Trump’s ‘anti-Pinoy’ tirade further denounced

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Merrill Auditorium, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, in Portland, Maine. (AP)

Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump’s statement lumping the Philippines together with countries he called “terrorist nations” during a recent rally has received further condemnation from the local Filipino community.

The Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Yemen, were the “terrorist nations” Trump alluded to during a recent rally in Portland, Maine.

Filipinos living in the CNMI are certainly not happy with the GOP presidential candidate’s recent comments.

Rep. Edwin Propst (Ind-Saipan) expressed disdain in reaction to Trump’s statement. “[Trump’s statement is an] insult to the hard-working people of the Philippines,” said Propst. “How many Filipinos are terrorists in the U.S.? It’s a total insult to all of the good that Filipinos have done all around the world. Historically speaking too, the Filipinos fought with the allies with the U.S., and we can never forget that.”

Propst, whose mother hails from the Philippines, also stressed how important the Philippines is to the U.S. “The Philippines is an important ally in the Pacific. We need to remember that and respect them.”

When asked about his opinions on Trump, Propst replied with, “He (Trump) is a sociopath, he is a misogynist, he degrades everybody. He is a demagogue. He believes he alone can fix all of our problems as if he is a savior. That is not leadership.”

If Trump were to win as president, Propst said, “We should brace for the best and pray for the worst.”

He even went as far as saying that Trump is a liar and a threat to the world. “I will never endorse Trump. He’s a threat, not just to America’s security, but to the security of the entire world. He is most likely the person to get [us] into a world war,” explains Propst. “Furthermore, he is a compulsive liar. He won’t even release his tax returns, even though he promised to release the tax returns and even gave Mitt Romney a hard time for not letting him see his tax returns.”

Dr. Celia Lamkin, chairperson of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance CNMI, Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa and of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) CNMI, Guam, and American Samoa, also disagreed with Trump’s statement.

“The Filipinos in the United States of America and its territories have excelled on their profession, skills, and expertise and have brought tremendous contributions to the building of this nation economically, politically, academically, and in other areas,” she said in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

“We, the Filipinos, are an integral part of the society on why America is a great nation. Hence, we should be treated with dignity, respect, inclusivity, and equality like other brothers and sisters of other nations.”

Lamkin predicts the CNMI would greatly suffer if Filipinos would be banned from entering the U.S. “The Philippines might weaken its diplomatic ties with the U.S. who is a strong ally of the Philippines for more than 50 years. Also, the U.S. is the strongest ally when it comes to our West Philippine Sea issues. The Filipinos might be banned as tourists and immigrants in the U.S. The CNMI will lose all the Filipino contract workers who are badly needed by its booming tourism industry and other economic activities.”

Lamkin also thinks other countries will be brought into the discussion if Filipinos will be barred entrance. “Even the Chinese tourists who have visa waiver to enter the CNMI might be abolished. And CNMI will definitely suffer economically. ”

When asked about the important qualities a U.S. President must have, Lamkin replied that a good president must be able to communicate. “He or she should be a good communicator in a sense that all words and statements that he or she delivers are clearly defined and with sensitivity,” said Lamkin.

“A president should be very broad minded on immigration and foreign affairs policy, not compulsive, not reckless, and divisive in his statements. He or she should have the values of inclusivity, love, and equality. He or she should have love of his country, respect, integrity, honesty, and cohesiveness so he will not divide the people, transparency and accountability, compassion,” she said. “He or she should have a vision of the future not only of the present.”

Also very important to Lamkin is for the U.S. President to know that he is not above the people, but actually a servant of the people.

“Last but not the least, he or she should think that she or he is a public servant and should think not think of his or her political ambition. He or she is letter by the people, by the people and for the people and that’s the meaning of democracy.” (Erwin Encinares)