Valle: Keeping our hopes high
A FOREIGN friend from far away land cannot quite understand why despite all the criticisms being thrown at our President from all over, Filipinos, especially Dabawenyos stand pat behind him, our faith in our leader has never, even for a minute, diminished.
Current events would show why. His first State visit and attendance to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) speaks for itself. He took the world in awe, literally, because he spoke from the heart.
The word “diplomacy” or diplomatic relationships took another meaning the way he carried himself, the way he always does upon taking on the rein of power and onwards, devoid of pretences and what the trapos call “finesse.”
Calling a spade a spade to some may be too harsh or crude and even rude (to the onion-skinned), like being brutally frank, but at this time and age, such approach is called for perhaps, to really make a difference an push the challenges we want in a manipulative world of politics and so-called diplomatic relationships with other nationalities.
It is important, as President Digong might have in mind that the leaders of the world understand his position and his ways, not dictated by so-called international traditions and beliefs, but as directed by his conscience, which is a far cry from his predecessors all of whom toed the line to please their foreign masters and went out on a junket abroad on the pretext of so-called diplomatic visits.
At the Asean summit, he took the world by surprise and awe, and not a few were literally impressed by what they saw and personally witnessed when he took the podium.
This is the kind of leader that our country can be proud of, because he is not only well-prepared in leading a polarized and wounded country, but he is also learned and historically-equipped, knowing that the roots of his country’s problems can be traced from a skewed foreign relations we have had in the past where Filipinos were put at a disadvantage and generally manipulated.
This is what he really means when he earlier said he wants to “correct the historical injustice” dealt against his people.
It’s a tough decision but there’s no stopping President Duterte.
Meanwhile, we watch closely every move that he makes.
We accompany him wherever he goes with our prayers the way we do with our family members who are out working in each of their chosen fields.
Together, we took it upon ourselves when he was verbally abused, bludgeoned in the social media, mocked and sneered at. For some of us it has become personal an attack that it sometimes felt like we were physically beaten.
But we have to stay with him at all these. We are his only strength. The Filipinos behind him in all that he has been doing to make good his promise of a genuine change is what matters now. We cannot succumb to personal issues anymore.
More than anything, the 16 million Filipinos are ready to take the responsibility of having a principled man for a President, one who would dare displease the imperialists and the powers of all powers, the one who can taunt and challenge the wrath of the gods and still bow his head and cry in sadness when something hits him home.
That is the human side of stern-looking president Tatay Digong is. That is what made him the leader that the Filipinos need and love.