Let us be clear about the primary interest of the Filipino people, which I believe is to provide the most comfortable life possible for a vast majority of Filipinos in the shortest amount of time possible. Note the use of additional terms “possible” and “vast majority,” because we should acknowledge that we do not live in an ideal world, so that optimal solutions are often less than ideal. Such solutions can be social, political, and economic. However, given that the Philippines is still a developing country with a significant chunk of the population living below the poverty line, I believe that we will all agree that physiological needs should be the top priority, with safety and security coming in at a close second. The South China Sea dispute resonates in different ways to different Filipinos. To some, it’s for the hydrocarbon deposits that are essential to energy security and thus, continued economic development. To some, it’s the plight of Filipino fishermen who want to fish in its waters. To some, it’s the defense of territorial integrity.

Nieto, R. (2021, May 22). Insanity in the South China Sea or whatever it's called. Manila Bulletin, p. 7.