Isabelle Duterte’s Palace photoshoot: Much ado about nothing…

The pre-debut photo shoot of Isabelle Duterteinside Malacañang Palace is actually a non-issue, unless however, you belong to the opposition and the antiDuterte coalition.

For one, it was neither illegal nor unlawful. Second, understand she is not an ordinary mortal – she is the granddaughter of President Rodrigo Duterte. Meaning, as a presidential granddaughter, she is entitled to the privileges that comes with being a member of the First Family.

If at all, however, I would say that using the presidential seal, the national coat of arms, and the flag of the President for the photo shoot events were distasteful and inappropriate. But this is more of a failed, or botched PR job by the Presidential Communications Operations Office and Malacañang’s Chief Protocol Officer. But certainly, the venue is not inappropriate.

Understand, presidents before Duterte have used the Palace for private events e.g., weddings or wedding receptions of presidential children Victoria Quirino, Linda Garcia, Jo Ramos, Jackie Estrada, and Mikey Arroyo.Of course, this is not to forget the Marcos children(Irene, Bongbong and Irene) where Malacañang Palacewas virtually their home and playground. For 21 years, they livedan extravagant and opulent lifestyle and was famous for their late-night dance parties and Madame’s disco with the social elites, celebrities, the rich and famous, and their cronies.With that being said, by comparison, you would say that Isabelle Duterte’s half-day photo shootwas ain’t nothing but child’s play.Moreover, even if she holds her debut in the Palace, it should not even be an eyebrow-raiser.

For as long as there wereno public resources that was used in the photo shoot, the histrionic and juvenile behavior of the opposition on this matter clearly manifest that they have since ran out of legitimate issues against Duterte.And this reminds me of what former first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, had famously quipped: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; SMALL MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE.”

There are bigger and serious issues (e.g., drugs, crimes, terrorism, corruption, etc.) that our country is facing that the opposition and anti-Duterte group should focus on, least of which is devoting an inordinate amount of time to trivial and banal matters, such as, a photoshoot by a debutante who happens to be the granddaughter of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Making a mountain out of a molehill is pathetic, indeed. Go get some life, you idiot!