MY TAKE 9 Published in USA in August 2023 by TATAY JOBO ELIZES, Self-Publisher, under the permission and authorization of RAFAEL E. EVANGELISTA author and copyright owner. ....... AUTHOR Rafael E. Evangelista is a retired capital partner of Baker McKenzie, the largest international law firm in the world. This is the resume' of Rafael E. Evangelista - Lawyer, banker, diplomat. Co-founder, Task Force Good Governance; Board member, Bank of Commerce (former vice- chairman and executive committee member); Various memberships in corporate boards including the Rizal Chapter and the Makati branch of the Philippine National Red Cross; Board chairman of the NOVA Foundation for the Less Abled; National Commander, Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor; and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania to the the Philippines. Retired Capital Partner, Baker & Mckenzie (international law practice), and Member, Board of Trustees, Ateneo de Manila University. Attended Ateneo de Manila University (A.B., Ll.B.), Georgetown University (Master of Laws), with an honorary Ph.D. from St. Louis University. Recipient of the Lithuanian Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. .......... CONTENTS 1- Is The Philippines A Part Of China's Continental Shelf? China May Be Planning To Claim It Is! (Benham Rise) - p9 2-- To A Love Departed - p11 3- Marching Feet- Tribute to heroes on Memorial Day - p12 4-- Where Have Bravery And Love Of Country Gone? - p12 5-- Beyond The Right To Vote - p13 6-- THE STRONGER OR WEAKER SEX? - p14 7-- I March With You In Spirit - p16 8-- BAGUIO'S LOST LION'S HEAD - p17 9-- Haiku Poetrty - CONTEMPLATION - p20 10-- A Poem To An Eighty Year Old - Boogie Rodrigo - p28 11-- Attorney-In-Fact As Part Of A Family - p29 12-Badac and Barangays - p31 13-- The Twelve Days of Christmas - p32 14-- An Insane MMDA Circular Dear Neighbors - p33 15-- Dedicated to friends and relatives lost during this pandemic - Fly, Friends, Fly - p34 16-Bonded - p36 17-- A LETTER OF PRESIDENT EMILIO AGUINALDO - p36 18-How Democracies Die - p38 19-- Highest Praise: ME WE - Ubuntu - p39 20-- Racism Against Asian Americans, Including FilAms - p40 21-There is room - p45 22-- Love Laid Bare: An Easter Sunday Offering - p46 23-The Legend of the Christmas Tree - p47 24-Haiku Musings (A lot) - p48 25-The Great I Am - p61 26-- Please Return My Yesterday - p62 27-- Repost: The Philippines was a takeover target of America even before China expressed any interest in our country. This is the response to those designs of the Philippine Leader at the time, Emilio Aguinaldo. - p63 28-- Fr James B Reuter's Prayer On The Occasion Of The National Elections - p63 29-Pushing Back - p65 30-The Sun God - p67 31-Gen. Edilberto Evangelista - p69 32-The Final Smile - p71 33-Security Risks - p72 34-Sinagtala Ng Bayan - p74 35-- Gago And The Four Way Test - p76 (MORE INSIDE) ...................................