The long-term relationship mentioned by the US ambassador conveniently whitewashes the colonial crimes of the US, the century of plunder of our resources, and the use of our lands as staging and training grounds to attack our neighbors when we hosted Subic and Clark bases.
It is insulting because it maliciously distorts history and manipulates narratives to make us grateful for the expanding US militarism and intensified plunder when, in fact, the US is maneuvering to control and exploit our critical minerals, establish a war production hub, and boost its military presence in the region for its self-serving geopolitical agenda.
Colonial history is being rewritten to advance US imperial interests today. We are condemned as a nation if we do not learn from history; that is why our task as citizens is to fiercely oppose US warmongering and US dominance falsely presented as benevolence and equal partnership.