VFA

Last meeting was spent on discussing the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States of America. First, we were given articles to read about the VFA and the article that I have received was pro-VFA. When Miss said that we will going to have a debate and defend for the article that we have. I already got disappointed because I know that we will not going to win the debate since most of us who received the article that is pro-VFA are against on the agreement being discussed. However in the end, I was very thankful because the debate did not push through. J

I have heard about VFA or the Balikatan exercises , even before I became a CDA student. Since I was younger, I only believe on what the television says, that the Balikatan exercises is a training of Filipino soldiers along with the American soldiers so that our soldiers will be taught of new strategies and skills in short, this agreement is made to help the Philippines. That is what I really believed about VFA until I came across it again now, being a CDA student. I have learned about what VFA really is last term on my CONDIP1 class and now in my PHIFOCY class. I am really against it, because we just let the USA to exploit our country and the fact that the agreement is only considered by them as an Executive Order which shows that they are not fully willing to be engaged to the agreement because having an agreement must be considered by both parties in a same level. And yes I agree that the only notable privilege that we have received from the VFA is allowing us to shop imported at military commissaries. Another thing that I have learned that made me really against is that the American soldiers have the privileges and immunities like what the diplomats have.

I really don’t believe in this agreement. That is why I am counting on to our President Nonoy to abolish this agreement or it can be amended that will result to a fair agreement and will cause benefits to us and not as burdens.