Three years ago, President Rody Duterte launched his candidacy in an impoverished area in Tondo.
In the book “Duterte Campaign: In the eyes of Butch Ramirez”, the author implied that Duterte and his campaign team chose the place instead of the more affluent location in Greenhills to symbolize Duterte’s love and care for the poor.
“Tondo was a symbolic place to launch the candidacy of Mayor Duterte. The place is synonymous with poverty, government neglect and anything that is ugly in the society,” writes Ramirez. “Mayor Duterte wanted to do something for Tondo and other Tondos in the country…He wanted to transform Tondo to be a better place to live in.”
People knew what happened after that, Duterte was so popular among the masses that he won the election for the presidency by a landslide.
But not a major project has been undertaken yet for the people of Tondo. People around the president might have forgotten to tell him that he should return to the place that has long been serving as the country’s symbol of poverty. And fulfill his promise.
Not forgotten
Ramirez, who now serves as Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, did not forget.
This Locker Room beater was in Davao City to conduct seminar for the students journalists in the weeklong Palarong Pambansa hosted by the city. Part of my itinerary was a visit to the PSC Mindanao where I saw this book authored by Ramirez himself.
His piece about Tondo caught my attention.
I was born and still live in Tondo.
Here’s a place that is deprived of tall buildings and magnificent mansions, but overflowing with simple people united in many ways. This is a place where you can leave your family for a week, knowing that your neighbors are there, always ready to help them in cases of emergency. “Damayan” is precious thing in Tondo.
I showed Ramirez his article and he immediately felt concerned. “We really need to get back there.”
Then his eyes glistened.
Ramirez vows he will jumpstart things for Tondo beginning with a series of free sports clinics, fun games, feeding program and value formation seminar for the poor youth in Tondo, Manila.
The PSC has regular programs like Children’s Games, Larong Pinoy and Larot’ Saya sa Parke that he could immediately implement in a short notice.
I felt happy that somebody from Duterte’s circle is finally giving Tondo a second look.
This could signal the start of big things to come for my Tondo.
