Vignettes/ impressions of the presidency

The Duterte presidency is two years old by June 30 and it has been an interesting two years. A lot has been written about this government during the time, both positive and negative, and more will be written which will affect and on the effects of its governance. I have written full columns about this government but there are issues that cannot be treated as such, as these are in progress and information and analysis are inadequate to form a definitive opinion. So, I am writing “vignettes” or impressions of the presidency.

A vignette, in literary terms, is an evocative account or essay that merges into the whole that makes you want more. Some columnists string up lines of narratives which are usually a retelling of rumors or inside stories that titillate the readers. In my case it will be paragraphs that make you ponder on the issue.

WHO PRAYS FOR YOU: In the recent controversy of Duterte cursing God, God does not really need defending because he is God and it is our God who defends us. But the president’s words and actions offended many, and the proper question to politicians and government officials should be: “Who are praying for you?” or “How many are praying for you?”

THE PRESIDENCY AS PENANCE: Duterte has said in many of his speeches that the presidency is a burden to him and he is willing to step down even before the end of his term. With the myriad and endless problems of governing a developing country, the presidency is a stressful and not really enjoyable position. His personal and family life is under a microscope, and every word he says is scrutinized, his actions suspect. The probability of success is quite low for somebody like Duterte who is not restrained and beyond candor in words and actions. He would have been happier as Mayor of Davao with a limited audience and constituency. The presidency is really a burden and penance/punishment for him.

IT HURTS WHEN YOU LAUGH: During the campaign and in the early months of his presidency, many people would laugh at the bad jokes, curses, and crass rhetoric of the president. A lot of these are stories and words are better said in small private gatherings among close friends. Some people in these public gatherings laugh to appease and/or curry favor from him, and others to avoid embarrassing him. As the months have passed and the same bad language and jokes are still spewed by the president, there is a noticeable embarrassed tone in the laughter of the audience and there is already clamor from responsible parents for the president to stop or avoid these kinds of adlibs in his speeches. It is starting to hurt when you/we laugh.

BUREAUCRATIC INCAPACITY: A major reason for the slow implementation of the projects and programs of the government, including the “Build, build, build” program is because the departments and agencies that are to implement them do not have the expertise, capability, organization, people, and technical capability. Given the inadequacy of government institutions to have the right people and processes, the Duterte government seems to have attracted more than its share of opportunistic position seekers, that he had to fire or remove some of his earlier appointees.

There are still four years for this administration to go and the above issues will be relevant. In the next quarterly survey on the satisfaction rating of the government, the above vignettes will be factors. And it is not just the increase or decrease, but the degrees of the movement. It is the slope that is important.

‘As the months have passed and the same bad language and

jokes are still spewed by the president, there is a noticeable embarrassed tone in the laughter of the audience’