Message to BBM (Bongbong Marcos):Please Remember History Wisely
CHINO Keiko / Journalist
June 28, 2022
"The essence of history is to remember events wisely". This is a quote from literary critic Hideo Kobayashi. However, reality shows how difficult it is to remember history wisely.
The landslide victory of Bongbong Marcos, aka BBM - the eldest son of former president Marcos, in the Philippines' presidential election on May 9 is one such example.
In the middle of the night on February 25, 1986, the Marcos family boarded a US military helicopter and escaped from Malacañang Palace (the presidential palace) which had been surrounded by masses of protesters. At that time, I was working the night desk of the Foreign News Department, and as the deadline for the morning newspaper approached, we still didn't know the helicopter's destination. But no matter where they were going, the Marcos' rule had come to an end. For me, a sober realization of the historic significance of this event gradually sank in that night.
What happened to the fervor and clamor, known as the "EDSA Revolution" or the "People Power Revolution", that brought down the long-running dictatorship? As I looked at the large crowd rejoicing at BBM's overwhelming victory, I almost felt that all that might be “fake”.
The Philippines is a young country that could be the envy of Japan. The average age is 25 years old, and 70% of the population is under 45 years old. In other words, most of the people have no knowledge of the collapse of the Marcos regime 36 years ago. The election campaign slogan, "The Marcos era was great", appealed to the younger generation. That sounds like something I have heard elsewhere. In fact, there was a time when it was said that the Suharto era was great for Indonesia.
What they have in common is people's frustration and disappointment with their lives and the current government, in other words, the failure of politics. As a result, the past is glorified. I hope that, as BBM takes the helm of the new government, he will "remember wisely" the history of his father's failure and avoid his mistakes.
As the war in Ukraine drags on and the US-China conflict intensifies, the position of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and especially that of the US ally, the Philippines, has become increasingly important. Although he did not speak of foreign policy during his campaign except to say that he would "follow Duterte's policies", BBM has stated even before his inauguration that he intends to adhere to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. In the territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, the Philippines is the only ASEAN country to bring a case to the international court and win a completely favorable decision. I hope that he will make clear in practice his transition from the pro-Chinese, anti-American Duterte polices that included shelving the ruling of the PCA to appease China.
There is another historical event that I hope he remembers wisely. In 1992, the US forces completely withdrew from Philippines due to the Philippine Senate's refusal to ratify the US-Philippines Status of Forces Agreement compounded by the large eruption of Mount Pinatubo. As if it had been anticipating the power vaccuum, three years later China siezed the Mischief Reef in South China Sea, which had been under effective control by the Philippines, and then the Scarborough Reef in 2012. There is no change in China’s posture to pounce on islands whenever opportunities present themselves. Shelving the PCA ruling didn't bring to Duterte the results he had anticipated.
I would also like to remind Bongbong that President Noynoy Aquino, the son of President Corazon Aquino, was the one who bravely brought the case to the PCA. The people of the Philippines will be happy to see joint efforts made by the long-standing political rivals, the Aquino and the Marcos families, against China.
In the economic sphere as well, the challenge they face is to break away from their dependence on China. In that sense, joining the new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) as a founding member was a wise decision. It appears increasing doubtful if the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement would end up engulfing the region.
In closing, last year marked the 65th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. Against the backdrop of volatile security tensions in the region, the time has come for Japan and the Philippines to elevate their good relationship into a strategic partnership. For BBM, the challenge is not just to remember the past but to write a new chapter in history.
Keiko Chino (Freelance journalist, Sankei Shimbun, guest editorial writer)
The landslide victory of Bongbong Marcos, aka BBM - the eldest son of former president Marcos, in the Philippines' presidential election on May 9 is one such example.
In the middle of the night on February 25, 1986, the Marcos family boarded a US military helicopter and escaped from Malacañang Palace (the presidential palace) which had been surrounded by masses of protesters. At that time, I was working the night desk of the Foreign News Department, and as the deadline for the morning newspaper approached, we still didn't know the helicopter's destination. But no matter where they were going, the Marcos' rule had come to an end. For me, a sober realization of the historic significance of this event gradually sank in that night.
What happened to the fervor and clamor, known as the "EDSA Revolution" or the "People Power Revolution", that brought down the long-running dictatorship? As I looked at the large crowd rejoicing at BBM's overwhelming victory, I almost felt that all that might be “fake”.
The Philippines is a young country that could be the envy of Japan. The average age is 25 years old, and 70% of the population is under 45 years old. In other words, most of the people have no knowledge of the collapse of the Marcos regime 36 years ago. The election campaign slogan, "The Marcos era was great", appealed to the younger generation. That sounds like something I have heard elsewhere. In fact, there was a time when it was said that the Suharto era was great for Indonesia.
What they have in common is people's frustration and disappointment with their lives and the current government, in other words, the failure of politics. As a result, the past is glorified. I hope that, as BBM takes the helm of the new government, he will "remember wisely" the history of his father's failure and avoid his mistakes.
As the war in Ukraine drags on and the US-China conflict intensifies, the position of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and especially that of the US ally, the Philippines, has become increasingly important. Although he did not speak of foreign policy during his campaign except to say that he would "follow Duterte's policies", BBM has stated even before his inauguration that he intends to adhere to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. In the territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, the Philippines is the only ASEAN country to bring a case to the international court and win a completely favorable decision. I hope that he will make clear in practice his transition from the pro-Chinese, anti-American Duterte polices that included shelving the ruling of the PCA to appease China.
There is another historical event that I hope he remembers wisely. In 1992, the US forces completely withdrew from Philippines due to the Philippine Senate's refusal to ratify the US-Philippines Status of Forces Agreement compounded by the large eruption of Mount Pinatubo. As if it had been anticipating the power vaccuum, three years later China siezed the Mischief Reef in South China Sea, which had been under effective control by the Philippines, and then the Scarborough Reef in 2012. There is no change in China’s posture to pounce on islands whenever opportunities present themselves. Shelving the PCA ruling didn't bring to Duterte the results he had anticipated.
I would also like to remind Bongbong that President Noynoy Aquino, the son of President Corazon Aquino, was the one who bravely brought the case to the PCA. The people of the Philippines will be happy to see joint efforts made by the long-standing political rivals, the Aquino and the Marcos families, against China.
In the economic sphere as well, the challenge they face is to break away from their dependence on China. In that sense, joining the new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) as a founding member was a wise decision. It appears increasing doubtful if the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement would end up engulfing the region.
In closing, last year marked the 65th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. Against the backdrop of volatile security tensions in the region, the time has come for Japan and the Philippines to elevate their good relationship into a strategic partnership. For BBM, the challenge is not just to remember the past but to write a new chapter in history.
Keiko Chino (Freelance journalist, Sankei Shimbun, guest editorial writer)
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
BBM(ボンボン・マルコス)へ：歴史を「上手に」思い出そう
千野 境子 / ジャーナリスト
2022年 6月 28日
「歴史とは上手に思い出すことなのです」。そう述べたのは文芸評論家、小林秀雄である。しかし現実が示しているのは、歴史を上手に思い出すことが如何に難しいかということだろう。
5月9日のフィリピン大統領選挙におけるマルコス元大統領の長男ボンボン・マルコス氏（通称BBM）の圧勝もそうだった。
マルコス一家が、抗議の大群衆が包囲するマラカニアン宮殿（大統領府）から米軍ヘリで脱出したのは1986年2月25日深夜。当時私は外信部の夜勤デスクで、朝刊の降版時間が迫る中ヘリの行き先は分からない。しかし一家がどこへ行こうが、何をしようがマルコス体制は終わった、これは歴史的一夜なのだ、そう思うとしみじみ感慨を覚えたものである。
「エドサ革命」とも「ピープルパワー」とも呼ばれる長期独裁政権を倒したあの熱狂と喧騒は何だったのか。BBM圧勝に歓喜する大群衆を見ていると、あれはまさかフェイクじゃないわよねえと錯覚しそうになった。
フィリピンは日本が羨望したくなるほど若い国だ。平均年齢は25歳、人口の7割を45歳以下が占める。つまり大半の国民は36年前のマルコス政権崩壊を知らない。選挙戦で「マルコス時代は良かった」とのキャンペーンが若い世代にアピールしたという。どこかで聞いたようなセリフだ。そう、インドネシアでも「スハルト時代は良かった」と一時言われた。
そこに共通するのは、暮らしや現政権に対する人々の不満や失望、言い換えると政治の失敗だ。それゆえ過去が美化される。新政権運営に当たるBBMに望みたいのは、父の失敗の歴史を「上手に思い出し」、統治に生かしてほしいということである。
ウクライナ戦争が長期化する一方、米中対立が厳しさを増す今、東南アジア諸国連合（ASEAN）、とりわけ米国の同盟国フィリピンの立ち位置はますます重要になってきた。選挙戦では「ドゥテルテ路線の踏襲」以外に外交政策を語らなかったBBMが、就任を待たずに早くもハーグ仲裁裁判所の裁定を堅持すると言明した。南シナ海における中国との領有権紛争で、ASEANで唯一国際法廷に持ち込み、全面的勝利を得た判決である。対中宥和と反米路線で同裁定を棚上げしたドゥテルテ路線からの転換を明確にしていくことを期待したい。
そしてここでも上手に思い出して欲しい歴史がある。比上院の米比地位協定批准拒否にピナツボ火山の大噴火が加わって米軍がフィリピンから完全撤退したのは1992年。力の空白を待っていたように、3年後に中国が比の実効支配する南シナ海ミスチーフ礁を、2012年には同じくスカボロー礁を奪取したことだ。隙あらば、中国が島盗りに虎視眈々する姿勢は変わらない。裁定の棚上げもドゥテルテ氏がそれに見合う果実を得たとは言えない。
さらにもう1つ、ハーグへの勇気ある提訴が、母アキノ大統領の息子ノイノイ・アキノ大統領だったことも思い出したい。長年の政治的ライバル、アキノ家とマルコス家が対中共同歩調を取るのは国民も歓迎するだろう。
経済分野でも対中依存からの脱却が課題だ。その意味で新経済圏構想インド太平洋経済枠組（IPEF）に創設メンバー入りする判断は賢明だった。中国主導の包括的な経済連携協定（RCEP）が地域を席巻する可能性は疑問符がつきつつある。
最後に日本とフィリピンは昨年が国交正常化65周年だった。地域の安全保障環境の激変を背景に、日比関係は良好の中にも戦略的パートナーシップをより高める時を迎えている。BBMにとっては歴史を思い出すというより、新たな歴史作りへの挑戦となるだろう。
千野境子（フリーランスジャーナリスト、産経新聞客員論説委員）
5月9日のフィリピン大統領選挙におけるマルコス元大統領の長男ボンボン・マルコス氏（通称BBM）の圧勝もそうだった。
マルコス一家が、抗議の大群衆が包囲するマラカニアン宮殿（大統領府）から米軍ヘリで脱出したのは1986年2月25日深夜。当時私は外信部の夜勤デスクで、朝刊の降版時間が迫る中ヘリの行き先は分からない。しかし一家がどこへ行こうが、何をしようがマルコス体制は終わった、これは歴史的一夜なのだ、そう思うとしみじみ感慨を覚えたものである。
「エドサ革命」とも「ピープルパワー」とも呼ばれる長期独裁政権を倒したあの熱狂と喧騒は何だったのか。BBM圧勝に歓喜する大群衆を見ていると、あれはまさかフェイクじゃないわよねえと錯覚しそうになった。
フィリピンは日本が羨望したくなるほど若い国だ。平均年齢は25歳、人口の7割を45歳以下が占める。つまり大半の国民は36年前のマルコス政権崩壊を知らない。選挙戦で「マルコス時代は良かった」とのキャンペーンが若い世代にアピールしたという。どこかで聞いたようなセリフだ。そう、インドネシアでも「スハルト時代は良かった」と一時言われた。
そこに共通するのは、暮らしや現政権に対する人々の不満や失望、言い換えると政治の失敗だ。それゆえ過去が美化される。新政権運営に当たるBBMに望みたいのは、父の失敗の歴史を「上手に思い出し」、統治に生かしてほしいということである。
ウクライナ戦争が長期化する一方、米中対立が厳しさを増す今、東南アジア諸国連合（ASEAN）、とりわけ米国の同盟国フィリピンの立ち位置はますます重要になってきた。選挙戦では「ドゥテルテ路線の踏襲」以外に外交政策を語らなかったBBMが、就任を待たずに早くもハーグ仲裁裁判所の裁定を堅持すると言明した。南シナ海における中国との領有権紛争で、ASEANで唯一国際法廷に持ち込み、全面的勝利を得た判決である。対中宥和と反米路線で同裁定を棚上げしたドゥテルテ路線からの転換を明確にしていくことを期待したい。
そしてここでも上手に思い出して欲しい歴史がある。比上院の米比地位協定批准拒否にピナツボ火山の大噴火が加わって米軍がフィリピンから完全撤退したのは1992年。力の空白を待っていたように、3年後に中国が比の実効支配する南シナ海ミスチーフ礁を、2012年には同じくスカボロー礁を奪取したことだ。隙あらば、中国が島盗りに虎視眈々する姿勢は変わらない。裁定の棚上げもドゥテルテ氏がそれに見合う果実を得たとは言えない。
さらにもう1つ、ハーグへの勇気ある提訴が、母アキノ大統領の息子ノイノイ・アキノ大統領だったことも思い出したい。長年の政治的ライバル、アキノ家とマルコス家が対中共同歩調を取るのは国民も歓迎するだろう。
経済分野でも対中依存からの脱却が課題だ。その意味で新経済圏構想インド太平洋経済枠組（IPEF）に創設メンバー入りする判断は賢明だった。中国主導の包括的な経済連携協定（RCEP）が地域を席巻する可能性は疑問符がつきつつある。
最後に日本とフィリピンは昨年が国交正常化65周年だった。地域の安全保障環境の激変を背景に、日比関係は良好の中にも戦略的パートナーシップをより高める時を迎えている。BBMにとっては歴史を思い出すというより、新たな歴史作りへの挑戦となるだろう。
千野境子（フリーランスジャーナリスト、産経新聞客員論説委員）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟