However, applying this logic to our current geopolitical situation with China ffeels a bit likebringing a script from an action movie toa highstakes chess match.
The Senator’s logic implies that disrespect is a two-way street sparked by provocation. But if we look at the West Philippine Sea, the "pambabastos" (disrespect) has been a fairly one-sided affair for quite some time.
The Uninvited Guests: China has been building artificial islands and "parking" maritime militia in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for years. If a neighbor builds a shed in your backyard and tells you to stay in your kitchen, who started the "bastos" cycle?
The Water Cannon "Prank": Our sailors have been blasted with high-pressure water cannons while trying to deliver food to our own outposts. In the world of etiquette, that’s slightly more offensive than forgetting to say "po" and "opo."
The Legal Snub: Despite the 2016 Arbitral Ruling explicitly stating that China’s claims have no legal basis, they’ve treated the decision like a flyer for a gym they have no intention of joining.
Is it bastos to stand up?
The irony in the Senator's statement is the suggestion that standing up for one’s rights is somehow a form of provocation.
By this logic, filing a police report against a thief is being "rude" to the thief.
We aren't "bastos" for asserting our sovereignty; we are simply being sovereign. Following international law and protecting our fishermen isn't an insult—it's a responsibility.
Respect is earned, but sovereignty is inherent. We don't need to be "bastos" to be firm, but we also shouldn't mistake a bully’s aggression for a response to our own behavior.
If the Senator thinks we are being "bastos" just by existing in our own waters, then perhaps it’s time to re-read the script on Philippine history.
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