SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Aiza Seguerra has taken to social media to urge his fellow supporters of President-elect Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte to not be “blind followers.”
In a post on his Facebook, he appealed to them to show respect to other people whose opinions differ from theirs. He posted the same message on his Instagram accompanied by a quote saying: “Everyone appreciates your honesty, until you’re honest with them, you’re an a**hole.”
Seguerra wrote, “It will help our president kung hindi tayo one-sided at marunong tayong magbigay ng respeto sa opinion ng iba (if we aren’t one-sided and if we respect other people’s opinions) instead of fanning the flames of hatred towards people who don’t share the same point of view or opinion.”
“Wala naman problema ipagtanggol si Tay Digong. Pero ayusin naman natin. Maging responsable naman tayo dahil dala-dala natin ang pangalan niya,” he continued.
(There’s no problem in defending Tay Digong, but let’s do it properly. Let’s be responsible because we carry his name.)
The actor and musician also exhorted his fellow supporters to be more judicious when it comes to news and the information that they encounter.
Seeming to refer to netizens who have tagged the media as “biased” and to social media posts calling for citizen “press volunteers,” he said, “Gusto nyong maging media ni Duterte? Then you have to be fair. Nagrereklamo tayo na biased ang media. Eh kayo? Kaya niyo bang hindi maging biased?”
(You want to become Duterte’s media? Then you have to be fair. You’re complaining that the media are biased. How about you? Can you manage not to be biased?)
“Yung iba nga sa inyo, ang tindi ninyong mangutya agad-agad dahil lang hindi ninyo nagustuhan ang sinabi,” Seguerra continued. “Galit na galit tayo sa binabato kay Tay Digong, eh minsan nauuna pa ang iba sa atin na mambato sa iba ng mas masasama pang salita dahil lamang iba sila ng pananaw. ‘Yan ba yung pinagmamalaki ninyong pagbabago?”
(Some of you, you’re so quick to riducule just because you don’t like what is being said. We’re angry at what is being hurled at Tay Digong, yet sometimes, some of you throw are the first to say crueler things just because they don’t share the same perspective. Is that the change that you’re so proud of?)
“In the same way na sinasabi natin na alamin ang konteksto ng mga statements ni Tay Digong, gawin din natin yon para sa ibang tao. Hindi porke’t iba sa opinyon ninyo, aawayin niyo na. The more na nambabastos tayo, lalong nasisira ang pagtingin nila sa mahal nating presidente.”
(In the same way that we tell others to know the context of what Tay Digong is saying, let us do this ourselves for other people, too. Not just because their opinion is different, you can pick a fight with them. The more that we’re rude, the more that the reputation of our president is harmed.)
Seguerra added that there is always a civil way of “protecting and defending our President” without resorting to mudslinging or rude tactics.
He said, “We cannot be blind followers na bibirahin nalang lahat ng hindi sangayon sa atin (We cannot be blind followers who will just attack anyone who doesn’t agree with us).”
“As much as gusto natin na pare-pareho tayo ng opinion about certain matters, imposible ‘yon. At kung mag-aaway tayo at mag babastusan at mag-rereklamo ng walang katapusan at maninira dahil lamang iba tayo ng pananaw, then there can be no peace.”
(As much as we want to share our opinions with everyone about certain matters, that’s impossible. And if we’re going to fight, act rudely, endlessly complain, and disparage others just for having a different perspective, then there can be no peace.)
Seguerra reminded everyone that Duterte had once appealed for unity: “‘Yun ang ang unang-unang sinabi ni Digong nung nanalo siya. He wants us to be united kahit magkakaiba tayo ng opinion, relihiyon, ideology at paniniwala. Hindi lang ang mga political parties, hindi lang ang mga naging kalaban sa eleksyon kundi tayong lahat.“
(That is the first thing Digong said when he won. He wants us to be united in spite of differences in opinion, religion, ideology, and belief. Not just political parties, not just his opponents during the elections, but all of us.)
Seguerra ended his post: “Digong needs our help. We all want our COUNTRY to succeed. If we want CHANGE; WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.”
After casting his vote last May 9, Duterte said at a press conference in Davao City, “I would like to address myself to my opponents. These past few days have been quite virulent for all of us – the black propaganda and false accusations. Let us begin the healing now.”
Since the campaign season, netizens who claim to be supporters of Duterte have launched into virulent tactics over social media: bullying, harassing, and sending death threats to people who have been critical of the incoming president.
After a specific case with a University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student who was harassed by such netizens, Duterte told reporters in an interview last March: “I’d like to caution them, remember that this is a democracy, the rule is I may disagree with you but I will defend your right to say it. That is the golden rule for everybody here.”
However, his then-running mate, Alan Peter Cayetano previously suggested that some of these supporters may actually be “fake” or just posing to smear Duterte’s campaign, following his team’s investigation. – Rappler.com
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