Mara Cepada, a Rappler reporter asked Vice President Leni Robredo’s favorite book after the incumbent VP’s one-on-one interview with Rappler CEO and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa on March 26, and the Loyalists of Bongbong Marcos (LBM) laughed and criticized Robredo’s answer–To Kill a Mockingbird paired with justification.
Cepada requested Robredo for a 10-quick question to which the VP agreed and pushed through.
In the interview, Robredo was asked about the secret behind her relentless energy, relaxation routine, KDrama to recommend, favorite Tiktok, thoughts on cancel culture until it boils down to the viral question on what is her favorite book of all time to which she answered To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Her explanation of her choice of the book went viral.
“Ang dami kasi pero, pero siguro ‘yung book na naka-intensify ng aking desire to become a public service lawyer, ‘yung book na nabasa ko parang ‘yung first year high school ‘yung ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. After ko yun nabasa, klaro sa akin na magiging public service lawyer ako,” she answered.
Some quarters are purposely taking out of context a part of my FB Live interview with presidential bet VP Leni Robredo, where I asked her what’s her fave book. Contrary to what’s being spread, she ANSWERED my Q. She said it’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. @rapplerdotcom
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) March 30, 2022
LBM received the answer negatively by circulating a spliced video of Robredo and mocked how she answered the question.
Though not audible enough, the title–To Kill a Mockingbird could be heard, but the loyalists focused on how she described the book that inspired her to be a public service lawyer.
To Kill a Mockingbird tells a story of a lawyer who defended a man of color or Blackman who was later killed despite being innocent. They mocked Robredo for not directly answering the basic question.
Kakampinks rallied through reactions in support of Robredo by invalidating LBM’s reactions and comparing Robredo’s response and Marcos when asked about a favorite book.
https://twitter.com/MedwinTruefaith/status/1509076398702755841?s=20&t=vmjFAzgE0CtWOLJjZT2TiQ
https://twitter.com/mzguico/status/1508836582316732416?s=20&t=vmjFAzgE0CtWOLJjZT2TiQ
Tinatawanan ng mga BBM yung video kung saan tinanong si Leni ng favorite niyang book so sinagot niya kung ano and why. Anong funny don? Pa explain naman. Kasi parang mas nakakatawa yung kunyari nagbasa ng The Prince pero hindi naman naiintindihan yung Machiavellian.
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) March 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/pilosopaul/status/1508813169070055425
The reaction of the LBM is a prime example of Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Dunning-Kruger Effect, coined by two psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger suggests that an individual with limited or no knowledge of an issue cannot realize that he or she is wrong on the issue.