Proposed Maphilindo flag (Sourced from the net)
OUR VERY OWN national hero Dr. Jose Rizal once dreamed of uniting the Malay peoples who were only forced to be divided by their respective colonizers.
Notably, the Philippines was under the yoke of Spanish colonialism for 330 years then sold for 20 million dollars only by Spain to the United States which ruled for 40 years, then got invaded by Japan for being a US ally and occupied for three years, and finally “granted” independence by the US in 1946.
On the other hand, it was in December 1949 when the Dutch formally recognized Indonesian independence in the face of international pressures while Malaysia eventually became independent from British rule on Sept. 16, 1963.
Except for religious differences as the Philippines is predominantly a Christian nation while Malaysia and Indonesia profess the Islamic faith, the peoples of these three countries in Southeast Asia share many striking similarities.
Take for example, the word “sapato” in Indonesia and “sepatu” in Malaysia is “sapatos” in the Philippines. That is, of course, shoes in the English language.
Filipinos, Malaysians, and Indonesians also generally have the same facial features, brown skin color, and physique.
It was during the time of President Diosdado Macapagal when the concept of uniting Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, or Maphilindo was hatched.
In July 1963, then President Diosdado Macapagal convened a summit in Manila where the three countries signed a series of agreements.
Unfortunately, only a month after its inception the agreements soon mired in geopolitical disputes among the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Fast forward to present times, in the wake of China’s blatant usurping of Southeast Asia’s national treasures, the ASEAN bloc is presently inutile in putting a united front against China.
It’s high time for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia to set aside their differences, find common interests and unite to revive the Maphilindo to deter the advancement of China, the “Red Dragon” seemingly foretold in the Bible.
“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his head. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” (Revelation 12:1)
Red is the favorite color of communism and socialism while the mythical dragon is considered lucky by the Chinese.
China has remained under the stronghold of only one party, the Communist Party, now led by Xi Jinping. In contrast, the European socialists prefer a multi-party democratic system.
Interestingly, an internet article (“Dungeons and Dragons”) said that although “all dragons are predators, but reds are the most voracious, consuming far more than they require. All dragons are greedy, but reds are avaricious beyond any point of reason, for they fully believe that all wealth belongs to those strong enough to take it. All dragons are prideful, but reds are arrogant in the extreme.”
We must also remember that 48 years ago, then China’s paramount leader and architect of market socialism Deng Xiaoping had warned in his speech at the United Nations on April 10, 1974.
“If one day China should change her color and turn into a superpower if she too should play the tyrant in the world, and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression, and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social-imperialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it.”
I believe that reviving Maphilindo will not only deter China’s social imperialism but will also serve as the beginning of Lao Zi’s proverbial “thousand miles journey” to ensure peace, freedom, and economic progress for the unified Malay race.
(Amado Inigo/MTVN)
