What Will Happen If We Cut Ties with the US

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First, what happens is that we lose an important economic ally. The US may not be our true friend and partner, but it's still an important economic ally to consider. All we have to remember is that a rift with the US may negatively affect investments, especially in relation to the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry which is responsible for employing a lot of Filipinos.

Second, think of the Filipinos in the US. Majority of us have families or relatives there. They may feel some serious repercussions of some sort, for sure. US visas will again be hard to come by and many Filipinos still looking up to America won't be able to bear that. They were brainwashed into thinking that America gives them life and that without going to the US they're doomed.

Third, we're still testing the waters as far as our new relations with China is concerned (and probably Russia in the near future). We need a fallback in case alliance with China doesn't work out. And if that happens (and if China is irked by our disapproval of her one-sided proposals), we need a leverage to make China think twice about bullying us again.

The only realistic thing that prevents China from going all-out with its aggression against us are US interests still lurking in our territories. Imagine what happens if all these investments are pulled out. What else would deter a China all-out offensive?

Of course, I don't believe the US will really protect us in case China attacks. All it will do is evacuate Americans from the country and then leave us to defend ourselves---just like what it did in World War II. The best it will do is probably an international press conference denouncing China's aggression against its "ally." Something like, "We denounce in the strongest possible terms..."

Though we know about this (that the US won't  really do anything to save us), the good thing is that for now China isn't too sure about it. As long as US interests are still here, they will always have second thoughts about a US intervention. China thinks US interests here are the aces up our sleeves. And that's a blessing to us. The US has been bluffing China about coming to our rescue if it decides to attack us, and we've been playing along with this bluff, too.

And China seems to be buying it. But for how long? Well, as long as we have US interests in our country.

Moreover, it is known internationally how the US is just aching to start a war in Southeast Asia so it can sell war paraphernalia to countries affected like the PH, Vietnam, Malaysia and probably even Taiwan. Its failing economy needs fresh sources of refunding and profits from war have always been a good source of revenues for the US economy, especially now that it has outstanding debts with China.

Believe it or not, the US creates offshore wars to keep its armaments business alive.

Fourth, the US is a close ally of Japan. If we cut ties with the US, I doubt if Japan would give us any thought if China attacks.

So there.

But you see, we don't really need to cut ties with any nation. In fact, it's foolish to do so since we are not a powerful nation to contend with. Just open your eyes to see that we're nothing compared to China. I really doubt if it will conclude any agreement with us as its equal. It will always propose one-sided ventures, all in its favor, just like how many Chinese businesses (not all though) do not see their Filipino "partners" as equals.

As it is, it "allows" our fishermen partial access to the West Philippine Sea. It's crystal clear that China exercises sovereignty in ALL of the West Philippine Sea.

The only practical thing we can do is to befriend as many countries as possible so we can have leverage against big players in international politics. Why not keep our "special" relations with the US at the same time that we also build "special" relations with the rest---even with China and Russia or even Mars and Pluto, for that matter?

Alliance with super powers is not the problem. The problem is when we allow ourselves to be their slave and underdog in our treaties with them. The real problem with our relations with the US is that we have been quietly approving their lopsided policies that render them practically our masters, and that for decades now.

We're still immature with the way we choose our diplomats who'd bargain for us at the bargaining table. Our officials say nothing there but "Yes sir!"

We have to relate with other nations on equal footing, as a sovereign state with another. We can always reject anything unfair with their proposals and yet at the same time still be in "special" friendly relations with them.

This is what Duterte should do, instead of making outright pronouncements about cutting ties or "separating" from certain countries, especially those that have been our allies.

Do You Know Your Proper Place?

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It's a vital principle in human relations and in life---you should know your proper place and stay in it. We are all given our lot in life. The idea is to stay there to keep safe. It's somewhat like the cities of refuge in the Old Testament designed to keep people safe, especially if they screwed up big-time.

Sadly, lots of folks are not aware of this. They get out of their boundaries and mess everything up. Like how people interfere with other people's lives uninvited. How many times have I seen mothers trying to discipline or reprove other kids who are not related to them in any way.

Teachers may discipline their pupils while in school. But even here, teachers cannot just discipline pupils not under them or when the pupils are under another teacher for another subject. They should know their proper place.

Parents have all rights to discipline their kids while they're young and dependent on them. But once they start their own lives and families, parents lose a little of that authority. They're still parents but they have to give way to how their children exercise authority in their own homes with their own kids. This is so basic and yet it's still a big issue today.

What the boss says is law at the office. But outside office hours, he ceases to be boss. This is common sense, and yet you see bosses getting out of bounds, still acting like bosses to their subordinates outside office work. There's a time to be boss and a time to be equal with everyone, no matter how high your position is, even if you are the owner of the company.

I often keep simple and quiet with most people. I'm usually just attentive listening to them, even if I see how I've attained higher formal education or career accomplishments than they have. Why? Because I'm carefully weighing things to see where I should be standing. I may be the CEO of our company and he may just be the security guard of their company, but when we're in a neutral place like a mall or park, I see ourselves equal.

You break that basic principle, you get into trouble.

Even when I was marketing and training director of a company. During those times, I never ordered our janitor to do anything personal for me. I often asked his help and did things together with him, but not ordered him around like what other people did. Some sales agents, probably because they were making big money, felt it their right to order him around. The janitor told me he felt like a slave.

I don't care if you think you're doing better or producing more than other people do. I don't care if you're the most successful guy in the world. Whoever and whatever you are, you are not exempt---you should always know your proper place and stay there.

Lots of people think their success or the amount of money and material possessions they have make them superior over others. They think it gives them the right to call the shots. And I mean, they're like that even with people who are not under them. They assume that money gives them the right to make everyone else their subordinates.

And so with "assistants." Ever heard of this story?

There's the case of the boss' assistant who usurps power just because he's close to the boss. He really believes he's also boss and expects everyone in the company to treat him thus. Just because the fly is standing over the carabao, it believes it also is a carabao.

Worse is when this assistant produces another "assistant." This little assistant will often become the worst tyrant of all.

How to Know Your Place and Stay There

To avoid being an asshole like that---standing where you shouldn't be---here are things you should remember:

1. Keep simple and quiet. "Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent," says Proverb 17.28. Simple ambitions keep you from stepping on other people's toes. I would rather wait for God to promote me than covet favors or positions. Waiting on God makes you stay in your proper place.

2. Never assume you're better or you're somebody. "Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves," says Philippians 2.3. It's better if other people praise you rather than yourself doing it [Proverbs 27.2]. If you covet recognition, you're prone to standing where you're not supposed to be.

3. Seek lower or humbler dispositions and wait to be exalted. "But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests [Luke 14.10].

I always prefer places of insignificance. That way, you either stay there or be asked to go up higher. Even if you're asked to go down lower, it wouldn't matter much. But if you assume prominence at once, you may be asked to go down lower for everyone to see.