President Donald Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
In America, all the talk in Washington is about Jeffrey Epstein, which brings up the notion that the only thing strong enough to move the needle in American politics is a dead pedophile.
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It certainly dwarfed the presence of the Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, who proved in his White House visit that he is not the second coming of his father.
He is somewhat nicer. Less dictatorial. He appears sane.
Which means he’s not a strongman, which is a good thing in the name of democracy.
But we are in Washington trying on a de facto nouveau fascism. Roundups of non-criminal immigrants? The bribery of the media? The takedowns of institutions in society from law to higher ed. What else do you call it.
So, when you come to Trump, you have to show a little strength.
Bongbong definitely showed little, and therefore barely made the news on his visit.
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Donald Trump offered him a fig leaf by calling him a “tough” negotiator, which was like a pat on the head, a paternalistic move which comes with the sting of colonialism.
President Donald Trump greets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., upon arrival at the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The US wanted tariffs around 20 percent and Bongbong got it down to 19 percent.
Is that good? For the US.
Not for the Philippines.
Bongbong tried to make light of it saying that a one percent change “might seem like a very small concession” but was “still a significant achievement.”
Microscopic, actually. But where would we be without atoms and protons and neutrons, right?
In other words, it’s so significant we won’t be able to see the difference. Or feel it. It’s kind of meaningless.
So what did the Philippines get?
For the measly 1 percent reduction, Marcos gave the US an open market and no tariffs, according to Trump’s post on truth social.
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Bongbong let them have it all.
That means no tariff on US cars to the Philippines. You can drive a Chevy if you want.
The Philippines is also upping the imports of soy, wheat and pharmaceutical products, though according to Inquirer reports, it’s unclear if there would be tariffs.
Marcos was asked if there was a loss, and it was almost like a shrug. “Well, that’s how negotiations go.”
Is that really how things go? That’s not like his dad. Or maybe even his mom.
Bongbong laid down for Trump.
And Trump walked all over him.
The US gets to send goods to us all they want for free.
And the Philippines gets to send stuff to the US and pay 19 percent tariff.
Wait a minute.
The US is 16.6 percent of exports in 2024, the largest export destination followed by Japan, Hong Kong and China.
So all those Philippine products coming into the US will have a 19 percent extra charge? Yes.
And this is the truth about tariffs that Trump lies about and never gets right.
It’s not a charge on the country, it’s a charge on the company in America that takes in the Philippine product.
So that might be a Filipino American company bringing in jars of ube.
And that will come with a 19 percent charge.
Who will pay that? The company?
No, all you ube lovers out there.
Nineteen percent increases? If the tariffs are passed on to you, that’s what you’ll pay.
Thank Bongbong for playing Trump’s stupid tariff game.
And maybe that does make him as bad as his dad.
Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist, news analyst and comic stage performer. He writes for the Inquirer.net’s US Channel. He has written a weekly “Amok” column on Asian American issues for more than 30 years. Find him on YouTube, patreon and substack. If in Canada, see him this summer live on the Canadian fringe tour.
