Duterte Fever
By Yalul
@yalul070 (1713)
Manila, Philippines
March 22, 2016 10:42am CST
I have a problem. I work in the government so I am supposed to be non-partisan. We'll have our national elections in about 50 days from now. A few people in the office are very vocal about their presidential bet basically because they serve him. But since they're just about three out of my thousands of friends on Facebook, they are easily drowned out by my hundreds of friends voting for Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte.
That I don't mind at all.
I am voting for Mayor Duterte. I know him personally, having worked in the peace process in the South, because he's a respected personality, even by the Muslims. A man of action, Mayor Duterte turned Davao City around, from being a no man's land to be the most competitive city in the Philippines. What's his secret? He instilled discipline and upheld law and order.
Try smoking in a no-smoking area in Davao City and you run the risk of swallowing your cigarette once he sees you. Actually, my friends from the drug enforcement agency told me that they should already shut down their regional office in Davao City because there are no drug problems there.
In the latest survey, Mayor Duterte has already caught up with the consistent front-runner in the presidential race. Now politicians are withdrawing their support from the ruling party and shifting to him, because their constituents have spoken. How can you say no to a leader who can mobilize thousands of people in rallies, without handing out money to buy votes? Unfortunately his sorties were not covered by the major TV networks because he has no funds to pay for media coverage, but this is not a problem for his supporters who document his events and post them on Youtube and Facebook. It's the supporters who are actually financing the campaign because they spend their own money to print their own campaign materials.
I wanted to show my support to the man, but I can't because my job is at stake. Then I realized that I have online "anonymous" accounts, like MyLot, where I can freely express my political opinion.
Hey JJ, is political campaigning allowed in MyLot?
8 people like this
7 responses
@rina110383 (24492)
•
22 Mar 16
@yalul070 Yes, I'm referring to the Mayor. I'm not voting this election but of all the candidates, he's my choice. I see myself in him. I see you in him.
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
22 Mar 16
@rina110383 lol so it's no-brainer that I'm voting for him. It's just weird because he's not that good-looking. the first thing that you'll notice in his close-up shots is his huge nose lol. but I still admire him. hey, you should have registered. this is your only chance to participate in changing the politics in our country.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
23 Mar 16
When i told my father , who is a former judge , that i am voting for Duterte , he said " you are voting for a berdugo " . He could declare Martial law should his law be not effective .
That made me think twice . Though i admire his bravery .
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
23 Mar 16
What I don't understand is why this is never an issue for Davaoenos. I think this is only black propaganda against him. He is a lawyer. He knows the law. He's steadfast about the Constitution. I don't think he'll do that.
The thing is, we have a lot of laws. But we lack implementation. We have the money. But we don't fund programs/projects that should make the lives of Filipinos easier. These are easy if we have the foresight and the guts to really act.
1 person likes this
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
23 Mar 16
Duterte for the win! I'm from Davao City and I have enjoyed the peace that the city had offered me. Many a time, I was assisted by polite officers when I walk the city very late at night and I've never been mugged before. Shame on the men who would do that to me. But anyways, I love Mayor Duterte's leadership. Who needs platforms and all those promises if one can't keep them? Right? 
1 person likes this
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
27 Mar 16
@yalul070 We all can enjoy that same benefit if we give it a chance, Mayor Duterte or no Mayor Duterte. I guess the greatest thing Mayor Duterte had ever done was lead us to take the steps to be disciplined and responsible and to think about our fellowmen as we do our own selves. He is a disciplinarian through and through. He shared to us some of his responsibilities, to maintain peace and therefore live in peace. Simple as that. He gave us the opportunity to live in peace with our Muslin brothers and sisters by talking to them and not judge them--unlike the people leading the government of the Philippines. Let's be honest here, when did they take the time to go to the Muslim camps and have a dialogue with their leaders, face to face?
It's not because that just one sector of the government moved that Davao City is a peaceful city, you know. We all played a part in it. All of Mindanao played a part in it. You could say, the only reason why Davao City is still in the map is because we all worked with him, Muslims and Christians; rebels, officers and civilians alike. He was honest when he said he cannot do everything on his own. No one can fix Philippines on their own but all of us joined together, we can.
Yes, we do have our little wars here. And they are too many to count. But we wanted a peaceful city and until now, we still work to achieve it. I tell you, peace is a war on its own that never ends.
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
28 Mar 16
@SinfulRose You had me at..."we." I believe in him and I am willing to play my part as a responsible citizen (not that I don't do that, it's just that it will be more fun if all of us will do that) and help him should he win the presidency.
@rakski (126771)
• Philippines
31 Mar 16
You know what? I am for Binay way back when he had not resigned yet. But when he start to talked dirty, got turned off. Next is Grace which is very likable. After watching the TV5 debate, now I am torn. I am impressed by mayor Duterte. His attitude and the way he handles himself there, cool. I have not decided yet. Will see
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
1 Apr 16
Oh! An undecided here! I am voting for him because I want to see action. We have a lot of common problems that should not have become problems in the first place if we know how to act and if we have foresight, like crime, traffic, transportation woes, high communication costs. Apparently the administration does not see these as problems. Imagine their attitude about traffic: it's not fatal?! And crime -- I really want to see this handled because as a mother, I go crazy when my children are still not yet home when it's time for them to go home. Because all those stories of children being kidnapped even in a busy street -- these are true.
We all know that we are suffering from the highest cellular communication costs and shabbiest services here in our region. There were talks of Telstra coming in, but what happened? It got interdicted by San Miguel. We all know who San Miguel is backing.
I mean, c'mon! These problems are problems that ordinary Filipinos suffer from. And were not even talking about poverty and homelessness, etc. yet. The thing is, the government is not doing about it. Do we want this to continue? Not for another 6 years, please.
Okay, this is one whole discussion already. But anyway, I hope you will consider this guy. He's really the man for that job.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
23 Mar 16
I like his platform too, but I am more inclined to vote the other female, the one who is the most brilliant among all candidates but who was absent during the second debate. hopefully, she will be present in the 3rd.
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
25 Mar 16
@ridingbet Oh okay. In case you change your mind, I hope you consider this guy 
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
24 Mar 16
@yalul070 but my sister said she is qualified to be one of the recipients of that cancer-treatment, in the whole world, and that is an achievement considering she is not young anymore. I will still vote for me, my dear.
1 person likes this
