Greetings Filipinos, its a trap. Do not trust the US. They will exploit your labor and pay you pennies (do those still exist anywhere?). They are selling you a bill of goods. Fire your representatives that are allowing this. No jobs are coming, only higher energy costs, more pollution, more fat cats, and more corporate ownership of your political system. Abort ship.
> The artificial-intelligence-powered manufacturing hub is planned for a 4,000-acre site given to the U.S. by Manila, said undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. The U.S. will occupy the site rent-free and administer it as a special economic zone.
> The hub will have diplomatic immunity, such as the protections afforded to an American embassy, and operate under U.S. common law—the first arrangement of its kind anywhere in the world. The two-year lease is renewable for 99 years.
That's weird.
It should be noted that tge person quoted in the article Jacob Helberg who is currently the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment has ties to both Sam Altman and Peter Thiel.[0]
> Helberg served as a commissioner for the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, and senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.[6][7][8] Helberg has commented extensively on US–China relations, and the national security implications of Chinese-developed web apps like TikTok.
> He married American investor Keith Rabois in a 2018 ceremony officiated by Sam Altman.[13]
> Helberg is one of the top donors to Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, donating $2 million in 2024.
What are we doing here man? Like what are we doing?
America has been completely taken over by a certain faction of silicon valley and they seem to be parting out the country for sale to the highest bidder.
It's like the rise of a new East India Trading Co. but on the other hand -- I just can't see this infrastructure remaining in the hands of America / Philippines if major conflict with China breaks out.
It's like they're building it to hand over to the Chinese in a few years. What are we doing?
Trump is a red herring here. It's the Thiel and Altman connections that are significant.
This guy is married to one of the Paypal mafia, He's worked for Palantir, and Altman officiated his wedding.
He entered government while retaining investments in OpenAI, Anduril, SpaceX, the Boring Company and Neuralink. These are all Thiel or Musk connected companies and they stand to benefit directly from his policy decisions.[0]
There is more manufacturing in the USA than people know about. Trump Administration wont admit to it because it helps sell their lies.
Two of the three companies I worked for had / has design and manufacturing in the USA.
Former one was bought by Texas VCs and they shipped jobs over seas to maximize profit. Their only goal after buying the company was to make XX millions in 10 years by any means versus making quality solutions. VCs are the share holders when applying the Friedman doctrine. [0]
No, that is not correct. It's a symptom of unbridled capitalism. It has nothing to do with our ability to manufacture. It has everything to do with maximizing profits.
How does a highly automated factory zone in the Philippines gel with the administrations promise of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US?
instead if relabeling chinese products as vietnam, phillipine prodcts will be relabeled american.
America first!
China proofing the Philippines? Undead General MacArthur would like a word. If there's a war over Taiwan they're the next nearest set of islands.
Why would China fight the Philippines over Taiwan?
They wouldn't need to, China wants the South China Sea and doesn't respect borders.
why not Detroit?
Greetings Filipinos, its a trap. Do not trust the US. They will exploit your labor and pay you pennies (do those still exist anywhere?). They are selling you a bill of goods. Fire your representatives that are allowing this. No jobs are coming, only higher energy costs, more pollution, more fat cats, and more corporate ownership of your political system. Abort ship.
the people of the philipines, are quite familiar with regards to dealing with USA.
> The artificial-intelligence-powered manufacturing hub is planned for a 4,000-acre site given to the U.S. by Manila, said undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. The U.S. will occupy the site rent-free and administer it as a special economic zone.
> The hub will have diplomatic immunity, such as the protections afforded to an American embassy, and operate under U.S. common law—the first arrangement of its kind anywhere in the world. The two-year lease is renewable for 99 years.
That's weird.
It should be noted that tge person quoted in the article Jacob Helberg who is currently the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment has ties to both Sam Altman and Peter Thiel.[0]
> Helberg served as a commissioner for the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, and senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.[6][7][8] Helberg has commented extensively on US–China relations, and the national security implications of Chinese-developed web apps like TikTok.
> He married American investor Keith Rabois in a 2018 ceremony officiated by Sam Altman.[13]
> Helberg is one of the top donors to Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, donating $2 million in 2024.
What are we doing here man? Like what are we doing?
America has been completely taken over by a certain faction of silicon valley and they seem to be parting out the country for sale to the highest bidder.
It's like the rise of a new East India Trading Co. but on the other hand -- I just can't see this infrastructure remaining in the hands of America / Philippines if major conflict with China breaks out.
It's like they're building it to hand over to the Chinese in a few years. What are we doing?
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Helberg
The Trump régime is systematically destroying the US bit by bit.
You did not get the memo?
Trump is a red herring here. It's the Thiel and Altman connections that are significant.
This guy is married to one of the Paypal mafia, He's worked for Palantir, and Altman officiated his wedding.
He entered government while retaining investments in OpenAI, Anduril, SpaceX, the Boring Company and Neuralink. These are all Thiel or Musk connected companies and they stand to benefit directly from his policy decisions.[0]
[0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-09/ex-palant...
Just another symptom that the US is unable to manufacture for itself.
That is giant fallacy.
There is more manufacturing in the USA than people know about. Trump Administration wont admit to it because it helps sell their lies.
Two of the three companies I worked for had / has design and manufacturing in the USA.
Former one was bought by Texas VCs and they shipped jobs over seas to maximize profit. Their only goal after buying the company was to make XX millions in 10 years by any means versus making quality solutions. VCs are the share holders when applying the Friedman doctrine. [0]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_doctrine
No, that is not correct. It's a symptom of unbridled capitalism. It has nothing to do with our ability to manufacture. It has everything to do with maximizing profits.