If any Filipino person is reading this: know that this Australian Christian prays regularly for your country's government and army, for their victory against the Jihad. Remember: the Spanish who came to your country, who gave you your Catholic faith, had themselves resisted Jihad for centuries, and prevailed, though not without grievous spiritual wounding.

Know that I pray also for your Christian evangelists - Catholic and Protestant both - in their outreach to the Muslims of the Philippines; for unless your government decides to expel the Muslim population, or subjects them to the strict controls the Singaporeans have instituted, a large-scale and genuine conversion of the Islamised peoples is your best hope for a long-term peace.

My government, and my church, need to help you: we are the strongest and best-resourced non-Muslim Christian-majority country in the region, and our citizens have been intermarrying busily with yours, an alliance makes all kinds of sense. I don't know how to persuade my country to increase the help that we give. I will do what I can.

Filipino lurkers - please step out on the comments floor and start giving us your reading of news items like this one, we need to hear from you.

Posted by: dumbledoresarmy at December 22, 2007 11:07 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dipolog Medical College To Train Government Troops Against Muslims

by Aledo Uy

"It's an exciting new day," says Alberto Concha, President of Dipolog Medical College. He is hopeful about new educational offerings at his school. Dipolog Medical College has already begun training Philippine Army Troops in support of a massive build-up against Muslim rebels. "We must help our government defeat all Muslims and those who hate our way of life."

"We stand firm in our resolve to eliminate the threat to the City of Dipolog, to Zamboanga del Norte, and to the Philippines." Indeed, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praises the Concha family for their firm stand against these Muslim Terrorists. "We need more businessmen like the Conchas to stand up and fight for our country in these perilous times."

MuslimWatch, a third party monitoring group has confirmed the presence of Philippine Military Advisors at the small Dipolog City school. One Army General, who refused to be identified, says, "We're here in a safe place, at a safe institution, so that we may train our troops in counter-insurgency tactics. The school is an excellent provider of services through their police education program. We're delighted to have the support of the Concha family."

Alberto Concha says, "We will do everything to help our government defeat these rebels. Our police graduates are helping the military in their training, and we will continue to do so until 2010."

Posted by: aledo.uy at December 22, 2007 11:27 PM

This is what seperates terrorists from men.

Posted by: mrockroll1969 at December 23, 2007 7:46 AM

Agree with Dumbledoresarmy's post, the Philippines are i believe one of the largest Christian nations in the world, as per population and by far the largest in Asia. Being situated just north-east of Indonesia and Malaysia, they have had to deal with these ingrates of the Southern islands for a long time. My boss hails from Zamboanga, and a lot of her family live there still.

She told me that at her 30th anniversary school reunion she went to last year that there were a few Muslims in her class, and they actually all got on well with the celebrations there, but these ferals in the Autonimous Muslim Region of Mindinao who behead and take hostages just are not worthy of being Filipino. If they are that keen to be fundamentalist they should take a one-way back to Malaysia or Indonesia and enjoy all the 'freedoms' that Sharia offers them.

Australia do have strong relations with the Philippines, and i believe we contribute funds and training to the Philippine army for training in counter-terrorism. I've been there twice myself and also am engaged to a Filipina, and as mentioned before there are a significant number in Australia who have partnered up with these lovely people. They are a joyous people who live life as any freedom-loving person would, and the 5% or so Muslims that have a vision of curtailing that reality should be made aware in no uncertain terms that the 85 million or so Christians in the country (Plus the diaspora of about 10 million overseas workers) aren't going to allow their country to be changed by an Arabist 7th century beilief system.

In saying that, it is a pity that in almost all other areas, nationalism is a powerful force. But for Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia it seems that they allow Arabism to overtake their own nations. Surely these Asian peoples are a long way removed from the Bediouns of several thousand kilometres away on the Arabian peninsular, and they hopefully will see Islam for what is really is, an Arabist supremicist system.

Posted by: DaveOz at December 23, 2007 9:52 PM

A very Merry Christmas to all from the Philippines!
Dumbledoresarmy, on behalf of Filipinos everywhere, we thank you for your prayers and support.
DaveOz, congratulations on your engagement! You pretty much hit the nail on the head with your observations. If I recall correctly, Australian troops also regularly participate in the exercises held between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces.
I was just having a few beers over Christmas Eve with an Australian friend who's also engaged to a Filipina; it's relations like this, on a personal level, which serves to strengthen the friendship between our nations.
Again, thank you both and God Bless Australia!

Posted by: marts at December 25, 2007 2:48 PM