Separating Duterte from His Message of Change

Facebook is so noisy these days. Everybody has something to say and only a handful are listening. They are using FB's timeline as a shoutout tool and most of the time it punctuates with an all-too-obvious disclaimer that says: "Do not argue with me. That is my opinion."

So be it.

Thank goodness I still have my blogspot. 

But, oh well, here goes my thoughts about the unstoppable Philippine issue that is former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the incoming 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines. 

To be upfront, I don't like his character. I just don't like a person who swears or cusses. It makes me cringe. Maybe the intention is to put an emphasis on something that he so passionately believes in or maybe he is just used to saying things that way. But I will never get used to this. And as President of the Philippines, leader of a country, representative of the Filipino people, in the next six years I just hope that he owns up to the challenge of talking decent in his capacity as President. Even just a little bit. 

I don't like his sexist remarks and all too-obvious typical male machismo utterances and well, catcalling. Let's just say that I grew up with a male chauvinist for a father and it really made me feel small and inferior growing up as a girl with so many ideas but not taken seriously. I had to prove myself. The struggle was real and unpleasant. I don't think I can bear another male chauvinist father figure.

I don't like that he is proud. Humility is a virtue that I cherish the most and his obstinate nature is quite frustrating. It would be admirable if he can acknowledge his mistakes, apologize, and move on. 

I don't like it that he has no ounce of diplomacy in his blood. He provokes ire from the international community with his pronouncements and jokes that are better left unsaid. 

To put it bluntly, he just doesn't come off to me as a person worthy of my "like."

But, that is Rodrigo Duterte the man. And I don't know him that well enough to make judgments on his person. 

Now, I am praying to high heavens that the 16 Million Filipinos who voted for him and successfully installed him into public office as the highest public official of the land did right and will prove me wrong. I hope that they have seen something that I haven't. I pray for enlightenment. 

His mantra of change got him into power. His promise to eradicate drugs in the country in 3-6 months, his vow to make the country a safe place to live in, and his pledge to rid the country of corrupt officials were his messages of hope. And these I like. 

So it's Duterte's message of change vis-a-vis Duterte the man.

It doesn't reconcile but at this point in time I am so exhausted trying to tie it up in one single cohesive concept. For now, I will try to separate the man from the message as I truly respect his vision for the country.

I end this mulling over with a statement from an article on Bill Cosby, the famous American actor, whose achievements were recently overshadowed by a series of lawsuits against his person for alleged sexual assaults.

"The Cosby scandal reveals a truth about humanity which proves uncomfortable for many of us. While it may be tempting to believe that good people do bad things, the truth is that bad people do good things.

Cosby presents a particularly stunning example. However, none of us live up to the principles we espouse, and we should not abandon principles on account of flawed spokesmen."

President Duterte, if you can't be good, at least please do good for the country. 

Of Bullies, Demagogues and Catcalls

So I have been out of the political loop for a month while I was busy with our Summer Camp at Maya Playgarden and already there are a lot of issues to sift through all this political debris. I don't know where to begin. 

First, there is that initial hesitation: should I really make my thoughts appear on print? I just read about Tamara de Jesus' post about how she was bullied when she aired out a contrary opinion and a certain fear engulfs me. But I reckon: why? Don't I have the right to say what's on my mind? I have been blogging for years now. And never, and I mean never, was I ever constrained by anyone. I shiver at the thought of losing my right to free speech and expression.

Second, for the record, my presidential candidate lost. So, my country will have a new administration under former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who overwhelmingly won by a large number of votes. We're talking millions! Sixteen million (16M) Filipinos wanted him to be the leader of the land.  Until that day he takes his seat in office, I observe, I take note, and I wait for him and his administration to prove me wrong as I mull over this Bloomberg's post about having a demagogue for a Philippine President. 

Third, as mundane as it may sound to some, catcalling. A respected female journalist, Mariz Umali, was catcalled by our President-elect during an interview which caught the ire of the reporter's husband, another respected journalist, Raffy Tima. Now, this got me and my husband talking about catcalls. And I told him that contrary to popular male opinion, catcalls are not welcome. The only exception would be catcalls from husbands and dear friends as part of an endearment. Catcalls from strangers are best described in our own language as "bastos."  I recalled one time I was catcalled in one of those city jungles in Makati City while I was on my way to work. I stopped, looked back, retraced my steps, scanned the area for the catcaller, finally saw him grinning, looked him in the eye and asked: "Do you need anything from me, Sir?" He was shocked and scurried away. If we go by leadership by example, well........................

Six years. And it hasn't started yet. I am and will always remain hopeful. 

And in the lines of the now famous resurrected song of INOJ "I Want To Be Your Baby, Lady:"

"I'll be watching...."