Statesmanship and governance

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, amidst criticisms to his no-holds barred oral pronouncements and body language in the recent international arena of nations and media fora, simply explained that he did not run for president to be a highfalutin statesman before other heads of states but to be a dedicated president, a parens patriae and savior of an internally troubled third world country plagued with massive poverty and ignorance, illegal drugs and lawlessness as well as unbridled corruption among top government officials and businessmen.

There are times in public relations among leaders, both national and international, when diplomacy and hypocrisy become relative terms for convenience and protocol. But worse still, among our government leaders and politicians what is rampant is when public service becomes synonymous with self service through deeply rooted corruption due more to insatiable greed than to human need.

Perhaps, for President Duterte, the latter situation is his immediate concern and mission for the nation as its newly elected president. And, indeed, he appears to be angry and in a hurry for change to come to the nation. He will not only walk his talk but is rushing his talk to action. On that score, the Filipino people should support the president.

However, we can only hope and pray that our President Duterte will not do it solo ala Don Quixote. Otherwise, our nation will see ahead a light at the end of the tunnel but coming from an incoming rushing train. And, indeed, God forbid, it will result to a big bang for the country and its people, where, to paraphrase a Shakespearean quote, blood and destruction shall be so in use and dreadful objects so familiar that mothers shall but smile when they behold their children slaughtered by the hands of violence.-Amay P. Ong Vano, Cebu City