It's been days since tita @immarojas encouraged me to write a post to introduce and defend our dear head of the state, President Rodrigo Duterte. And now, I'll speak.
I was actually rooting for the late Madam Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the elections not because I hate or didn't like the other candidates but because I admire her. She was a really strong woman with a very good sense of humor and I believed in her. President Duterte was only my second pick. But I admit that he's the president almost every Filipino was waiting for.
Here are the reasons why I think the Filipino people trust President Digong even with all the negative issues surrounding him:
1. He speaks his mind.
President Digong is the first president from Mindanao and I believe everybody was shocked to see such candidate who is straightforward. He knows that one can't please everybody; thus he tells the people what he thinks and is not afraid to admit his mistakes.
He is usually the talk of town whenever he speaks his mind. Things really went viral when he according to the news cussed at the pope, joked about the rape-murder of the Australian missionary, etc. I agree with him when he said that media twists his words. Negative headlines are the catchy ones. The Visayan and even the Mindanaoan humor is different from the hilarity of people from Luzon or even from any other part of the world. There are just things that aren't taken seriously down south that are immediately big issues up north. The good thing is he apologizes but he remains firm in his goal.
Sometimes, I wish he'd shut up and do what he does best because people around the world judge him by what he says.
2. He's not pretentious.
In other words, he's there to serve the Filipino citizens and not satisfy powerful men. When he was still running for the position he now holds, he didn't kiss up to people's ass. He didn't ask for people to like him. He is "what you see is what you get." He doesn't deny having girlfriends and wives. (Although, he's separated already.) He appreciates beauty but it doesn't mean he's impolite towards the ladies. Thus, people loved him for who he is, the "Mayor Digong".
The President swore so much when he was a candidate (even now, but more controlled) not because he's a thug or a psychopath but because it's his nature. He's an ordinary person and common people can relate to him easily because they know he's being true. I know it is not good for politicians especially the President to be heard speaking such language and in such manner that's why he refrained from cussing and telling jokes other people can't get the humor but he doesn't care about his image. As I have said, he's not the President to serve the few Filipinos or to please the other country's people but the President who'll serve his countrymen.
3. He's simple.
He speaks to the common people because he's common. He wears clothes he normally wore before he was the president. He even wanted to use his own pick-up that he used for almost three decades instead of riding the luxurious presidential vehicle. He wants to be served with his regular meal in the palace saying the Philippines can would be able to save from him because it's cheaper. He wanted to bring simplicity to the Malacañang Palace.
He even wants to be called Mayor even after winning the election because according to him that's his legacy. He was called Mayor even after his daughter, Sara succeeded him in the office after serving 23 years as Davao's mayor. He's fine in using the economy flight to Davao. And he recently attended his youngest daughter Kitty's graduation despite his busy schedule.
4. He's a man of action.
While the other Presidents didn't get things done, he did and he still would. I believe most people in the Philippines lack discipline and needed the "bakal na kamao" (iron fist). There's one of the books of Bob Ong entitled "Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?" (Why do Filipinos read books in reverse?) I agree with the author and once a Filipino reads it, I am certain that he'll laugh because everything that's written there is true. I myself asked the question, "Will we change?" I think President Digong is the change I was waiting for.
Wrong doers are afraid of him and more people respect him, that I'm sure. And when he says something, he might change it eventually but he'll definitely finish the job because his heart is for public service and for the people.
5. He's really misunderstood.
Filipinos sympathizes with him because he's condemned just like many poor and common Filipinos are. He may be criticized for being unsophisticated, tactless, loud and generally unqualified of being the President of the Philippines but he's not what you think he is. Others may say he's unreasonable, he speaks indiscernibly, and he has dubious actions but President Duterte is the complete opposite.
The media such as The New York Times portrays him as a scary, perverted, uncivilized killer but is he really? When he said he'll execute all the criminals and corrupt, did he really? The president's "war on drugs" is seen as a mass murder against the drug addicts. If he wanted to murder all the drug addicts, will he let them surrender? If he's behind all the alleged Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK), why would he announce his anti-drug campaign if he could silently kill every criminal there is? How can the media be sure that it's not the drug lords killing the pushers and the users?
I've read The New York Times editorials and they really paint a terrifying picture about the Philippines' war on drugs and all the murders that already happened as well as the terrible portrayal of our dear president. But what are editorials if not opinions? Facts should be reported by the media. I agree there is freedom of speech but I believe there is also a law against defamation. There is even cyber bullying in this technological age. Everyone especially the Filipinos deserve the truth because it is our country. I repeat it is our country. There is enough media manipulation here, we need no more.
What I won't forget about President Digong
One thing that I'll always remember about him is his sense of humor and one can really talk to him like he's a father or a friend if he's not interviewed by the attacking media. He's a funny guy and I don't believe that he's always angry.
He said once:
You only live once. If it's good, then, once is enough.
and when asked, "If you live, how many times do you die?" He answered:
Several times in a lifetime.