LUKE G. CASIPE

Introduction: “Filipino World War – 2080” is a military, political science fiction set in the near future where a third world country (the Philippines) becomes an asymmetrical world power and faces problems it never imagined. The head of the Roman Catholic Church is a Filipino. The Philippines becomes a “Second World” Economic and Military power. The Philippines at this future time controls a great deal of International Maritime shipping. However, the ethnic and political divisions that plagued the Philippines since its beginnings have become more, not less, acute.  Especially worrisome is the rise of the “Visayan” movement, which threatens the newly formed “Philippine Federation.”

FILIPINO WORLD WAR - 2080

“It’s August 30^th, 2080, and time for FWN, FILIPINO WORLD NEWS, your top program for news about Filipinos in the Philippine Federation and around the world, from the capital city of the Philippine Federation, Rizalia, here is your news anchor, Anna Mariano!”

“Good evening, I’m Anna Mariano! Tonight’s top news, shock and horror in the Filipino world! A group that calls itself the “Visayan Liberation Front” has struck at Filipino figures and embassies around the world. Pope Pedro Calungsod of the Roman Catholic Church was the target of an assassination attempt by the Visayan Liberation Front this morning, Rome time, at 11 a.m. when the Pope was giving his Sunday mass, when the VLF attacked. Now, from Rome, our FWN reporter, Sandra Estudillo, reports live…”

“Hello, this is Sandra Estudillo, from Rome. The attack is over. The Pope is safe. But 150 people are dead, 480 are wounded, and Vatican City is in flames. Firefighters from all over Italy and other European countries are pouring in to help, as well as medical teams from all countries and all faiths. Ferocious action by the Swiss Guard, as well as the Italian police and military, along with the intelligence agencies of the U.S.A., the European Union, and the Philippines stopped the invaders in a 5 hour battle. Oh, here’s Archbishop Williams with a statement, Archbishop...”

“The Pope is safe. But Vatican City is in flames, and the Italian authorities tell me the fire should be contained very soon. Pope Pedro has been taken away to an unknown location pending the securing of our borders. Italy and the surrounding countries have been put on full alert. Why did this happen? We don’t know. Who are the Visayan Liberation Front? What do they want and why did they do this? We pray that the perpetrators and contributors of this horrific act will be found out and captured before others are harmed.”

“Archbishop Williams…I…wait… we are now switching to Daly City, California, in the United States, to reporter Jeffrey Giron, Jeffrey, can you hear me?”

“Hello, Sandra…This is Jeffrey Giron, of FWN news, reporting live from Daly City, California, U.S.A! Well, it’s over. At 11 a.m. a group known as the “Visayan Liberation Front” stormed the Philippine embassy here at the Serramonte mall and took hostage of all the personnel present at that time. Fortunately, the exact opposite of what happened in Rome took place here, whereas the U.S. Army Delta force attacked in a lightening raid, captured the terrorists and freed the hostages. Here is one of the hostages, Philippine consul Sandra Fermin, making a statement…”

“Thank God for the U.S. Special forces for saving us! Due to these soldiers’ efforts, we are alive! The question now that needs to be asked is, who is this Visayan Liberation Front? What do they want? We have no knowledge of this kind of group existing! It is a big mystery… and…”

“Consul Fermin, excuse me, for interrupting, but we are getting a special report from Macario Sakay airport in the capital city of the Philippine Federation, Rizalia, from reporter Rueben Fabro, Rueben, can you hear me, Rueben?”

“Rueben Fabro, live, FWN News! I’m live from Macario Sakay airport! The presidential plane, the Pacific Hawk, is on the ground and unharmed! President Tanon is safe, but is badly shaken up and is being seen by doctors, but she is well. At 11 a.m. this morning, President Tanon was on her way back from the World Economic Summit, in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. when at a distance of 250 miles from the Philippines, her plane was attacked by fighter planes of unknown origin. Fortunately, due to advance intelligence, the Philippine Federation Air force was able to intercept and beat back this unknown adversary, with assistance from the American supercarrier U.S.S. Clinton, which just luckily happened to be in the immediate area due to training exercises with a combined Asian navy! A message was later sent to the Philippine federation that a group called the “Visayan Liberation Front” was responsible for the attack on the presidential plane! I’m trying to get a statement with some officials here, but the scene here is frantic, with yelling and screaming all over the place…”

“Jeffrey, this is Anna Mariano from FWN headquarters in Rizalia, we are cutting away for a station break right now, but we will back with this electrifying and horrific world news item which has every Filipino on earth on edge with fear and anticipation! We will be back!

“FWN, Filipino World News! Today’s headline, SHOCK AND HORROR! WHO IS THE VISAYAN LIBERATION FRONT? Back in a moment! Stay tuned!

~~

Luke G. Casipe – A poet of Surrealistic, Metaphysical and Political poetry, heavily influenced in that area by Filipino poets like Jessica Hagedorn and Sam Tagatac. Is also a novelist (working on 1^st novel) inspired by writers like Tom Clancy, Larry Bond, Dan Brown, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, David Brin, Bienvenido Santos, Jose Rizal, Carlos Bulosan, Kim Harrison, Peter Hamilton, Carl Von Clauswitz, Sun Tsu, Mickey Spillane, Tanith Lee, Marshall McLuhan, the list goes on.