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Today is election day in the Philippines. May 9, 2016.
Today, I want to write about my experience over this election period. This article is not about promoting any particular candidate or party, it is about the experience of living in a City where the Presidential front runner is also the Mayor of that city. It has been an interesting and unique experience.
In my life, both in the USA and in the Philippines (I also lived in South Africa, but I was young and do not remember anything about politics), I have lived through many elections. I have seen many Presidents elected, Senators, Congressmen, local officials and just about any other office you could think of. But, in all of my life, I have never lived in a City where the Mayor ran for President of the Country, until now.
In the USA, the “real people” don’t really have any contact with the President of the country. Oh, we will see him if he is in our community and does a speech, assuming we attend the occasion. But, what we see is some guy that we saw on TV who is surrounded by a large security team, no way you could really have a conversation with him. Very unlikely that you would ever be able to shake his hand, unless it is campaign time, and even at campaign time it is very unlikely that you would be close enough to the President to shake hands. Only a very small number of people could ever say that the President is somebody they know or have talked to.
The Philippine experience is a little different. You would still need to be in the right place at the right time, to some point anyway, but it is possible that you might meet the President someday. And, I learned this year, it is possible that the President might turn out to be somebody that you have met on multiple occasions, seen in malls, somebody who actually knows who you are! It seems kind of humbling after growing up in a place where the President might as well be in a different universe.
Of course, the Presidential Candidate in today’s election that is from the City where I live is Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte has been the Mayor of Davao since 1988. There have been a few times when he was not Mayor during those years, because the Philippines has term limits for Mayors, and when he had served the limit of terms he would have to sit out for the following term, but he was always re-elected when he could run again. During those “break periods” from being Mayor, Duterte would serve in some other office, like Congressman, or even as Vice Mayor. Anyway, this is only to give a little bit of background on the man and his political rise.
During my years of living in Davao, I have met the Mayor and also seen him in various situations. One time, Feyma and I went out to eat at a restaurant, and the Mayor was also eating there, at the table next to us. There is another restaurant, Yellow Fin, a seafood place, which is not far from our house, and that is kind of the “favorite” restaurant of Mayor Duterte. He eats lunch there very often. So, having a guy that you have seen around town suddenly running for President, and being a serious contender has been a different, and an interesting experience.
Because Mayor Duterte is very popular with Dabawenyos, the support for his candidacy here is very strong. I would imagine that he will take 80 or 90% of the vote here in our City. If you go around town, all you really hear people talking about is the Presidential race, and how the Mayor is doing. It is a constant topic of conversation. Foreigners can’t or should not really get involved in politics here, but with the race on people’s minds so much, it is hard to avoid. Every time you hop on a jeepney or catch a taxi, people ask you about it. “What do you think about the election?” I hear it every day. I try to reply in a non-committal but supportive way. Kind of show the City pride, but without showing political support.
As I was saying earlier, it is a little different here in terms of meeting a President. Not like the States where the President is deeply insulated from the people.
Back around 2005 or so, Feyma, the kids, and I went to the Marco Polo Hotel here in Davao. We were going to the pool there for a swim. When we walked in the lobby we could see that there was something going on, but were not sure what it was. Suddenly, a woman walked up and started talking to me. I looked and was shocked when I saw that it was Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the President of the Philippines at that time. I talked to her for a few minutes and she was very friendly. It was at that point that I really realized how different it was here in terms of closeness or the ability to meet the President.
A friend of mine told me that one time, through a connection that his wife had, he and his wife were invited to Malacañang Palace (the Philippine equivalent of the White House) for lunch with the President. I bet that was quite an experience to remember! This also occurred with Gloria was President.
Anyway, the past months have been interesting to see the campaign in full swing. I hope that the elections today are peaceful, and the results turn out good for the country. I have witnessed Presidents change in the Philippines both by election and by coup d’etat. Hopefully the days of the coup are over in the Philippines. Peaceful transfer of power is a much better solution. So, good luck to the Philippines, and to the Filipino people!
Whoever wins, good luck to the new President of the Republic.
Nice sentiments Bob. We are watching the election too, from afar.
Thanks Robert. There is a lot of excitement in the air here.
I said that the person that would be president would be Duterte I am pleased for him! Not that I had a vote just a voice in the wilderness so far as the campaign is concerned!
I love the Philippines
I believe he will be a good president for the country. I hope my feelings are correct.
now thats a real Freudian slip no? I think you meant GOOD not HOOD.
i hope to…or we have a problem houston….
Its great to see democracy in action and working. I will honestly be happy when both the elections here and the ones back in the States are done. It will be nice to see something else on the news.
Here is an interesting little tidbit that I did not know until recently. Sara Duterte Carpio is married to Mans Carpio from Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Mans’ brother is running for Vice Mayor up here. My wife and I happened to run into their father, on a flight back from Manila, a couple of weeks a go.
Hi Gary,
Like you I am ready for a break from elections. Still another 6 months for the US election though.
Inday Sara is running for Mayor here and is expected to get 80 percent or more. Might be a clean sweep for the Duterte clan.
If, I may ask, without commenting positive or negatively. How is that so many “family ” members can hold various offices in the Philippines?
I believe you are from the US, John, hope I am right. The same happens there, right? For example, when George W. Bush was President, his brother was the Governor of FL, his newphew held some kind of office in TX, and maybe other family members too. I am sure that the same holds true for other families too.
I see no reason why the actions of one family member should forbid another family member from doing something.
What do you think?
You are right the Bush Family had several members in public office at the same time. But the difference is they were not controlling a whole city or province/state. That’s what led to the No Dynasty Bill that has been pending for a long time.
There is actually an anti dynasty law on the books.
Like!
Thanks for sharing your feelings.
DO NOT PUBLISH UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION I hope that Mayor Duterte is now President Duterte and that we also get his public and professional team including Mayor Jun Evasco and Councilor Peter Lavinia. It would be nice to hear the public comments said about Davao City said about the entire country – safe, peaceful, friendly, clean, growing, wealth shared among all, possible to make a decent living inside the Philippines and not have to be an OFW. Just to begin! As someone who has sold tourism to the Philippines for 38 years and began working in Davao 54 years… Read more »
Hi Bob, I was at Clark during the ’86 “People Power” revolution and you’re spot on about a coup. Peaceful transfer of power is the best solution. Interesting here in the province, politics isn’t really a topic of conversation. We talk about it if it comes up, but not something they dwell on. After being in the military for 24 years and stationed in four different countries, I’ve learned not to discuss local politics. As my father was fond of saying … the fastest way to lose a friend is to argue about politics or religion …
Great article
OB
Hi OB – I think that the main reason that it is such a hot topic here is because I live in the same City where Mayor Duterte is from, and he is the front runner. So, people are obviously excited! 🙂
My wife just got back from the polls and told me the voting machine misinterpreted her choice for Vice President. Wary of COMELECS’s warning about what would happen to people who made ‘frivolous objections’ she let it pass although the lady at the disposal box saw the look of surprise on her face and asked if there was anything wrong. I won’t say who she tried to vote for but I will say that I think the voting machine made a better choice. P.S. I met and had a little chat with President Ramos when he visited areas devastated by… Read more »
Hi Malcolm. My family, wife and 3 kids, also just got home from voting. For them the machines worked without issues. It us concerning that there was an error when your wife voted.
Hi Bob, the wife has gone to vote I’m at home like the other people said I don’t give my view on Philippines political matters best to keep out of it , we have been shopping in cubao this weekend and last weekend the amount of buses taking people to the province
Is overwhelming busier than Christmas literally hundreds of buses 24 hours a day,
Not like back home were lots of people cannot be bothered to walk to a polling station 5 minutes away, what a difference,
Derek in pasig.
Yes, it is really something to see the numbers of people heading back to their home province to vote. Basically the country 7s almost at a standstill for the election. High participation rate.
Our whole clan wants Deterte..
Whoever wins, good luck to them.
I heard the town he was Mayor got REALLY CLEANED UP OF CORRUPTION…
Yes, I live in the city where he is mayor and he is really loved here.
Duterte is great, he walks the walk and stands for everyone to be safe in Davao
He has done a good job as our Mayor.