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30 May 2016 Leave a comment
Here’s a blog about us, Filipinos, which we must all read, for this simple article talks about our innate selflessness, endurance, and generosity, three qualities that make us distinct as a people.
Anthony Bourdain, you are now my current best friend.
26 May 2016 Leave a comment
Eileen Leyva USS BATAAN. An amphibious assault ship? A commando carrier? Supposedly to remember those who perished in the Fall of Bataan, or the Philippines’ Araw ng Kagitingan, or Day of Valor, 9 April 1942? Hmmmm.
Joann Young What the hell is your problem! Get screwed by a sailor??
Eileen Leyva Joann Young , you are very malicious.
Josh Schmitz I’ve ridden on the USS Bataan and as a former sailor i think i speak for all of the Navy when i say your time would be best spent in the kitchen away from the keyboard.
Eileen Leyva Josh Schmitz Exactly what do you mean? Have you, by any chance, anchored in Bataan waters?
Joann Young Eileen Leyva… Don’t denigrate our United States Navy. Read a history book once in awhile. Get some respect! They fought for your right to be a bitch👿
Scott Hinton Eileen Leyva instead of a “mysterious” statement why don’t you give some “detail” on your disagreement? It obviously sounds “personal” and maybe some are genuinely curious as to your reaction. Baatan was indeed a horrendous time in our history, I would agree with that, but I don’t think naming a ship & what it’s ability is has any correlation with disrespecting that time in history.
Eileen Leyva Joann Young I never did denigrate the US Navy. But you are the one quick to denigrate our women. And I know the history of my people, and how we covered for you, and died for you, in a war you brought to our islands, in a war that was never ours. And you are one ungrateful American. Yet, there are many Americans here, and they are respectable people, and they love my country and my people. Suffice it to say you are the one misleading your self. Read history, it might help you before you begin issues here. And for your information, I have a USS WASP poster in my home, in honor of my uncle who served in the US NAVY, and suffered.
Eileen Leyva Scott Hinton, I was not in any way being mysterious. Just surprised. The Death March was one grim tale, but from that was born the Filipino-American tandem, and our people did our best to help the American soldiers, as we still do now. I love America, and for me, America is still the best hope for peace and freedom. I was not criticizing in any way, just surprised there is an assault ship called USS BATAAN. I stand in memory of those who died in the Fall of Bataan.
Eileen Leyva Barbara Zborovan surely you are referring to your self, else you would not have written that without thinking. Calling people idiots, even if they are, shows only how one lacks character. Sigh.
Amy Williams That is right USS BATAAN. In honor of the men who fought on the peninsula. They have also honored survivors of the death march. USS means United States Ship. So you don’t get a say and the filipinos would be nothing with out the U.S. naval base. Why do you think so many join the U.S. Navy??? You don’t see a lot of Americans joining the filipinos Navy if you even have one. Oh and we didn’t bring the war the japanese did but if we hadn’t fought there would be no Philippines today you would be an extension of japan. The U.S. Navy is the greatest in the world and what we name our ships is none of your business.
Eileen Leyva Amy Williams one more American who failed to understand history. FYI, General Douglas MacArthur left, retreated from the islands. The Filipinos came to aid the dying Americans. The bombing at Pearl Harbor showed a US Navy devastated, and that was a war of the Allied Forces versus the Axis Powers. America came to our shores in 1898, wanting to colonize us. That was why the war extended to our islands. But of course, there is also the fact that Japan wanted to have dominion over the world. Read history, Amy. The Filipinos have been a kind people, and you condescend us. What does that make you, as an American.
Eileen Leyva Andrew Kinner Use your grey cells. It’s not that difficult to understand. Simple, actually.
Amy Williams You said war not colonization. Try using your own grey cells. Please not all filipinos are kind then or now. Do you honestly think America wouldn’t have survived with out the Philippines??? Hahahaha the japanese wanted the Philippines because it was one more part of the Pacific. If we had not been there they would have taken it easily. Oh and FYI Americans came to the aid of dying filipinos as well.
She seems to be trying to say America owes the the Philippines and I think she may be trying to say we would have lost WWII w/o them. She is also insinuating we shouldn’t have named the Bataan the Bataan because it is in the Philippines.
Eileen Leyva Andrew Kinner You write without thinking. That reason enough? I do not like nonsense.
Eileen Leyva Amy Williams MacArthur left his men, but I will not criticize this great general, for he came back for his men in 1945. The fact remains your soldiers were aided by the Filipinos you condescend. You are nothing like your general, and the great American…See More
Dennis D’Antonio Don’t listen to Eileen she is just a bobo. The philippines is a third world country because of their corruption. They multiply like rabbits, believe in so many superstitions, think credit cards are free money, and watch stupid primetime telenovelas because their lives are miserable. I would know because i’m half filipino the country is a joke. They wanted independence then but now they all want to come to the US and bring their families here. Makes sense! like emoticon
Eileen Leyva Dennis D’Antonio the dumb gets dumber. Shoo. Don’t ever call yourself a Filipino.
Bob Cathy Villa As the wife of a former LHA sailor (USS Peleliu) and the relative of a survivor of the Bataan Death March (Now deceased thankfully die to old age) state WTF your problem is or STHU!!!
Eileen Leyva Bob Cathy Villa do not justify your curse with the sacrifice of your loved ones. It will backfire on you. Think.
Eileen Leyva Harold Woeller sorry. It was called for. Didn’t expect I would receive a barrage of arrogance. And i loved America. Sigh.
Andrew Kinner She’s preaching for everyone to think but she’s the only one not thinking
Eileen Leyva Andrew Kinner I know my history, and I know about the special friendship of the Philippines with America, I just do not want your people to belittle my country, because so far, some of your people did, without thinking. So I told them to think. Belittling others shows bad character. I just advised them to rise above the non-sense remarks and arrogance and initiate comments worth responding to. If you care to check, there are some who did understand. I hope you see it.
Janice Mottes Mascia Eileen Leyva and you are very ignorant. You made no sense and disparaged Americans who lost their lives
Eileen Leyva Janice Mottes Mascia I never did that. Read the thread, you might learn a thing or two about your own people. Ignorance becomes the ones who comment without reading.
Janice Mottes Mascia Eileen Leyva Americans didn’t bring a war to “your” islands Japan did so don’t disparage the Navy for naming a ship to honor all those that died bravely on that Island. That is what a name of a ship means. Honor.
Andrew Kinner I don’t understand how naming a ship after an event that was tragic for both of us is belittling.
Eileen Leyva Andrew Kinner That is not so. The name of the ship BATAAN was a surprise to me. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything. It is the navy’s prerogative to name their ship whatever name they want. I was just surprised it was called BATAAN. Some of your people chose to believe otherwise and started insulting my person. and my people. I have to defend my self, and my country, from the fallacies. I do not like people belittling others. The retaliation is necessary.. Am sure you’d do the same for your people. I stand by America’s ideals. (except your current politics which appears bizarre to me – but this is another story)
William A Smith Im confused Ellen Leyva. I don’t understand your Hmmmm. Or the correlation. Please educate me.
William A Smith Eileen Leyva I did not read this before my previous post regarding your original post. Personal attacks help no one and those who participate should wake up.
Eileen Leyva William A Smith I take that as a sound advice. Hope others would also. Truth be told, I watched the show of naval force @ New York, and was really amazed. And for another, my mother worked with admirals and commodores at the Naval Supply Depot in Subic Bay, so I am America’s cheerleader in this islands. Some of my people are not though. Sorry.
Eileen Leyva William A Smith I was wondering, when I wrote the Hmmm…, and was thinking about your soldiers who trekked the Death March, honestly. I was sort of reconciling the Fall of Bataan and the assault vessel, and later came to a conclusion that it was to honor the fallen soldiers and to show the world the necessary force, so that no one will mess around with peace and freedom.
Eileen Leyva Sandy Reed who says there’s something wrong? Interesting perhaps, but not wrong.
Eileen Leyva Abel Gonzalez sorry. The initial comment was daunting, an attack on my person. I had to reserve my ammunition. (joke).
Gary Williams Most of you do not understand English. I read what Ms. Leyva wrote. Not once did I read anything that disrepected the squids. Many of you are looking to be butthurt.
Ann Singer Russell SIGH ~This “person” you are all bantering with makes me go “hmmm”….. it appears to be the most commentary she’s posted in quite some time and interestingly, I think, purposely provoking….albeit an easy provoke. But it’s my opinion and to each their own. All I can say is that I think it’s AWESOME that those who served at BATAAN are remembered & honored in such a powerful way.
10 May 2016 Leave a comment
It is with a sad heart that I listened to the news this morning. I kept away from the counting, deeming it wise not to subject myself to cardiac distress that minute by minute tallying brings. My daughter, when asked later in the night, who is winning?, gave a Digong-Bongbong response.
I sighed! And thought: where did the ‘never again’ go? Initially, blame game comes to mind: Your fault, silent majority, for keeping quiet when your voice was needed most. Our youth needed the stories and our guidance, and you chose to be mum.
But what’s the use for blame game, everything happens for a reason. So I consoled my fears with the Vox Populi Vox Dei. Perhaps it is God’s will.
Yet my heart cries out “My God, why have you abandoned us!” And yet again. Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu
In trying to make sense of the election result, I thought about the millennials, for theirs comprise the loudest vote. Hmpf, I said, you will get what you asked for. Just you wait and see.
Sour graping, that’s me.
But I went on thinking, these juvenile are the privileged ones. They grew up with Toy Story. Their lives are privileged. All they have to do is to educate themselves and live a wonderful life. What could have gone wrong?
Then I thought, the millennials grew up with the Lion King, too. And Harry Potter. And Hunger Games. Perhaps there is a craving for a Good versus Evil thing. And perhaps, too, these millennials secretly believe they are mutants and can mutate their super powers fit for a political scenario much like George Orwell’s 1984. And yes, Hunger Games.
I am scared about where my thoughts bring me, and I do not wish that for my country.
Tuned in to television news. WOW, Leni Robredo has gained lead in the Vice-Presidency race. I whispered, “God, what are you telling us? Six years of punishment for complacency? But for hope and decency, You give us Leni? Please keep her safe.”
Oh well, something wicked this way comes. I can sense a dark tide threatening the peace and calm we have enjoyed briefly. As in fiction, we must gear up for the battle. It is global in nature, actually. On the other side of the Pacific, evil’s trumping its way, too.
I am no hypocrite, and am not like politicians who swiftly pledge their support for whosoever is in power. I will be sullen for the next few years, for I cannot profess acceptance of someone who does not reflect the principles I hold dear.
I rest my thoughts with a comforting stanza from Longfellow’s Psalm of Life:
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Eileen C. Leyva 