Lowering our standards

It is disheartening to see that we Filipinos have been lowering our acceptable standards on a lot of things through the years. This explains why our country is lagging behind today and our future is questionable. Our economy is failing and our government economists say we are just being resilient.

We have set the bar so low on the expected performance of our public officials. Our Vice President who managed DepEd for over a year did nothing but spend confidential funds on matters not related to improving the quality of learning in our public schools. Yet opinion polls say she is doing okay.

We have elected the worst set of senators and congressmen ever. We no longer have the statesmen we used to have in the Senate. Our political dynasties control 80 percent of Congressional seats, plunder up to half of the budget every year – that’s P3 trillion a year. And it seems alright with us. No indignation. Wala lang. Ganyan talaga ang kalakalan.

Not only did they institutionalize plunder in the national budget, they have used their seats in Congress for more opportunities to gain wealth. Last week, they seem to have commercialized what used to be a distinct honor of being declared a citizen of the Republic through an act of Congress.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the lone senator who voted against the measure (Grace Poe was not in the chamber during the voting and also didn’t join the 19 senators) explained why it was wrong to make this Chinese man a Filipino citizen by an act of Congress. Here is the official Senate press release:

“Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros opposes the bill granting Philippine citizenship to Li Duan Wang. During Monday’s plenary session, Jan. 27, 2025, Hontiveros explained her vote against House Bill 8839. However, the Senate approved the bill on third and final reading with 19 affirmative votes. ‘I do not judge Li Duan Wang as guilty of any crime, Mr. President, but these red flags are enough to prevent him from being granted Filipino citizenship so easily,’ Hontiveros said. ‘In my firm belief, what the government should do is investigate Li Duan Wang – not pass a law to treat him as one of us,’ she added.

“According to Hontiveros, Li Duan Wang is a junket operator and partner of Duanren Wu, the alleged big boss of the raided POGO in Porac, Pampanga. His business is in the same building as the business of She Zhijiang, a self-confessed Chinese spy. He is connected to the Philippine Jinjiang Yuxi Association, which is said to be part of the United Front work of the Communist Party of China. And in the official documents at the SEC, he lied and presented himself as a Filipino named Mark Co Ong. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)”

The ‘red flags’ that Sen. Risa raised are serious, especially because law enforcers arrested a number of Chinese spies last week and it is likely there are sleeper cells out there. Yet, almost all the senators ignored these concerns, falling over themselves in voting for this bill. Is patriotism or love of country dead? Who really is this Chinese man? What has he done that’s so outstanding to be worthy of this honor?

It seems there’s nothing special about him. He has brought no honor to our country such as some athletes who have been granted citizenship by legislation. He has no expertise or inventions that will advance our science and technology. He is not bringing in significant investments. If at all, he should just go through the normal naturalization process.

As Sen. Risa pointed out, he seems to be operating on the fringes in the company of sleazy Chinese mainlanders. So, why on Earth would Congress give him Filipino citizenship on a silver platter?

In the past, to be declared a Filipino citizen as an act of Congress is something special that is not given to just any foreigner. Congress has obviously lowered the standards for this important distinction our nation can give to a foreigner who has done great things for us.

Of course, Congress can do better than this. I asked Google AI for examples and I was pointed to a Senate press release that in 2023, a Canadian vlogger Kyle Douglas Jennermann became a Filipino by an act of Congress The 35-year-old popularly known as “Kulas” came to live in the Philippines in 2013. His YouTube channel, Becoming Filipino, has inspired both foreigners and locals alike to travel and see the country’s stunning natural wonders and expose himself to cultures across the country.

“Kulas has dedicated his YouTube channel, Becoming Filipino, to feature the Philippines’ natural beauty and promote the country’s culture and identity to the world. He travelled by scooter to a total of 80 provinces, actually more provinces than I have visited myself, and I have been a senator for many years, documenting his experiences and interactions and sharing them through his vlogs,” Sen. Migz Zubiri said.

Sen. Migz said Jennermann loves the Filipinos, respects Philippine culture, and promotes the country’s natural beauty every chance he gets. “He is a better promoter of the Philippines than many of the people I know who do that for a living,” Zubiri added. Jennermann claimed his Philippine Passport at DFA Consular Office Tagum last Oct. 25. 2023.

Sen. Risa should not be the only one defending the national interest in our Senate. We have to help elect more worthy candidates for senators this May. So far it doesn’t look good. Some of those responsible for this Chinese guy getting this far are in the winning circle.

We should raise the bar, raise the standards for quality in our Senate and the House. We should not be complicit in losing our national respectability. BBM should veto this bill or fail to redeem his family’s place in history.

Boo Chanco’s email address is [email protected]. Follow him on X @boochanco