Robin Padilla. Image: Inquirer Stock Photo
The sinking of a Filipino boat by a Chinese vessel at Recto (Reed) Bank in the West Philippine Sea has prompted some celebrities to give their take on the issue, including action star Robin Padilla.
President Rodrigo Duterte called the incident a “maritime accident” during his speech commemorating the 121st Philippine Navy anniversary on June 17. Without mentioning any names, he said that politicians are just making the situation worse.
Padilla took to Facebook and did a live video on June 18 in which he expressed his support for the President’s statement.
“Sinabi ng ating mahal na pangulo na hindi yun dahilan para tayo ay makipag-giyera sa China at tayo’y matunaw na…,” Padilla told his viewers. “Kaya napakasensitibo po yan na topic, mahirap po diyan na nagmamatapang tayo at idadamay natin ang buong bayan…”
(Our dear President said it is not a reason to go to war against China and for us to be obliterated… This is a very sensitive topic and it is difficult if we all act tough and risk dragging the rest of the country.)
Padilla echoed Duterte’s remarks and said the incident should not be blown out of proportion.
“Wag na lang ho natin palakihin. Siguro katulad ho ng sinasabi ko nung araw, kung sino yung matatapang, eh sila na lang yung pumunta dun,” he said. “Wag na natin idamay pa yung Armed Forces, yung Pilipinas. Sarili na lang ninyong sikap kung talagang matapang kayo, edi patunayan niyo dun…”
(Let’s not make the situation worse. I guess, like what I’ve said before, those who are brave should be the ones to go there. Don’t drag the Armed Forces, the Philippines, into it. If you are really tough then go there of your own accord and prove it.)
Padilla also quoted actor and martial artist Bruce Lee in “Enter the Dragon” on “the art of fighting without fighting” during his live video.
“Tama yung sinabi ni Bruce Lee, sabi niya pwede naman makipaglaban nang hindi nakikipaglaban, fighting without fighting,” he said. “Kailangan utak muna ang nakikipaglaban at magaling diyan ang presidente natin… kumbaga nakikipag chess yung ating pangulo sa presidente [ng China]…”
(What Bruce Lee said was right, he said we can fight without fighting. It should be the brain that fights first and our President is good in that… in a way, he is playing chess with the President of China).
He added that the Philippines would not last one day if it went to war against China, and that the Filipinos should only fight if they are being invaded.
“Hindi ho tayo tatagal ng isang araw kapag tayo ay nakipag giyera sa China… kawawa naman ho yung mga kabataan natin diyan,” said Padilla. “Tayo ho dapat lalaban lang tayo pagka ininvade na tayo, yung pagsinabing conventional warfare, diyan pwede natin ilabas ang tapang natin diyan…”
(We will not last one day if we went to war against China… our children would be pitiful. We should only fight when we are already being invaded, this is what they call conventional warfare, and we can then show our courage…)
Recently, celebrities such as Enchong Dee, Ogie Diaz, Jasmine Curtis and Kiana Valenciano took to social media to air their grievances about the sinking of the Filipino fishing boat.
Dee, in a tweet, said other countries think so little of the Philippines and things will worsen if people keep silent about the fishermen in the fight against bullies.
Diaz and Curtis were also displeased with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s remark dismissing the ramming as “unintentional.” Valenciano, meanwhile, said she was “not even a little surprised” about Duterte calling the incident a maritime accident. /ra
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