It’s not a secret to anyone that there are people who instantly criticize why am I being given a government position. There are times when it feels like they cannot accept me working with the government just because of my background. However, I’m already used to it because I realized that there will always be people who will judge you just because they don’t like you or they don’t support your views, just like what other people do when they state the reason why they don’t like President Duterte.
I’ve come to accept the fact that there are people who will always believe that public image is more important than what you do or will be able to do for the country. There will always be people who will believe that acting like a good person is better than really being a good person, but we must not let them put us down.
When I was appointed as MTRCB Board Member, there were several negative reactions, questioning why someone like me would be a part of the government.
The same is happening now that I was appointed as Assistant Secretary for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), and the funny thing is that most of their reasons stay the same, my background as a sexy dancer.
I also got negative reactions from known individuals like Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel De Leon and Senator Kiko Pangilinan who said that they felt ‘slighted’ by my appointment.
Nonetheless, I’m thankful to the people who choose to defend me in all the attacks that some just tag as “criticisms”; I’m thankful to them not because they are defending me but because it’s good to see that there are still people who do not judge a book by its cover, that there are still Filipinos who do not prejudge other people easily.
In this new appointment, issues will surely be created from all angles, like the salary and my being a supporter of the President. Nevertheless, my belief of a public servant has not changed; my belief that a public servant must not serve his/her personal interest, but the interest of the people, is intact. Which is why with this new duty that has been entrusted to me, I assure you that my priority will always be the Filipino people. I will work hard and do my best in my duty to bring the ordinary people closer to the government through social media. I will ensure that the Filipinos will be informed of the good things that the government is doing for our country, while also working hard to deliver the concerns of the people to the government because I also firmly believe that communications should always be a two-way street.
Last May 10, a reporter asked President Duterte whose idea was it to appoint me as Assistant Secretary for Presidential Communications Operations Office; the President answered that it was his, adding that there was nothing wrong with my work as a dancer. Furthermore, the President also said:
"She was with me during the campaign. A little bit sexier than the others. But that does not prevent anybody to deprive her of the honors that she deserves,"
"Every Filipino should deserve a chance wherever for whatever.”
For me, the last line says it all, every Filipino should deserve a chance wherever for whatever. This is what I like about the President, he’s does not judge a person right away, including his appointees; he does not limit a person’s capability based on his/her background, the important thing for him is that they are all working their best for the betterment of the Filipino people, that they are all prioritizing the needs of the people. This shows that he really wants to have a people-oriented government and gives opportunities to every Filipino in all sectors.
Therefore, I believe that having a leader like him is a victory for the ordinary people because having a leader who does not discriminate means that more opportunity will be given to ordinary Filipinos.
Having a leader like President Duterte means that we can be assured that we are no longer in the time where only the rich becomes richer while the poor becomes poorer; and this is evidently a victory for the ordinary Filipinos.