Duterte likened to durian

The controversial pronouncements made in previous press conferences by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte after winning the May 9 election have triggered the continuing fire and brimstone thrown against him even before he could assume office. At noon of June 30, Duterte officially takes over the reins of government from outgoing President Benigno “Noy” Aquino III.

An interesting essay by Julmar Grace Locsin attempts to make Filipinos know and better understand where Duterte is coming from. Locsin says she is a mother of twins and apparently hails from Davao City like Duterte. She posted her essay in her blog “The Filipino Eye” that appears at wordpress.com.

In her essay, the author likened Duterte to durian, a fruit tree native to Davao City and the rest of Mindanao. The name “durian” is derived from the Bahasa Malay-Indonesian word for duri or “spike,” in reference to its numerous spikes.

I got wind of her blog after Ali Sotto read her essay during the latter’s radio program with Arnold Clavio over DzBB station last week. Locsin’s thoughts about Duterte started with why she wrote this essay. Due to space limitation, I will just reprint excerpts from her essay:

“Note: This is written in the hope of uniting this country in supporting a President many couldn’t fully comprehend. This is a personal opinion [borne] out of a personal experience?

“Mayor Duterte’s leadership is like the durian fruit experience for me. It wasn’t love at first sight. I wasn’t appreciative of it at first. I looked at him through my religious and perfectionist lenses and wasn’t a fan…?

“To be honest, I was the number 1 anti-Duterte fan so focused in my own religious judgments that I did not vote for him during the Duterte-De Guzman race for mayorship. I proudly exercised my rights of suffrage against him. I did not believe in his leadership.

“For me, he was just one plain sinner who shouldn’t be in office because he was a bad example, especially to the youth.?

“(But) just like durian, I had to look past the foul smell to enjoy the taste. I also had to look beyond Duterte’s toughness and roughness to see that the reason why I am enjoying this ‘life is here’ experience as a Davaoeño is this tough-talking realist.

“And just like durian, the moment I started enjoying the taste, I got addicted.? I became a “Dutertard” (which means a Duterte retard?) and started seeing the benefits of his leadership…”

Duterte Leadership Guide?

“Now that the Mayor is now the President-elect, thousands are skeptics because they don’t understand him as Davaoeños do. They call those who get past the ‘foul smell’ [as] fanatics.

“What they don’t understand is we love Duterte because we have looked past his imperfections. His close-to-perfect leadership shouts louder.?

“But I admit… our beloved Mayor is hard to love.?

“He’s a ‘long-term relationship’ kind of man, not a ‘one- night stand.’ You have to know him first. You have to spend time with him. You have to be open-minded… to be able to start smiling at his jokes and laughing at his sarcasm.?

“I admit, I was once also in the same position like many Filipinos now who are lost in figuring out who this President-elect really is. I understand that it can be alarming to put your trust in a leader whom you don’t fully understand.

“We don’t value what we don’t appreciate, right? So I listed a few insights here from how I know the President-elect as a Davaoeño for 15 years now. This may be limited but I hope this will help everyone in the country get a grasp of who our incoming President is.?

“1. He is a good man – Duterte may be tough and rude to many but for us who have known him, we can say that he is good. He is passionate and compassionate. He is always for the people. He is willing to die for the poor and the oppressed. Yes, his ways are tough, his words are blunt and dirty, his stance is proud.

“But these just come from a fierce personality who hates injustice and corruption. He’s a lion who wildly roars against criminality and inequality. But know that behind those fiery eyes and foul words is a heart that aches for a better society. When you need someone to defend you, he’s the man.

“2. He is a man of principles – He will not bow down to anything or anyone. If you are in the evil side and against the welfare of the people in general, you’re an enemy. May you be the pope, UN secretary general, US president, state ambassador, rich, powerful, or whomever, he doesn’t care. He knows his values and what he stands for. If you’re on the other side, start running!? This is unless you change, because he is also light-hearted especially to the young, women and the minority.? He has principles and these are always guided by what is good.?

“3. He is wise – Right when you think you’ve got him, you’ll realize that he’s the one who has actually gotten you because he was three steps ahead of you! He knows when to expose things and when to submit to wisdom and keep quiet. He’s someone you can’t figure out unless you get to know him and start thinking like him. Most Davaoeños are already good at this. Thus, when the nation was whining about a statement, we smile because we know he is just taunting you so you can expose your own corruption in your reactions.? He’s a lion. But he’s also an eagle, the Philippine eagle type who eats monkeys who are foolish and steal people’s food.?

“4. He is a simple man – There is no drama in him. He just works. He has refused a lot of prestigious nominations as a public servant because for him, he’s just doing his job.? And it’s true. He eats with his hands at home, he lives simply, and is not for show. Anyone can approach him anywhere. He doesn’t like prestige. He is real. He doesn’t wear political masks.?

“5. He’s the best – He’s not even in Malacañang Palace yet but change is already happening all over the country. This is because he’s the best. He is a genuine leader who lives simply and is efficient and effective in his ways because he’s driven by passion for the nation and compassion for people. We have seen it in Davao City and this nation is about to experience it.”

Incidentally, the durian season is in August yet. But don’t ever stand below a durian tree during its season as the spiky fruit drops when it ripens. Like Duterte, the durian could be deadly if it falls on one’s head and could crack open a skull.