In a meeting with some friends in Davao City recently, the president was overheard saying in a mix of Bisaya and Tagalog, which is how Dabaweños speak, “It’s a hard life being president. The problems are awesome, almost beyond solution. And I can only do so much.”
And then added, “if only I can stop being president, and lead a quieter life in my twilight years.” (This translation is not literal, the intention being to convey the message.)
Today, Rodrigo Roa Duterte is 73 years old, by the grace of God and the strength of his genes, still up and sprightly, even if he carries with him the burden of rebuilding a nation populated by close to 106 million Filipinos.
The other day, a highly respected journalist, Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao, writing for The Manila Times, described Duterte’s popular acceptance, which till the latest survey is in the very high 80s, attributed this phenomenon basically to Duterte being a different kind of leader.
He encapsulated the leadership qualities of Duterte as basically those of authenticity (never pretending to be what he is not); action-oriented; audacity (being able to take on anybody, be they oligarchs or politicians or even foreign countries, in defense of his country and his people’s interests); ability to focus on one problem at a time; and finally, empathy, a genuine concern for his fellowmen, especially the downtrodden and oppressed.
Indeed, our president is so different from those who preceded him.
Despite the foul language which many excoriate, he oozes with sincerity, and the people realize this. They forgive him his lapses, just as they are more patient with him and keep faith in him, even as they suffer from the weight of the negligence, incompetence and corruption of the past, and to some extent, bear even with some of his under-performing appointees.
Those who condemn his administration’s alleged human rights abuses and accuse him of being dictatorial have to square off with public perception that such possible excesses are necessary to stave off greater evils, to arrest the deteriorating situation, and more, to protect the people.
This is something outsiders do not appreciate, but the Filipino people, or some 80 percent of them, do.
After years and years of false promises, inaction, corruption and allowing problems to fester, they finally have a leader who is no nonsense, stern perhaps but sympathetic to their plight, and sincere.
Four more years, Mr. President.
To paraphrase Robert Frost’s immortal lines: “The woods (of retirement and rest) are lovely, dark and deep; but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
Fare thee well, as you rebuild a nation and change mindsets and systems. Above all, God bless!
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Since those who would seek election or reelection have only six months to make up their minds, or for political groups to firm up their tickets (I decline calling them “political parties”), a good guide to decision-making would be the results of the first quarter surveys, which should be coming out with their findings some two to three weeks from now.
For the administration, the idea of an all PDP-Laban senatorial slate has fizzled out. What is more likely to happen is a 12-man slate composed of six reelectionists, namely, Senate President Koko Pimentel, Senators Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito and Sonny Angara.
Then, there will be a balik-senadora who always rates high in the surveys, former senator and now Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano. That makes seven strong contenders.
Then of course, Christopher “Bong” Go, the pambansang photo bomber, the loyal ally of President Digong, who has dedicated his entire adult life to serving his idol.
Then Harry Roque, the presidential spokesman, and Francis Tolentino, the political adviser who was MMDA chairman in the previous government.
There’s room for just two more.
For a while, it was rumored that LP stalwart Bam Aquino might opt to join the administration coalition, but the latest news is he will not.
Gov. Imee Marcos is making the rounds, feeling the electorate’s pulse, and there is no doubt that if she does take the plunge, she will be a strong contender, what with the vaunted Ilocano vote.
There are two high-profile media persons also being considered, plus of course some “graduating” congressmen.
All eyes will be on the first quarter survey. The second-quarter survey won’t be out until about the time of the President’s third Sona, by which time those who would run, or who would blink, should have already made up their minds. And the political groups or coalitions, “barkadahan ng mga politiko” you may want to call these, will firm up their slates a month after the Sona.
Constitutional change will take a backseat until after May of 2019.