense Forces greater access to Philippine bases (potentially even enabling rotational deployments) and allow Filipino soldiers to undergo joint combat training with their counterparts in Japan. [https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/08/japan/politics/japan-philippines-raa-two-plus-two/] [https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/ph-japan-sign-raa-to-boost-defense-cooperation/]
Our review should not bypass the Bretton Woods Conference, where an eyewitness observed: “The compelling forces moving in the direction of agreement were overwhelming. In the first place, with the war still actively raging, it was essential for morale purposes for the United Nations to give at least a show of unity. Secondly, in unilateral conferences held with various nations during the last two and a half years and in a preliminary roundtable of some 14 principal nations held at Atlantic City before the Bretton Woods meeting, agreement on broad principles had already been reached. Thirdly–and most important of all–every other nation, recognizing the primacy of the United States as a producer of goods and as a possessor of loanable funds, wanted to keep the United States interested in proposals for post-war financial amelioration of the world. In the circumstances, it was unthinkable that representatives of any of the nations which were invited to participate in the Conference would kick Santa Claus.” [Merryle Stanley Rukeyser, “The Brave New World: The Bretton Woods Monetary Conference,” Broadcast over Station WLW, Cincinnati, Ohio, 12 August 1944]
A second take: “At Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, there are now assembled delegations from 44 so-called ‘United Nations’ for a monetary and financial conference. The announced purpose of this conference is: 1. to devise a plan for stabilizing the world currency system through the establishment of an International Stabilization Fund, and 2. to establish a Bank for Economic Reconstruction and Development. The realization of these objectives, according to the sponsors of the proposed plan, will ‘promote world trade, production, and employment in the postwar world’… (But)They can plan the most ingenious system of ‘blocked marks’ in one part of the territory under imperialist domination and Stabilization Funds and Reconstruction Banks in another, but beneath it all is brutal and unrestrained finance capitalism in a blind alley.” [Sam Marcy, “Financial Jugglery at Bretton Woods,” July 1944]
Criticized at birth! Thus, on the 80th anniversary of the Bretton Woods Conference, the call to action by the IMF to examine the future of the institution: “The governance of the IMF is in peril…Quota reform is the sine qua non of multilateralism…The IMF would need to convince its members that it is their interest to attain greater diversification in the international use of currencies. More diversity reduces systematic vulnerability to the policy preferences of individual countries and reduces the potential for volatility in exchange market conditions.” [Ousmí¨ne Jacques Mandeng (CEO Wire Coin), Bretton Woods Committee, 09 August 2024, https://www.brettonwoods.org/article/imf-at-80-embracing-the-past-to-shape-the-future]
Today, the world economy is confronted with unprecedented challenges: economic confrontation between the US and China, the arms race, the severe impact of climate change, and “the increase of inequality,” among others. [Andrei Radulescu, Bretton Woods Committee, 05 August 2024, https://www.brettonwoods.org/article/80-years-since-the-bretton-woods-conference]
Our “Salaysay ng Bayan” (Stories of the People) cannot afford to dismiss our bureaucrats’ dealings with the IMF-WB and our “Saysay ng Bansa” (Essence of the Nation) can be negated by hegemonism and monopoly capitalism, if we are careless.
