Chapter 678 Joint Investigation (Fourth update, please subscribe)
Philippines.
The Philippines in 1950 was not the country famous for its servants fifty years later.
In this era, the Philippines is proud, and its capital Manila is also proud - at least to a certain extent, it is one of the largest cities east of Malacca.
After all, Tokyo is still struggling in ruins, Hong Kong Island is still in chaos, as for Singapore, it is just a city, and Shanghai has closed its door.
And his pride is well-founded - the per capita GDP ranking of Asian countries is second only to Nanyang, ranking second in Asia. The per capita GDP of 184 US dollars is not top-notch in this era, but it is still extremely dazzling, even It is not inferior to many European countries.
However, in this country that has just become independent and is regarded as the "Star of Asia", the widespread problems such as corruption, judicial injustice, the gap between the rich and the poor, etc. cannot be concealed, and have even reached the point where outsiders cannot The point of tolerance.
“For every ten dollars we assist them, if even 0.5 dollars can be used where it should be used, that is God’s blessing!”
As the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Anderson complained to Washington more than once about Manila's problems, but he was never taken seriously.
Listening to the ambassador’s complaints, Snyder said.
"Mr. Ambassador, this is not important. What is important is that Washington needs the Philippines."
"Yes, we need their base. In order to use their base, we pay them non-cash every year. More than 100 million US dollars in supplies, and even we still need this country, so we provide them with hundreds of millions of dollars in aid every year, but what has become of this aid? It has become the deposits of government officials in Swiss banks. What a bunch of damn people. Guy."
While complaining, Anderson glanced out the window and said.
“If I have a choice, I even hope that the guys in Manila will change with the ones in Zamboanga. In this case, it will be the best choice for both Filipinos and the United States.”
< br>The ambassador's words made Snyder shrug his shoulders and said.
"But this is not a choice we can make."
While the two of them were chatting, the American reporters accompanying them were also curiously looking at the white clouds outside the cabin.
Now, together with officials from the embassy and the United Nations Relief and Relief Agency, they will set foot on the land of Zamboanga to explore and see on the ground whether the atrocities described by Quirino are true. existence.
In fact, everyone knows that atrocities must exist, but there is a very good excuse, that is-those people are Huk elements.
Since Manila can attack the Hookers on Luzon Island, of course they can do the same here. Even if the United States knows about it, this is correct.
So what are they here to investigate?
Everyone knows it very well, but it is just a process and then an explanation to the outside world.
Before the plane landed at Zamboanga Airport, people on the plane all looked at the city. The city they saw was not big in scale.
“It doesn’t seem to be as prosperous as Manila.”
Looking at the city on the ground from the air, Ciel said this.
"But there are no slums all over Manila here!"
Frances said, taking a photo of the ground with his camera.
“I heard that the Zamboanga Autonomous Authority was learning from Nanyang. They even built low-rent houses specifically for people who came to the city to make a living, and many of those people were killed by Quirino. What a joke, their only atrocity may be to be too nice to these people."
After putting down the camera, France's tone was filled with only sarcasm towards the Manila authorities.
“Compared to Quirino in Manila, Zhao Chenggang is a real official responsible for the people.”
"It's a pity that he is not Filipino."
Frances was silent for a while after Charles' words, and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, if he were a Filipino, maybe he would have become the president long ago."
Franc's answer made Charles shake his head and said.
“No, it’s impossible, Filipinos will not choose such a president.”
After the plane landed, they saw the crowds who came to greet them. When they saw those people, Charles frowned and said. "It seems that our investigation is likely to be just a formality. They will accompany us throughout the entire process and then show everything they have prepared in front of us."
Shruged Shoulders, France said.
“Who knows?.”
……
Just two days later, Ciel realized that he had thought wrong.
Here, no one follows him at all, and no one specifies that he can only conduct interviews there. He can conduct interviews freely anywhere as long as he wants.
Being in a clean public rental community, although those houses have no aesthetic value at all, for Charles, who has visited many slums in Manila many times, these five-story buildings are in front of him. The apartment building made him so surprised that he couldn't even open his mouth from ear to ear.
Soon, Charles and a translator entered a resident's home. However, for Charles, who was nearly 1.8 meters tall, the apartment with a floor height of only 2.4 meters seemed a bit short.
“This room seems a lot shorter!”
"Because we are not tall."
The translator, who is only 1.6 meters tall, explained on the side.
“I live in this kind of house, sir. Even translators like me in Manila can only live in slums with sewage flowing across them. As for them, they can only live in thatched huts. But now ?”
The translator said in a showy tone.
“You see, not only can they live in a spacious and bright building, but they also have independent bathrooms, kitchens, running water, and electric lights... Sir.”
A native-looking translator said.
“I don’t know what kind of life Americans live, but here, such a life is undoubtedly like living in paradise for us,”
Translated answer, Charles was silent for a while. Of course he knew what the slums in Manila looked like. For Charles, who grew up during the Great Depression, he certainly knew what such a neat and clean room meant to a family.
After all, he had also lived in a slum, and then he chatted with the residents with the help of a translator, talking about their work, life, and of course other things.
“So, you only need to pay 1 peso per month for a house like this?”
"Yes sir, 1 peso,"
The dark-skinned woman said with a smile.
“I never thought that I could live in a house like this, let alone that it would be so cheap. Sir, I am now working in a textile factory. I can earn 12 pesos a month and I can rest for a week. One day. "
Just here, the baby's cry came from the bedroom. Amidst the woman's scolding, the child who was doing homework reluctantly entered the room to take care of the child. Then the woman said.
“If there were no legal provisions, I would not let my children go to school at all. If they work in a factory, they will definitely earn more money.”
The woman's complaint was faithfully translated to Charles, who had mixed feelings about this - although the Philippines talks about implementing compulsory education, in fact Mindanao is the only place that implements compulsory education. Not only that, they even coordinated assistance from the United Nations Relief and Relief Agency to provide food to students in schools. This kind of thing is impossible to happen even in Manila, let alone other parts of the Philippines.
"So, you are satisfied with your current life?"
Although the sounds from the neighbors could be heard through the wall, Charles still felt that this was a very A good environment, at least for ordinary people, being able to live in such a house is already very good. After all, even in Europe today, there are still many people crowded into narrow and dilapidated houses. In comparison, these People are undoubtedly happy.
Looking at the room with only simple wooden tables and chairs, Ciel asked.
“What about your husband? What does he do?”
"He... is just a fool!"
Then the woman complained, saying how he was incited by "Hook elements" and how he tried to launch a riot. In short, her husband was a fool. , I don’t know how to cherish my current life at all.
The woman's answer was somewhat beyond Charles' expectations, but it was also within his expectations. After all, such a life should really be cherished instead of causing trouble...
< br>(End of this chapter)