No threat of being kicked out of the room if they misbehave could hold back the crowd of some 2,000 Filipinos to break into wild cheers and screams when President Duterte walked into the Chaopraya Room of the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters here.  The scene was close to that of fans greeting a rock star.

The cheers became even wilder when the President talked about his wish – that there will be a time when Filipinos do not have to leave the country to work. He even set a timetable for that to happen:  In 10 years.

“Ang dream ko sa Pilipinas, hindi ko na maaabot ‘yan, pero sisimulan ko. In 10 years, hindi na kayo lalabas [ng bansa] (I won’t be able to achieve my dream for the Philippines during my term, but I will start working on it now.   In 10 years, you won’t have find work out of the country),” he told the large crowd of Filipinos who had waited for him for hours.

What I can assure you is this: Maniwala kayo (have faith). My administration began and will end with the public interest foremost,” he added. The crowd replied with more cheers.

Although his two-hour speech was filled with jokes, the Filipinos who attended the event later told this writer that they think Duterte is serious with his job. They also expressed confidence that he will achieve the dream he had revealed during his administration.

Engineer Joel Duazon, president of the Tau Gamma Council in Thailand, said that after Duterte’s speech, he can now look forward to going home to a country with improved policies.

He also believes that Duterte can realize his dream of providing jobs at home even if the President himself voiced some doubt.

“Maganda ‘yung mga sinabi niya na lalo na kaming mga OFW sa pag-uwi namin na kung may reklamo man kami ay talagang sasabihin naming ganun (What he said was uplifting especially for us OFWs. Should we have complaints, we can voice them out when we go home),” Duazon said.

He was referring to Duterte’s advice that Filipinos should be assertive of their rights, and if needed, create a scene to call the attention of erring government officials, so they can be made aware of the situation and do something about it.

“Marami kaming nakikita sa Pilipinas na kapag umuuwi kami, hindi kami satisfied. So sana magawa namin yung sinasabi niya na (Whenever we go back home, there are a lot of things which we see and we are not satisfied with, so I wish he can deliver his promises),” the Sorsogon native said.

Duazon, who has been staying in Thailand for nine years now, said sometimes he can’t help but think about his taxes and if those are going to the right places. But now his promise is like a breath of fresh air.

“Pero ngayon sa narinig namin na ganun, I think may nakikita kaming liwanag (But with the things we heard from him today, we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel),” he said.

For science teacher Adrian Flores, six years is enough for Duterte to work on his dream to create jobs at home so that Filipinos will not need to find work abroad.

To help the President achieved that, the 27-year-old Flores said that Filipinos have to do their part as well and be united.

“ It’s the best news that I could expect from him and I know he can achieve it in six years, but we have to be united. The problem with Filipinos today is that we are divided,” he said.

Flores, who has been living in Thailand only for a year, mainly to quench his thirst for adventure, said he knows that he will eventually go back home because of Duterte’s promise for a safer and more progressive Philippines.

“But the greatest news is that we can progress as a nation. I am happy,” he added.

The Dumaguete City native also commended the President for all his efforts despite the job being tough considering Duterte’s age of 71.

“[With him], we’re really given the chance to build a good government and a good Philippines and I look forward that he will eventually achieve his goals for the Filipino people,” he said.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos

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