You’ve seen them. They wave the Philippine flag like a battle standard. They thunder about “sovereignty” on TV panels. They rage against China’s encroachment in the “West Philippine Sea.” But here’s the thing: When the rhetoric fades, so do they—straight to LAX, blue U.S. passports tucked between their designer sunglasses and boarding passes.
Welcome to the Philippines’ great foreign policy charade, where the fiercest “anti-China” voices often have the most American baggage—and a first-class ticket out if things go south.
Let’s be real: Half our elite class has a foot (or a whole family) in the U.S. They own property in San Francisco, bank accounts in New York, and health insurance in Chicago. Their kids go to school in Boston or Los Angeles. When illness strikes, they fly to Cedars-Sinai—not St. Luke’s. And if the South China Sea boils over?
They won’t be dodging missiles in Manila. You and I will.
Sovereignty as Theater
That’s why the sudden “pro-America” frenzy feels so cynical. The same politicians who cheered the U.S. military exit in 1991 now clamor for more American bases under “EDCA.” They call it “deterrence,” but regular Filipinos know the truth:
We’re not allies—we’re a tripwire.
And while the elite perform their patriotic sermons, they’ve already reserved seats on the last plane out.
Ask yourself:
- Who actually wins if we become America’s Pacific pawn?
- Who’s signing up their grandchildren for the potential war? (Spoiler: Not the senator with a mansion in Texas.)
- Who gets left holding the rubble if this “alliance” goes hot?
It’s not the tycoons with American passports. Not the pundits who summer in San Diego. Not the generals sending their kids to West Point while ours dig foxholes. They’ve rigged the game. They’ve got exit strategies. And they’re selling you “patriotism” while their real loyalty is to a 401(k).
Sovereignty Isn’t a Soundbite
True independence means owning your choices—not swapping a Chinese leash for an American one. But our leaders? They’ve outsourced our future to Washington. They’ll scream about “Chinese aggression” by day, then wine-and-dine Pentagon contractors by night.
Notice the hypocrisy? Good. You’re not crazy—you’re just paying attention.
