Team DailyPedia
A majority of Filipinos have certain expectations of how public officials should conduct themselves, especially during elections. Candidates vying for national positions must show a certain level of sensitivity, civility, and decorum. But Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte seems determined to diverge from the norm.
The PDP-Laban presidential candidate has been making headline after headline with inflammatory statements that have managed to affect various sectors of society. The tough-talking Davao City Mayor has managed to constantly draw flak online and has seemingly become an easy target because of his words and actions. Is there a “method to his madness” so to speak? A recent talk he gave might give the answer.
Duterte spoke to the graduates of Lyceum Philippines (LPU) last Saturday, April 23 and delivered a speech without the usual profanity that he has become infamous for. An LPU alumni himself (a graduate of Bachelor of Arts, major in Political Science back in 1968), Duterte made a few surprising revelations:
“If I become President, I will be prim and proper.”
Duterte revealed that his image and methodologies are intentional to serve as a challenge or to test societal systems.
“Sinasadya ko talaga iyang bunganga ko. I am testing the elite in this country because, historically, we are fundamentally a feudal country.”
[“I intentionally speak that way. I am testing the elite in this country because, historically, we are fundamentally a feudal country.”]
“I am testing the waters of radicalism. (I act) as if I am irreverent, (but) it’s not really true. I pray to God always. Baka patayin ako ng dalawang ito (referring to rivals Secretary Mar Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay).”
[“I am testing the waters of radicalism. (I act) as if I am irreverent, (but) it’s not really true. I pray to God always. Those two might kill me.”]
Even if the speech he delivered was unusually profanity-free, Duterte still managed to take a swipe at his rivals, their supporters, and even Philippine media.
“In this country, (the ruling class) wants everything to be prim and proper. They control the media, they control television and all, and they want to do governance in accordance with their interest. That’s how it is. Noon pa ganoon talaga.”
[“In this country, (the ruling class) wants everything to be prim and proper. They control the media, they control television and all, and they want to do governance in accordance with their interest. That’s how it has been.”]
“Hindi ako ganoon kabastos, pero sinasadya ko iyon because, you know, mabayaran sila, especially the writers, and there are a lot of them. They would really slant, and every statement I make they would slant. Sinasadya ko tuloy, talagang minumura ko sila.”
(“I am not ‘that’ rude, but I intentionally do it because, you know, they are ‘paid’ especially the writers, and there are a lot of them. They would really slant, and every statement I make they would slant. So I intentionally do it, I really bad mouth them.”)
