Snap Thoughts

Greetings Family,

It’s been another week of distractions!

Our province has seen a small increase in the number of new SARS 2 infections. The local government reacted in their typical “knee jerk” fashion with mandatory lock downs and police checkpoints. Passing through a myriad of checkouts reminds me of being in a war zone!

Unfortunately, the local government has said nothing about the greatest threat to the safety of the entire island.

Just this past Monday, Beijing insisted that it has jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea following the maritime exercises of the Philippine Coast Guard in that area.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a press briefing on Monday, “China enjoys sovereignty over the Spratly Islands including Thitu Island and Scarborough Shoal and their adjacent waters, and exercises jurisdiction in relevant waters.”

Yikes! Pag-asa (Thitu) Island is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan and Filipinos have lived on Pag-asa Island for many years. Palawan? Yes, that’s me! Pag-asa Island is a short 80 Km from the mainland of Palawan. China’s land grabbing is even a greater threat to us than the virus they unleashed on the planet. Please pray for the Philippines.

The good news? We have another new follower of Pressing the Issue. In keeping with my promise to acknowledge every new family member, let’s all give a warm welcome to rashaadwan.

Please bear with me during these difficult times as my posting is affected by the ever changing nature of safety issues; both warranted and unwarranted.

Peace.