Remember me? The fat English guy who came to research his Ph.D. with you in 1993 and again in 1996? And you kindly gave me all those contacts out in the Visayas?

I just stumbled across your articles in “Planet Philippines”. It’s a great discovery (for me). Now I can keep up with (some) radical analysis of the Philippine situation.

Re: Obama’s politicies/ politics, I couldn’t agree more. It’s amazing how few commentators seem to have latched onto his real agendas .Maybe they still want to believe in “redemption through US foreign policies” if only God will send the “right guy”.

Your analysis reflects what John Pilger here in Britain has been writing since at least last September i.e. well before Obama’s election, viz. the guy’s completely in hock to US big business in spite of all the “change” rhetoric. He didn’t acquire all those massive donations to his campaign funds without “pay back time”, even though it seems there are an awful lot of people naive enough to believe in “Obama for Change”. I wonder if he believes it himself (still)? At least he’s not as STUPID as Bush, but he’s still very much beholden to those mighty elite forces of US capitalism and the US military. But you know that already!!!!

Anyway, please get in tough with me when you have time. I’ve been across to the Philippines a couple of times int he last two years, becauase I’m now married to a Filipina, whom I’m desperately trying to ge a “settlement” (i.e.semi-permanent) visa to visit the UK. Thanks to our racist immigration laws (strengthened bythe current so-called “New Labour” government) we’ve been so far unsuccessful, so Jay is still in Manila, but we’re still trying…

Best wishes,

Desmond