THE late-night show in the guise of a presidential meeting on Covid-19 continues to befuddle the nation.
Even as a long-time Digong watcher, this is not at the level of the Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa that we used to watch on Sundays about him explaining national and local issues. Because this time, all his talk seems to be a disconnect from the masa, who are reeling from 100 days of quarantine and hard times.
These are how the people or the netizens have reacted to his Monday rants: Message one: the number one problem in the country are terrorists, not the ASG kind but the Communists.
Netizens' reaction: "Covid left the group because it's not a priority."
"30,000 cases of COVID, still low on Test Kits. Doctors and nurses struggling and not given any help. GCQ is not helping in Prevention. Where is Mass Testing? Where did the donations go?"
Those questions are not getting answered, because we're going to his message number two: Roy Cimatu, environment secretary, is tasked by the President to overlook the quarantine in Cebu.
Cebu has 4,449 cases as of June 22, which is 14.5 percent of the 30,682 Covid-19 cases nationwide.
Reactions: Sending a general to fight a virus? Will he be planting trees?
One funny reaction: will he help find the case of the missing 17,000 chickens?
Message three, delivered in Bisaya to connect to the Cebuano audience: "Ayaw lang mog kasuko. Gahi mo'g ulo. This is not the first national emergency na ang Cebuano murag hinay mulihok unya ug mulihok magyawyaw pa."
Also the President: stop finding blame for this.
Eduardo Año, Interior and Local Government secretary also said a few days ago: blame Filipinos for not cooperating with the government that resulted in the rise of Covid infection.
Now Cebuanors are fighting over each other because of what he said. Even Davawenyos said they are better doing Tik-tok inside the house while listening to stay-at-home orders.
This is one statement that really creates the diversion from the government's failure. Is it natural for Filipinos to be "gahi'g ulo?"
Or some netizens have been more frank to the government: We have cooperated, stayed at home to avoid arrest. But why haven't the government stopped Chinese people from flying in? Why haven't the government delivered aid to the poor and the jobless consistently? Who's breaking the laws and are getting away with it? The government is in charge to serve, we are just following what you said, but you failed.
The masa has spoken. We leave off these night-time rants and try to dream of better solutions, better leadership, less fear, and more compassion.