Duterte in Kaamulan Festival Malaybalay City, Bukidnon April 1 2016

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• published: 02 Apr 2016
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At the Kaamulan Festival of Bukidnon, presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte came bringing a message of hope for the Philippines, a timely message when the country is tormented by corruption, poverty, rampant illegal drugs, and armed conflict.The only presidential candidate from Mindanao, who traces his roots in the Visayas, Duterte was endorsed by Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri, the patriarch of Bukidnon's ruling political clan. Duterte a Hit in Kaamulan Fest MALAYBALAY CITY – Like those in previous years, this year’s “Kaamulan” festival successfully gathered not only Bukidnon residents but also visitors from other places. Unlike those in previous years, Friday’s event featured a special guest that many people came here for: Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The Kaamulan - which comes from the Binukid word “amul” which means to gather - is the only ethnic festival in the country. An annual cultural festival, this year’s observance offered a special attraction: the political rock star from neighboring Davao. Without taking anything away from the Kaamulan which featured 11 contingents this year, there was no denying that many of those who came also wanted to see Duterte. It became obvious when the line along the back entrance where Duterte’s convoy would pass started to grow long while the street-dancing was still at its peak. By noontime, the people waiting for Duterte were nearly as many as those who were watching the ethnic presentations. There was also no mistaking the Duterte influence on the crowd. T-shirts sporting different designs, stickers taped on shirts and blouses, tarps and magnetic stickers on the vehicles parked around the venue and the now-familiar red and blue ballers. Like those in other places, it was not a pleasure cruise for those who were waiting for him in the searing heat. And yet, like those in other places, the people persevered perhaps full conscious of the fact that this is a small price to pay to express their appreciation for the man who is the only one among the present crop of presidential candidates who has declared war on crime and corruption. No less than Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri took his place among the greeters, returning to the stage on occasions to answer calls for his presence there. Many times, the crowd stirred when spontaneous chants of “Du-ter-te! Du-ter-te!” erupted, thinking that the man who has captured the imagination of an entire nation with his hard-ball politics had finally arrived. When he finally did, it seemed like the earth shook. The drummers of the different contingents who earlier pounded to different beats suddenly seemed like they were beating for one director. There was no need for the prompting from the emcee as the people shouted at the top of their voices as if to let the whole world know that they have made a choice more than a month before the elections. Duterte navigated the short route to the backstage aboard a green White Deere Gator XUV not because there was something wrong with his health as his opponents vainly tried to picture him but in order for his supporters to see him better. The horde that swooned over him defied category: male and female, young and old, urbanite and rural folks, the elite and the masses. It was a scene that has been repeated in nearly all his engagements as though such welcomes were choreographed by the same person. When he finally took center stage, pandemonium broke loose. It was as if nobody remembered that the heat was supposed to give everyone discomfort but which few noticed at that particular moment. Duterte’s speech was not much different from those he gave in his sorties in different parts of the country. That is understandable because most of the time the people face the same problems: illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, government incompetence and abuse of resources. The message that Duterte gives resonates in a country that has found its voice to say “enough” to six years of incompetence and hypocrisy. True, the survey firms and the giant media networks continue to deprive him of his rightful place - which is at the top. And yet, there is still time for an emerging nationwide consensus never seen in the country in recent memory. If the traditional power-brokers think they can again get away with their machinations, they have a think coming. Like an idea whose time has come, the popular groundswell seeking to catapult Duterte to the presidency continues to gain ground with each passing day. By the time Zubiri endorsed Duterte after the latter concluded his speech, it was obvious that there was little need for it. To say that Duterte was a hit at this year’s Kaamulan would be an understatement. THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS VIDEO HIT LIKE COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE