THE China Daily, a state-run media of the Chinese Communist Party, recently released an AI-generated video depicting a monkey dressed in a Barong Tagalog being asked by Japanese and US puppet masters to sing a tune inscribed on a piece of paper bearing the words “arbitration ruling.” When the monkey refused to sing the tune, the puppet masters swung and threw him into the sea, where a ship blasted him with a water cannon before he washed ashore beside a whale.
To many Filipinos, the AI-video appeared racist. But in another view, the China Daily might have portrayed the Philippines as being “monkeyed” or manipulated by Great Powers — tossed from one side to another like a rag doll. This image touches deep wounds in our nation’s colonial history, when both the United States and Japan occupied the Philippines, and made a fool out of us. Both countries suppressed our freedoms and exploited our natural resources. Now, many Filipinos likewise see China’s creeping invasion in the West Philippine Sea as attempts to trample on our sovereignty, similar to poachers driving monkeys out of the wild.
For Filipinos to be caricatured as monkeys arises from misplaced notions of who and what we are in the world. In the wake of geopolitical tensions, Filipinos’ courage, confidence and competence often seem to be in short supply. As a people, we are more preoccupied with petty issues, political infighting and viral social media content. We fail to realize that great-power competition could easily drag our nation into conflict, while our leaders squander our energy on irrelevant issues instead of focusing on national security. More than ever, we must strengthen our military and defense posture while simultaneously ensuring an inclusive, resilient and equitable economy.
But why does China continue to demean the Filipinos?
For most global powers, including China, the Philippines is seen as a pawn in the geopolitical contest among global powers. Filipinos are merely tossed aside if they do not follow a script expected by more powerful states. More than regarding the AI-video as racist, China appears to be reinforcing the narrative that the Philippines is inconsequential in today’s geopolitical landscape unless it aligns itself with a military power.
This perception is amplified further by our own domestic political divisions. Our national leaders remain busy fighting among themselves while widespread corruption erodes public trust. China seems to be telling Filipinos that you are being “monkeyed” or fooled not only by global powers but worse, by some of your own leaders. Unfortunately, there is enough truth in this perception with 1 out of 3 Filipinos wallowing in abject poverty. It should compel us to reflect on the kind of nation we truly are.
For us not to be treated as monkeys by any nation, we must strengthen our armed forces and build credible deterrence against external aggression. As Mao Zedong said, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Following the World Bank’s classifying the Philippines as an “upper middle-income economy,” economic growth must translate into better opportunities for ordinary Filipinos through quality jobs, stronger support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and genuine improvement in health, education, transportation and other social services.
In addition, overseas Filipinos, whether working or traveling abroad, must continue to carry themselves with dignity, respect and confidence. They must never allow the nation to become the object of ridicule and embarrassment. To raise our people’s critical thinking, our education system must also be transformed through better teachers, high-caliber pedagogy, adequate classroom space, and a curriculum that promotes citizenship, patriotism, good conduct, values and even life skills.
The AI-video released by China Daily portraying Filipinos as monkeys is an affront to our people’s sensibilities. Yet it should remind us that the respect of the international community is earned through national strength, unity and martial character. Rather than condemning the video as a racist portrayal, let it awaken Filipinos to behave not as monkeys in words, deeds and thoughts. It starts by refusing to elect monkeys into public office or posting foolish comments in social media.
We are not monkeys but a proud nation, capable of rising above divisions and shaping our own destiny. When we do so, no nation will ever again treat the Filipino as anything less than an equal.
