THURSDAY last week, March 28, 2019, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte turned 74. He was not interested in having a blast on his birthday. He said he’d rather go home to his simple residence in Davao City, put on his socks and unfold his mosquito net and travel to dreamland. When he woke up his fair-haired boy, senatoriable Bong Go, brought him a cake. And maybe they sang the happy birthday song and applauded. I can surmise that later that day he may have asked his lovely partner Honeylet and cutie daughter Kitty for a dine out and away from the maddening crowd. He is entitled to his privacy, at least even each time he celebrates his birthday.
Digong Duterte is the first local politician to be elected president coming from Mindanao. In his first two years as president every time he is on radio and delivering a speech I will park my car every time and I am somehow amused hearing him spitting venomous tirades against his perceived enemies, critics and all. Sometimes I wonder why his cursing elicit applause and laughter from the crowd. Let me be biblical once in a while. In the gospel of St. Mathew 20:20-28 it says in part, “whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community. And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the servant of all”.
When the Good Lord speaks we better listen, for he speaks with fortitude. When President Duterte speaks, the people, lettered and unlettered, rich and poor, men or women listen even today, though I presume there is a great decrease in number in his audience. His throngs only don't hear him, they believe him. No wonder nine out of ten are apparently giving their thumbs up and appreciate his fight against illegal drugs. His campaign against corruption. Sadly he is not successful in the two fronts. He admitted the other day that he cannot and never be successful in eliminating drugs, despite during his campaign for the presidency, he declared he will do it in six months. He still has three years, though. Up to now he still didn’t drop his cursing. It may be his frustration now.
Our President is still appreciated because of his anti-corruption stance. The corruption in our country is pervasive more than ever. The congressmen are still demanding SOPs from their PDAF aka pork barrel. How many times we said corruption is slowly killing the country. In several surveys conducted there are several issues or concerns that the people wish it can be addressed by the Duterte administration, like traffic, rising prices, contractualization, more jobs, political dynasties, etc. etc. And corruption still stands out. Despite the harsh assessment that his governance cannot get a passing mark yet the millions of his followers are not hesitant in always giving him a thumbs up.
TIDBITS: The political cauldron is heating up in several places in Pampanga. These are the interesting areas to watch: the three cornered fight in Angeles City between Alex Caugiran, Pogi Lazatin and Bryan Nepomuceno is a good watch. It is anybody’s race. Vilma Caluag was able to catch up with her opponent, incumbent Mayor Edwin Santiago. In Porac it is also a three cornered contest between Dexter David, Jing Capil and Mark Lapid. My kin there said David is ahead in the race. The tongits’ players in Villa Angela who are natives of Magalang are saying that Romy Pecson is way ahead against incumbent Malou Lacson. And my bubuwit, to borrow Deo Macalma’s spy, is saying that John Sambo may be clobbered by the forces of Ronquillo, Naguit and Arceo clans in Sto. Tomas. Sambo is holding on with help from Congressman Rimpy Bondoc.