Duterte Is A Blessing

Where Is The President?

After five days of anxious speculations, it was confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte is alive and breathing. Social media was abuzz with all types of questions, and theories; some bordering on the absurd. During the entire period, I held back urges from within to comment on other people's post, or come-up with my own silly elegy. I was more worried about the implications if he indeed kicks the bucket prematurely. Something inside me didn’t want him to go yet.

A Dangerous Episode

The awkward hush from Malacanan was the most alarming thing. Considering the personalities that compose Kamote's circle, the probability of these cretins devising plans to preserve their schemes was very high. I'm referring to the likes of Vitaliano "Dickhead" Aguirre, who has time and again proven his ability to dream the most daft fantasies, then pass them off as reality. And there are more than a handful of his kind in the present administration. The kind who without batting an eyelash, would sacrifice everybody's welfare in the pursuit of their twisted and wicked ends. The dearth of grandstanding announcements, or even simple updates was suspect. Not one wretched soul from the Palace had anything to say to the press. It was all very unusual.

The situation was very volatile. The country is still very much divided. With all the stupidity and incompetence displayed in the past eleven months, it is  a wonder how this government still enjoys the approval of so many. There lies the danger. Majority of those who support Duterte are the gullible ones; people who are too lazy to think for themselves. The thick ones, who only have the comprehension capacity to understand memes. The kind who can easily be conned to perform the most imbecilic acts; think EDSA Tres (or, that was how they referred to that laughable event). The possibility of lawless violence erupting isn't remote at all, when you have perverted puppet-masters, and battalions witless marionettes.

Duterte Is Good For The Philippines

In a way, I'm glad he didn't go to that inevitable date with his master yet. As I've always told my mates, Kamote is a blessing to the country, whatever happens. And he needs to complete his six-year (nothing more than that) term. Coming from a hardcore critic, one would think I am being cynical and/or sarcastic. But, not at all. I'm dead serious! You see, if the President succeeds in making this country truly great (which is highly improbable), then that would be very good; not only for his brain-dead followers, but for every Filipino; including myself. Who wouldn't want to live in a drug-free, peaceful, and prosperous nation full of happy and contented citizens? But, then again, lofty, Utopian dreams like that will need a lot of brains to achieve. Something this government has been found lacking of.

With the policies he wants to implement, I see one in a billion chances of that coming to fruition. In five years, when the horde who sing his praises today are jobless and hungry; and the country is neck-deep in the muck pit, then I can put on a dirty smile, slowly raise my middle-finger, and say, "I fucking told you so!" to every relative, friend, and neighbour who boisterously supported the failed regime. Think Greece. Or better, think Venezuela. It won't be long, and The Philippines will join that exclusive club of nations who passionately voted for idiots. Idiots who spoke big words, but were horribly short on good ideas. Hopefully, when reality begins to hit the masses' pockets and stomach, they will realize the folly of their decision in 2016. The learning experience, however harsh will ultimately knock some common sense into them. For Pete's sake, the son of the much reviled dictator almost became Vice-President. The six-year term of Rodrigo Duterte would be the best lesson on what freedom, democracy, and critical thinking are all about.

As a Filipino I truly am still hoping that he does good. As a father, I would like my children to grow and inherit a country they can be proud of. Not a pariah state scorned by the community of nations.