The wisdom of nameless

From time to time while channel surfing I get a glimpse of some campaign coverage particularly when President Duterte is shown giving a speech, often a verbal attack at the person or character of candidates from the opposition. Several things I have come to realize is that the President is his worst enemy during these events, does more harm to his candidates while attacking the opposition, and ultimately the reason why more and more people are paying attention to the opposition candidates that President Duterte has targeted.

Public speaking engagements almost always spell bad news for President Duterte because being the transparent “what you see is what you get” kind of person, President Duterte almost always end up going off script, draws out what is in his heart or on his mind and often it has to do with frustration or anger. I don’t think President Duterte is much of a Bible reader and believer or he would know the lesson of St. Paul, I think it was, who said in Ephesians 4: 26 - 27 “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

In his anger, President Duterte almost always ends up saying more than necessary, and ends up saying a mouthful of stuff that hurts the presidency and over all public confidence. His epic warning that he would suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus and throw his critics into jail successfully revived the ghost and terror of Martial Law and once again strengthened the claims of Duterte’s critics that he is a Marcos clone or someone who has such evil intent. Once again his unbridled verbal threat painted the President as a short-tempered bully in the political playground.

I can understand that at his age, being in office this late in life and having survived much in life, the President may no longer be concerned with polite conversations or civility toward his enemies. Unfortunately, the audience is not his enemies; we the viewers are not his enemies. And when you fly off the handle making threats at democracy, you are not doing anybody a favor. You don’t burn the forest just because you hate the weeds. PRRD’s verbal transparency is the opposite extreme of Erap Estrada’s “Eraptions” or politically funny or incorrect one-liners. Erap’s down to earth lines worked because “may hugot” or had a cultural and comic reality among Filipinos.  

Perhaps it would do the President a lot of good if he would take time to read the Book of James this coming Holy Week, not in the pursuit of holiness, for only God is Holy, but rather to gain practical insights on how a tiny piece of flesh, our tongue, weighing a few ounces can do as much damage as a one ton bomb.

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While listening to President Duterte’s campaign endorsements or in effect his tirades at the opposition candidates, it leaves me with the impression as a voter and ordinary viewer that the administration candidates are a bunch of political midgets running around or behind President Duterte. PRRD’s demanding presence takes the focus away from his candidates, prevents them from shining on the campaign trail, and the tirades takes away the focus on the competency or offerings of the administration candidates. After watching several election coverages, you end up remembering what the President said but not who among the candidates were there and what they had to contribute.

In fact, many in media tune out or shift coverage once the President makes the important message or blistering attack. This late in the campaign, the administration candidates have not made a substantial impact or established themselves as noteworthy candidates. They are known for their past but not recognized in their present or future offerings. This has strengthened the impression that the administration candidates are no match for the opposition candidates, which is why they have to rely on PRRD’s supporters to get them to the Senate.

In contrast, the opposition lineup that started with “nobodies” have gained quite a following and have gained traction due in large part to the personal attacks launched against them by President Duterte. In case Malacañang experts wonder why, nobody likes a bully and Filipinos almost always end up pitying or supporting the underdog. They also admire people who remain respectful and cool in spite of being provoked unjustly. So what’s happened is that the President’s favorite punching bag Prof. Chel Diokno has made a come from behind sprint and has become a recognized name in spite of being low key for many years. The same has happened for Florin Hilbay, Gary Alejano and Samira Gutoc. Perhaps this is the very reason why the opposition has maintained a respectful engagement or counter offensive with the President. They want him to carry on doing what he is doing because it ends up blessing the opposition.

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While putting this column together, I was reminded of the wisdom of New Zealand’s woman Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who impressed and touched the world when she spoke in parliament regarding the terrorist who killed some 50 Muslims in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. After stating that the terrorist wanted recognition for his terroristic attack, Arden stated:

“That’s why you will never hear me mention his name,” said Ardern. “He is a terrorist, he is a criminal, he is an extremist. But he will, when I speak, be nameless.”

In the case of the administration candidates and the campaign as a whole, promote what is true, what is good and what is beneficial. If you have nothing good to say – don’t say it!

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