Understanding the Duterte Phenomenon

Throughout the campaign he kissed women, told ambassadors to shut up over dislike with his remarks, and cursed thru the campaign. But it seems, the voters don’t mind the antics. As with the last survey, he has a commanding lead above his opponents.  

Phenomenal, as some would put it, just like the Filipinos going gaga over Aldub, but this is something different. It is not just the character, the persona, the campaign strategy; Rodrigo Duterte struck a chord that the Aquino administration sorely lacks. His steady rise to the top is not overnight, thus, making it tough for his opponents to pull him down.

It is a movement, to the grass root level - People creating their own silk screens, and voluntarily, (not T-shirts), that they can redistribute to other areas, Creating campaign materials themselves, reproducing it, distributing it. The fire that he created slowly crept into the entire nation making it seemingly impossible to put out. 

“Emilio Aguinaldo”, a metaphor that he used when asked who his biggest campaign contributor was. You would often times wonder, why people willingly give their contributions to the Duterte Campaign, Sometimes amounting to 4,000.00, when these people don’t have much. He is neither a celebrity nor a movie star to begin with… 

But what makes it equally phenomenal as well is the words that he is saying. These are just words, how can we hold him accountable to what he is saying? Is killing people a metaphor or an actual platform? The Mayor of Davao was able to position himself as the non-traditional type of candidate. Beyond his brash language, shows intellect and a brilliant strategist. 

“Change is coming” he built a politics on the issues with which everyone could relate to – crime, corruption, drugs and how he wants to fix it because he is decisive. Backing it up with a strong program of action, because people had enough from politicians that spew flowery words, eloquent speeches, but not really understood by many. He talks directly to each one, albeit his visayan humor that I really cannot phantom, and it resonates with a lot of people. Even creating his own legion of fans referred to as the “DuterTards”. We always accuse them as brainwashed and blinded followers, but the reason they like him is plain and simple, “Nagpapaka-totoo cya”. And for Filipinos, that means something.

“Empathy”; one would clearly see, that compared to the Aquino administration who was weak on empathy, that is his main selling point. And suffice enough to say, that his moves are calculated, the underlying thought on what he was doing on the campaign trail, if you haven’t realized, is one of the traditions Filipinos do during the feast of the black Nazarene, that he would wipe his face with a towel, or t-shirt, then throw at his supporters. It is very symbolic, religious and altogether powerful. Brilliant isn’t it? That lack of empathy, which has been the problem of the Aquino administration, is Duterte’s strongpoint, and that same lack of empathy is how people see the administration candidate, lack of charisma, technocratic and not having the touch for the poor and the ordinary person.

Filipinos never change; they’re not looking for Intelligence, experience, or platform. People are looking for Visibility - the concern for the poor, moral integrity, and principle. It has always been the same song, Duterte just sang it differently, and that alone reflects how masterful and brilliant he is at planning his strategy...

He was clever enough to use the administration’s weakness to his advantage. But more than that, he inspired a nation known for its apathy. To cut across classes of society is something really exceptional, I haven't seen something like it. He carefully studied his market. Learning from the mistakes of the previous candidates, his PR Team carefully devised a plan  trying to unite a nation that is long hounded by regionalism... Much like with the fire that started the revolution against Spain, the spark that started in Davao, burns throughout entire country, slowly but surely, has turned the entire nation aflame. He is always a step ahead of his opponents, and made sure that whatever black propaganda they throw at him, would go backfire straight to their faces. 

Sure, he isn't intelligent like Mirriam, not as eloquent as Poe or Roxas, and definitely not a sweet talker like Binay. He was bold, crass, and highly unpredictable...  A smokescreen that he used to propel him to where he is now, Like a brilliant General planning for his war. After all, he is a seasoned public servant.

The burden now is if he could keep the fire that he started long after May 9. How long can he sustain sense of nationalism that he rekindled in every Filipino? Or are we going back to our regionalist mentality after the polls is another battle looming at the horizon, but that's another story... One battle at a time, May 9 is upon us, and the fever which he instilled in us make him win? Or just like any other brilliant minds before him, shall he go down in history as a great leader who failed to get the chance?  The ball is on your courts now..

End Note:
I never planned to open this blog again, It reminded me of a phase in my life from which I have already moved on but I don't have the luxury of time to create a new one so I am posting here. A small token of my contribution to the beloved Mayor of Davao who won me over because I had the chance to live in an exemplary city. The culture of honesty and discipline he instilled in Davao is unforgettable. (Left my iphone on the cab, did not notice it until minutes later I was called by our office receptionist, the cab driver went his way to returned it to me... who in their right mind, right?)