MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Protesters in Manila have criticized three weeks of joint military drills led by the U.S. and its allies in the South China Sea. They say the exercises hurt some of the Philippines most vulnerable communities. Jan Camenzind Broomby brings us this report, which, I will tell you, contains the sound of gunfire.
(SOUNDBITE OF WAVES SPLASHING)
JAN CAMENZIND BROOMBY: On a day like this, the fishermen of San Antonio in the west of the Philippines would normally be at sea. The sun is out and the winds favorable. But despite that, today, the fleet of wooden fishing boats sit idly on the shore. What should be a bustling village filled with fisherfolk bringing in their latest hauls is now suspiciously quiet. Instead, stretched out in front of me are hundreds of fishing vessels that have been left at home for the day. The stationary fleet is evidence of a dayslong fishing ban that has had a big impact on locals, like Kathlyn Agasa (ph).
KATHLYN AGASA: I have two kids. They are going to school. Our livelihood depends on the water. Many of us here is fishing. Without fish, no income.
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNS FIRING)
BROOMBY: The reason for the ban? Military drills involving the United States and its allies known as the Balikatan, the Filipino word for shoulder to shoulder. The exercises took place across the archipelago, including the waters just a few miles from Agasa's village.
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNS FIRING)
BROOMBY: The U.S. military won't say it, but the drills are pointed squarely in one direction, China, which has grown increasingly assertive across the region in recent years. But many fisherfolk in the Philippines say the real danger isn't Beijing - it's the Balikatan. Some, like fishermen rights NGO Chairperson Fernando Hicap, warn of the financial and environmental impacts.
FERNANDO HICAP: (Through interpreter) The fishermen will experience extreme hunger and poverty. But the fishermen have yet to receive any aid. The Balikatan exercises are just used as an instrument for the U.S. to restore their presence and military equipment in the Philippines.
BROOMBY: The U.S. for its part, says the Balikatan are done at the request of the Philippines. Military personnel, like Marine Corps Colonel Michael Aldridge, even organize humanitarian projects as part of the exercises, an attempt to mitigate the Balikatan's harmful impact.
MICHAEL ALDRIDGE: They invite us here. They're an equal partner in the execution of this. Our efforts build resilience.
BROOMBY: But this year, the timing couldn't be any worse. The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has contributed to surging fuel prices. For some, rising energy costs and the impact of the Balikatan have fueled anger.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER #1: (Chanting in non-English language).
BROOMBY: I've come down to a square in central Manila, where there are two protests going on. One calling for the complete withdrawal of United States troops from the Philippines, and the other calling for the lowering of oil prices and reform.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER #2: (Chanting in non-English language).
BROOMBY: Manila might request America's presence, but activists like Novy Mhier (ph) say ordinary Filipinos are trapped. He hopes the Philippines can stand up for itself, resisting pressure from both Washington and Beijing.
NOVY MHIER: The Balikatan exercises have always been a cause for distress. We are between big, powerful countries that are pursuing their own imperial interests.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Singing in non-English language).
BROOMBY: As the protests subside, activists break into song. It's a revolutionary tune calling for Filipinos to rise up against oppressive forces. As the U.S. and China compete for influence, some of the Philippines' most vulnerable communities are feeling the impact. And the message is resonating. For NPR News, I'm Jan Camenzind Broomby in Manila.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Singing in non-English language). Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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