I must confess that it is a constant challenge to look for a topic worth this space. There is an enormous amount of responsibility to attempt, yes even just to attempt, to bring to your breakfast table (for those of you who are early risers) something worth your while lest I might ruin your day. Really, it is not easy to write on anything that can merit your attention.
For the last few weeks, I have been entertained by the way social media have been playing the campaign of His Honor, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte. Oh, his supporters have come in droves and in rather aggressive fashion. Anyone who spoke negatively on the presidential candidate would receive almost unforgivable bashing. Until, one Genesis Rana came.
I note the daring effort of this Genesis Rana, and so I have decided to yield my space to his Facebook posting. Here it is in full and without any editing:
"I was a Du30 fan.Being a fan, I saw him through the eyes of one. Decisive. Kill em all. No mercy.
Then came the hubris. Eradicate, now suppress crime in 3-6 months. How come Davao is not drug and crime-free?Then came the ungentlemanly and undignified behavior. It was consistent. The lecherous and tasteless 'jokes'. The dismissive and arrogant way he carries himself and the macho talk. His supporters imitating his style on social media.
This guy is a pretender and a petty tyrant. He is not a leader, he is a bully. He is not dignified. He has no integrity. Take away the guns and goons, the macho talk, the lecherous behavior, the entourage.
This guy is nothing but a wimp. There, I said it. Hindi 'bayot' hindi bakla, but a wimp. He has not met his match and he only fights those that he can outgun and outmatch. He picks on people smaller than him.Those that act hyper macho are either insecure or lacking in courage and moral fortitude. Real street toughies know that. Martial arts practitioners know that. Real soldiers know that. Real leaders know that.
He is a good product because he was mysterious. He was easy to sell because like instant noodles, he promises instant solutions. The Philippines is a macho society, but not a macho nation. We love trash talk and hyperboles and colorful banter. But when the sh*t hits the fan, nganga.
His handlers and social media strategists are very good at misdirection, and creating shallow content that has high viral potential. Social media users are generally lazy, vain, and easy to coerce and manipulate. I am not an expert on social media and digital marketing but I sense patterns and subtle behavioral changes. Being a graphic designer and educator and a one time tambay and street fighter honed and sharpened that instinct. I was a fan early on because there was no pattern yet. There was only an illusion, a brand. Now I see it. And I don't like what I see. Unlike.
I am not a Roxas fan but maybe a future one.Roxas is a good product but with bad packaging and worse branding. From his early Mr. Palengke days to the Yolanda blunder and all the current issues hounding him, are patterns of inclement incidents that still led him to this. A lagging campaign.But not a hopeless one. Because people like me are voting for him - a one-time Du30 fan. And those who see his pattern of consistency and loyalty that is admirable.
It takes great courage to weather the ridicule, the memes and the bashings and the setbacks. We must redefine our definition of macho, it's not how much pain or fear you can instill in others, how tough your talk is, how many women you have. Macho should be equated with decency and temperance. Macho is fortitude and courage. Macho is being honest. Macho is being loyal. Macho is being respectful. Macho is truly loving your country.
I may be wrong, but I will take a leap of faith and vote for Mar. I will go all the way and vote for Leni too. What good is a President without a loyal Vice-president.
Daang matuwid has potholes and not entirely matuwid. But I believe that it is still the best path for our nation.
I love the Philippines. Mabuhay angPilipinas!"