‘Protest but make it cute’: Top PH trend is a hashtag with turtle emoji

In a late-night address on Sunday, August 2, President Rodrigo Duterte took a jab at the medical community, following their appeal to review the government’s pandemic response.

He dared medical societies to stage a “revolution” against him, as this would allow him to exercise his presidential powers to settle it.

“Next time, huwag ninyo akong parinig-rinigin ng revolution. Naku, Diyos ko. Iyan ang mas delikado sa COVID. Eh kung mag-revolution kayo, you will give me the free ticket to stage a counterrevolution. How I wish you would do it,” said Duterte.

He deemed the frontliners’ distress call as an accusation of incompetence which he did not take well, along with the fact that medical associations held press conferences and gave out recommendations to improve government efforts.

The statements made by the President angered Filipinos who immediately took to social media to creatively call him out.

#OustDu𓆉, which sported its own custom turtle emoji when viewed on mobile, quickly became the top Twitter trending topic in the Philippines with 31,800 tweets as of writing.

This also comes after new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay said he wants to include social media in the scope of the controversial anti-terror law.

Filipinos on Twitter did not only get creative with the hashtag but were quick to whip up memes to express their dismay with recent events. Check out some posts below:

Louder for people in the back.

yes louder #OustDu𓆉 https://t.co/IzLrI8DrON

— closed (@seojieuns) August 3, 2020

Bakit nga ba?

Our frontliners don't deserve this treatment.
We Filipinos don't deserve this incompetence.#OustDu𓆉#SaveOurFrontliners pic.twitter.com/ALsMb3sYIi

— Kian (@kiamoy028) August 3, 2020

K-drama fans:

https://twitter.com/cheonsongyl/status/1290172764645515264?s=21

“And there’s robbers to the east, clowns to the west…”

if u know, u know #Folklore #OustDu𓆉 #oustdutertenow pic.twitter.com/eDvzoEk9Mb

— is ill 🤕 (@faux_psa) August 3, 2020

You’re insecure, don’t know what for.

https://twitter.com/filipinaclara/status/1290202485596987393

Felt cute, might not delete.

https://twitter.com/kimjandeula/status/1290193278197886976

UY, ANG CUTE NG #OustDu𓆉
Paano nila nagawa itong #OustDu𓆉 ?
Sobrang galing talaga ng nakaisip nitong #OustDu𓆉

— gaks #VdMbulok (@psychokenetics) August 3, 2020

Sudden late night announcement of MECQ be like:

This is so creative and I love it!!! #OustDu𓆉

My transport during MECQ: pic.twitter.com/crowldVa1z

— Pa-Woke Millennial (@PawokeMillenial) August 3, 2020

Who ordered incompetence?

DUTERTE: HINDI KAMI INCOMPETENT.

i mean, lemme ask the audience. pic.twitter.com/NhA6dw9MgZ

— ribsrep (@ribsrep) August 2, 2020

Pennywise is not amused.

Before you judge our President, put yourself in his shoes. #OustDu𓆉 pic.twitter.com/cLUhDSJqVc

— Joken (@jokenkenAR) August 3, 2020

Some Twitter users also asked, why the need to use a turtle emoji to express dissent when you can say it upfront.

It was fun using #OustDu𓆉, but let’s not be afraid of saying his name. Fear of the name only increases the fear of the thing itself.#OustDuterte pic.twitter.com/BAPFtiUzaV

— 𝔦𝔞𝔫 (@ianjereth) August 3, 2020

https://twitter.com/axhasls/status/1290191491193647104?s=21

It's not #OustDu𓆉 it's #OustDuterte pic.twitter.com/OWnk1aNwPt

— PURPLE KEEPER 🧚‍♀️ (@Jelaydom) August 3, 2020

And here’s a poem posted by @bongflourishhh:

https://twitter.com/bongflourishhh/status/1290235753969020928

Here are more tweets using the hashtag:

#OustDu𓆉 – Curated tweets by rapplerdotcom

– Rappler.com