A kiss and Chinese airplanes: The sheer silliness of it all

IS it silly season yet again? I am constantly amazed at the opposition’s intellectual bankruptcy, at how it would use ridiculously trivial or outright non-events in order to disparage President Duterte. Too bad for them; their efforts are quite useless and misses the mark with the “masa.”

There’s the false outrage over the mutual consent, showbizzy, closedmouth dry kiss between Duterte and a female supporter in South Korea. Some oppositionists were even planning a protest rally over this one, because the lady who dared take a one-second presidential peck was married (what have I been saying here for so long: The Philippines is stuck in the medieval age).

I’m guessing the ones who will attend this anti-Duterte rally will be (again) the overly religious conservatives who want nothing more than to earn saintly points here on earth so they can get a gate pass to heaven. They’ll need more warm bodies, though, to be provided by the not-yet legal age Catholic school children in their fancy uniforms.

But hey, whatever floats your boat, but make sure you guys clean up the streets after you fill them with your litter. Just remember that imposing your religious fundamentalism on other people will never work. In our country, bourgeois morality never got the votes. Authenticity is what Filipinos voters value more.

Earlier, the opposition was trying to stoke anti-China sentiments by reporting that China landed a bomber aircraft in the Paracel Islands. By issuing alarmist statements, they made it appear that China was aiming a nuclear weapon at the Philippines. Such witlessness has become a trademark of the anti-Duterte bloc, who also happens to be members of the so-called Yellow Cult.

Why wouldn’t China land aircraft in the Paracels when they have controlled the entire island chain since 1974? South Vietnam tried to take it over from them during the Vietnam War era but lost after the US Navy declined to help them. This historical fact should serve as a reminder to the rabid pro-US oppositionists that the Americans will not come here with guns blazing if ever we get into a war with China over the South China Sea disputes.

Vietnam has claims to the Paracels Islands but the Philippines doesn’t. It’s too far away from us. I had hoped this would be the end of the anti-Chinese crusade by the opposition, but no, here they come again shaking the nation with reports that China landed a military airplane in Davao City. (It’s the end of the world! The Chinese are coming! Too late – they’ve been in this country since before the Spaniards came, as evidenced by historical records and archaeological finds.)

It turns out that the aircraft was only in the President’s hometown to refuel, with prior authorization from local aviation authorities. China’s IL76 military transport plane cannot go on long distances beyond 3,000 kilometers without refueling thus the need for a stop in the Davao airport before continuing back home, after having come all the way from Australia.

I’m starting to pity the country’s opposition. They are running out of ideas to bring down the current administration that they have to scrape the barrel with worthless stories such as dry kisses and non-existent Chinese invasions.

They could be a force for constructive criticism if only they would be willing to set aside the idea that they could do another people power-type of takeover of this popular president. EDSA will never happen again.

With the explosion of knowledge and information in social media, Filipinos have become astute political observers. They’ll see a lie a mile away even if it comes in the form of a screaming headline from a highly partisan newspaper.

The problem with the anti-Duterte types is not just their self-righteousness and sense of entitlement, it’s their inability to understand why the “masa” or the majority of Filipinos, support and dare I say it, love, Duterte. He’s one of them, or at least he understands them. His simple folksy manner is endearing. He’s an entertaining speaker. He’s the type you would want to hang around in your house to have drinks with and shoot the breeze, a fun “huntahan.”

Yes, he cusses a lot, but so what, as long as he does his job and he does it really well. He meets his Cabinet every week unlike the previous Palace occupant. The economy is booming. Bigger and better infrastructure are being built. Criminality is down with even Forbes magazine saying Filipinos feel safer walking in the streets.

Duterte’s critics are mainly based in Metro Manila, which traditionally has a disdain for people from the provinces, calling them country hicks. It’s a class thing that won’t disappear until the economic growth has reached all the poor areas, creating progressive urban centers in the southern parts of the Philippines.

Listening to Duterte speak in his homegrounds of Visayas and Mindanao, whether it’s before barangay officials or soldiers or any provincial group, one realizes right away why he is popular among the masses. He’s as authentic as they come: there are no pretentions, formalities, or corniness or any sort. He speaks their language and makes them laugh with his often off-color jokes. Sometimes, he gives history lessons and makes the crowd think about what it is to be a real Filipino.

Duterte’s provincial sorties, whether intended or not, has also consolidated his support base. If he keeps his approval ratings (and there’s little doubt he will) whomever he endorses in the 2022 presidential elections will be a sure winner.

Duterte appears to be more comfortable talking in Bisaya rather than in Tagalog/Filipino, and a lot is lost in the translation. I think if he is in Metro Manila or when he talks with media it will be better if he spoke in English, which is a wider and more accurate language than the vernacular. But of course, Duterte being Duterte he will scoff at this idea. He doesn’t care if you don’t like the way he speaks. He’s doing his job and he loves his country. That should be enough for all of us.