OWING THEIR victories to the popular clamor for radical change, President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo recognized the importance of listening to the nation’s marginalized in their respective inaugural activities yesterday.
Duterte, the first president from Mindanao, ran on a campaign of “Tapang at Malakasit (strength and compassion)” attracting a sizeable part of the electorate who felt left out of the country’s economic growth and disillusioned with the ruling political elite.
Photo by Beatrice T. Go.
“It is the people from whom democratic governments draw strength and this administration is no exception. That is why we have to listen to the murmurings of the people, feel their pulse, supply their needs and fortify their faith and trust in us whom they elected to public office,” he said in his first speech as president.
Despite being the Aquino administration’s candidate, Robredo also ran on similar themes, promising to lift up those in the margins of society (“inaangat ang mga nasa laylayan”).
Photo by Beatrice T. Go.
“Ang mga pangarap ng ating Pangulo at ating mga plano para sa bansa ay nagkakatugma patungo sa iisang hangarin: ang mabigyan ng tunay na kaunlaran ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga napag-iiwanan. (The chosen direction of our President and our plans for the country have wide intersections and converge on the singularity of this vision: of bringing real prosperity to our people, especially those that have been left behind.),” she said in her inaugural address.
While she acknowledged the gains from the past administration, Robredo admitted that the nation still faces more challenges.
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
Leftist groups welcome Duterte
Shortly before the president’s oath-taking, various progressive sectoral organizations massed in front of Malacañang’s Mendiola gate at the historic Chino Roces Bridge to show their support to the incoming president. Duterte later met some of their representatives in the Palace.
Among those present were groups advocating for women, indigenous peoples, youth, agriculture, and labor. They brought with them colorful signs, banners, and flags bearing their demands and concerns.
Photo by Beatrice T. Go.
Minda Dalinan, member of indigenous peoples’ (IP) partylist Katribu, hopes that the new president will end mining and militarization of IP communities in Mindanao.
Mic Catuira, deputy secretary-general of migrants organization Migrante, believes that Duterte’s outreach to the poor is “genuine.”
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
They also cheered the president’s commitment to restart peace talks with the National Democratic Front, raising hopes of ending the decades-old Communist insurgency. Duterte, in a previous video call with Communist Party of the Philippines founder Joma Sison, proclaimed himself as the country’s “first Left president.”
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes praised Duterte’s “unprecedented” move of reaching out to the Left. While they are ready to cooperate with the president, he stressed that they will still continue watching over the administration.
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
Some have criticized the militant Left for not speaking out enough about Duterte’s more controversial acts. For instance, Gabriela representative Luzviminda Ilagan received flak for her initial statements on Duterte’s catcalling of reporter Mariz Umali at a press conference last May 31.
Rose Bihag, a Gabriela representative present in the rally, said that while they support the president’s other initiatives, they don’t condone catcalling, which she says is a form of “sexual harassment.”
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
“‘Yung mga ganoong ‘machong’ pagtingin, ayaw ng Gabriela ‘yun…’Di naman magbabago ang pinaninindigan ng Gabriela in terms ng paninindigan at pagtatanggol sa karapatan ng kababaihan. (Those kinds of machismo views, Gabriela does not approve of…Our stand in speaking out and protecting women’s rights will not change.),” she said.
Robredo thanks supporters
Meanwhile, Robredo held a thanksgiving party for her supporters last night at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.
“Masayang-masaya ako na nandito kayo ngayon. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang inyong pagmamahal (I am very happy that you are here. I can very much feel your love),” she said.
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
In a special way, Robredo thanked those who have expressed their support even before she became the frontrunner for the vice presidential race. Her meteoric rise “from 1% to vice president” can be attributed to a groundswell of support from below, including marginalized sectors she has helped during her longtime career as a labor and human rights lawyer.
One of her most notable supporters were the Sumilao farmers, who even marched back again to Manila just to campaign for Robredo.
Photo by Quita V. Chuatico.
She asked them to continue their support as the challenges have only just begun.
“Maraming hadlang, maraming kahirapan, pero sanay naman po tayo diyan (There are many obstacles, many hardships, but we’re already used to it.),” she said.
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
On the eve of the inauguration, Sen. Bongbong Marcos filed an electoral protest against Robredo for finding alleged irregularities and fraud.
Despite these challenges, the vice president urged her supporters to stay calm and collected.
Photo by Quita V. Chuatico.
“Ang aking pakiusap sa inyo, parati lang tayong magpapakumbaba. Huwag na tayong makipag-away. (I ask you to always stay humble. Let us not pick fights anymore),” she said. “Ang palaging natitira ay kabutihan lamang. Ang hindi mawawala, ang kabutihan sa puso ng bawat isa sa atin. (What is left is only good. What never goes away is the goodness in the hearts of each and every one of us).”
