One of my favorite biblical stories of all time is the story of Joseph the Dreamer. Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, rose to power in Egypt and saved his family from famine. Joseph had the ability to interpret dreams – especially that of the Pharaoh which eventually led him to become the second most powerful person in Egypt, allowing him to prepare the nation for a seven-year famine.
Being Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph was given a special coat and from that moment on, the magic began. Whether anyone agrees with me or not, somehow this is what I think of whenever I remember former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, where the “Duterte Magic” survives to this day. Two months after the arrest of the former president, Filipinos everywhere continue to rally behind the man who many people still perceive as the best president of the Philippines. Some even say Duterte was the best after former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Quite ironic, considering the current state of the nation where evidently, lines have been drawn.
While former president Duterte remains in The Hague, his so-called magic has gained ground, especially in this midterm elections. PDP-LABAN Senator Bong Go, for one, is topping the charts with high survey ratings, making Mr. Malasakit number one among all other candidates. Senator Bato de la Rosa, another PDP-LABAN senatorial candidate, has also risen in the polls. Philip Salvador, another PDP-LABAN senatorial contender, is suddenly seen within the ranks of possible winners.
Love it or hate it, it seems to me that no one can completely discount the Duterte magic. It cannot be denied that these past months or even years, since the breakup of the UniTeam, the Duterte faction has found itself enduring many challenges, up to the moment when the former president was painfully flown to the Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court. As a side note, Filipinos in The Hague have stretched their reach as staunch Duterte supporters that even locals in the area are astounded by their presence in support of the former president.
The midterm election is a highly competitive race but the magic 12 seems to be compelling and telling because evidently, the Duterte voice then has just as much influence now, regardless of any attempts to subdue, discredit or even destroy it all together. People have asked me how this is possible and simply put, I tell them (as a personal opinion) that not only is it a result of something organic but also something authentic.
Let’s take the case of the Malasakit Centers for example. These have been a major source of genuine aid for poor and indigent families, which is both a concrete example of sustainable programs that work, as well as a clear reflection of the Duterte legacy where taxpayer’s money is being spent right – considering that the use of taxes is a very delicate issue at the moment and remains at the forefront of our nation’s political, economic and social interests.
This is why Duterte – or the Duterte brand – persists to be seen as the most popular choice in the hearts of many Filipinos here and abroad. It remains to be the brand that reserves within its core ideals a mission that will always put the masses as well as the growing (yet burdened) middle class first.
Just like Joseph the Dreamer who eventually became the second most powerful man in Egypt, the magic that he put on the table was his ability to store grain during the abundant period, ensuring storehouses were full, ready for times of famine, and giving a clear direction to all in Egypt as vice regent to the Pharaoh. Perhaps no one ever thought that such difficult times would disempower the so-called Duterte magic; in fact, the exact opposite happened, particularly in moments of oppression.
Perhaps this is why such influence is often called magic – even if late last year, Digong said that it was gone because he is old and out of power when in reality, it seems this so called “magic” is actually in essence what people feel and see as trust and confidence for a special kind of service that continues to endure – the kind that Filipinos continue to give credit to over time.
Duterte magic is not about loud popularity of individuals attached to a very popular and provocative strongman. Duterte magic is all about voices – voices that are heard, the kind where nobody is left behind. As the midterm election approaches, survey results continue to show that the Duterte brand is gaining ground; it is working. Regardless of whether the Duterte brand is contentious, it cannot be ignored that the magic endures – then and now.