April 10, 2016

So we are a month away from the Philippine Presidential Election… I appeal to Filipino citizens from all over the world to vote for Honorable Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines. I have decided years ago to reacquire my Filipino citizenship for a dual citizenship with Australia and I am really upset that I have not acted upon this decision yet cause I really wanted to vote for the good mayor.

 

April 11, 2016

He may not meet high standards of decency. His methods of supressing criminality seem to verge also on criminality… but that is certainly not his intention. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is a man of integrity. He is a man of honesty. His campaign has been a very open book. How much more honesty can you get? It’s either you like him or you don’t. I have 28 days to convince you… to like him (and to vote for him).

 

April 12, 2016

‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’… but why is Thailand’s tourism 10 times bigger? Mayor Duterte’s campaign statement to get rid of criminality within 6 months is not a promise but a personal (not political) goal, the first priority of his presidency. There will always be residual crime but the goal is to be able to say: ‘It’s more safe in the Philippines.’

 

April 13, 2016

‘Caritas Christi urget nos’ (2 Cor 5:14). The love of Christ compels us. Now I do not claim that Mayor Duterte is a pious Christian but I just want to remind the Filipino voter that he never wanted to run for the Presidency. His love for the Philippines compels him. ‘Caritas natio urget nos.’

 

April 14, 2016

The 1995 execution of Flor Contemplacion in Singapore triggered a firestorm of public protests. The most controversial was in Davao City where Mayor Duterte led his employees in publicly burning a Singaporean flag replica. He also urged Davaoeños to boycott Singaporean products. Done once again… for love of country and its people, particularly the poor and marginalised including the vulnerable Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

 

April 15, 2016

Whilst Mayor Duterte, in absolute frustration, resorted to burning of Singapore’s flag, he remained a huge fan of Lee Kuan Yew – one of few autocrats admired by many. Davao’s progress is patterned to Singapore in many ways. I prefer autocracy over dysfunctional democracy, but I believe Duterte will do better and finally transform the Philippines into a functional democracy.

 

April 16, 2016

Here in Australia, I sometimes find the federal system of government as cumbersome. The State governments and the Federal government often engage in a blame game. In the Philippines, however, there is a real need to lessen the power of the central government. The various regions in the Philippines are fed up with the Tagalog speaking Manila-centric governing of the archipelago.

 

April 17, 2016

Mayor Duterte’s push for federalism is what sets him apart from other candidates. He wants power and wealth distributed evenly across the Philippine archipelago. I don’t get why there is suspicion of another dictatorship.

 

April 18, 2016

After several days posting about Mayor Duterte’s Philippine presidential candidacy, he finally made it here in local Australian media. And as with any sensationalist journalism, it had to be for the wrong reasons. He has put his square foot in his mouth once again. I will continue to write my daily apology for his candidacy (until the elections) based on his track record in Davao and his plan for federalism in the Philippine islands.

 

April 19, 2016

I am not a supporter of Ferdinand Marcos Jr… but this makes sense Mayor Duterte.

“You know one of the qualities I suppose he has is he doesn’t worry about political correctness but sometimes it is necessary to be sensitive to the plight of some of the victims of (violence),”

 

April 20, 2016

For Filipino voters who are wondering, this is how some of us Australians will respond to the shocking rape comments of Rodrigo Duterte and his apparent refusal to apologise. Truly the worst of this man’s foul mouth is yet to come. But I continue to think, that in terms of getting the job done for the Filipino people, his best is yet to come.

April 21, 2016

Along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, this man has been chipping away on the problem of poverty in the Philippines for almost two decades. Tony Meloto’s long-term solutions to the problem of criminality and drugs are grounded on education and livelihood projects. In the short term, however, I recommend the viability of Rodrigo Duterte’s platform of using the full force of the law.

 

April 22, 2016

This women’s jailhouse village in Davao City is the first jail facility built by Gawad Kalinga (GK) in partnership with various civic groups and the city government of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte – another long-term solution to the problem of drugs and criminality.

 

April 23, 2016

Many well-informed, discerning Filipino citizens continue to see a gem in this man with a very rough exterior. But for those who cheer and jeer every time he curses, or jokes about his womanising ways; for those craving to become hitmen in his death squad, BE WARNED. He will turn on you. The mayor might talk your talk but are you sure he walks you walk?

 

April 24, 2016

I am a South East Asian. I come from a regional block of more than 600 million people with an annual GDP of around $2.5 trillion. Through the powerhouse economies of Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia; and the rising economies of Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam; the strength of the ASEAN Economic Community augurs well for Australia’s own sustained growth. As for the Philippines, keep calm, change is coming.

 

April 25, 2016

I am an Australian. As we commemorate ANZAC Day, we remember Australians and New Zealanders ‘who served in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations’. I’d also like to remember Filipinos who served as Australia’s allies in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and East Timor to name a few. And on behalf of the Filipino-Australian community, we thank Australians for letting us share our talents and skills for Australia’s sustained progress.

 

April 26, 2016

Manila holds the world’s largest population density with a whopping 43 000 people per square km. Senator Miriam suggested moving the capital. With Mayor Rodrigo’s plan for federalism, I say move the central government somewhere in Mindanao. Canberra and DC are far away from financial hubs. Manila can remain a financial and cultural hub. Let’s see if celebrities still want to join politics.

 

April 27, 2016

Think of Caribbean, Maldives, Hawaii… there is nothing like exotic island tourism. The word ‘Philippines’ is contraction for Philippine Islands. With federalism, new states formed in the Visayan Islands (Visayas) should prioritise island tourism.

 

April 28, 2016

The EU is a federation of sovereign states while Australia and the US are sovereign federations of essentially independent states. The Philippine Islands need to be re-established as a sovereign federation of autonomous self-governing states. These islands separated by water need to be self-sufficient to have any chance of fighting poverty.

 

April 29, 2016

Malaysia is the third largest economy in ASEAN behind the micro-states of Singapore and Brunei. Guess what? Malaysia is the only federation in South East Asia. The Local Government Code of 1991 created in the Philippines to decentralize power is not enough. Devolution is not enough. Federalism is needed. The islands need further autonomy.

April 30, 2016

The 1987 Philippine Constitution says: ‘Regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions.’ With federalism, further autonomy means these regions, their culture and their languages would be preserved and get further recognition.

 

May 1, 2016

Mindanao is in the top 20 largest islands in the world (19th)… but it could be the poorest. It’s GDP has grown steadily in recent years, but a lot of this productivity are being guzzled by imperial Manila. It is not coincidence that the main proponents of federalism (Nene Pimentel and Rody Duterte) come from Mindanao. They want neither secession nor accession (by Malaysia) to happen, particularly of the Bangsamoro. They want unity in diversity.

 

May 2, 2016

Conflicts in Indochina are well and truly over. Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are listed as safe in Australia’s Smart Traveller Website. Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei are also listed as safe. Indeed, South East Asia is on the rise after decades of war and instability.

But Central and Western Mindanao continue to languish with a firm warning: DO NOT TRAVEL! The Bangsamoro problem is a lot more than a poverty issue. Presidential Candidate Rodrigo Duterte champions the cause of the Moros of the Philippines as a historical injustice that must be corrected.

 

May 3, 2016

May 4, 2016

Mayor Duterte openly admits he leans left but he often denies being a communist. He often deals with the New People’s Army (NPA) of the Communist Party believing in some of their ideologies but not their armed struggle. His left tendency he says extends only to his left elbow. I say tuck it in much closer to your heart Mr Duterte and keep it on your left biceps.

 

May 5, 2016

Insurgency in Aceh, Indonesia started in 1976 and a peace deal was established to end it in 2005. Insurgency in the Philippines through the NPA started in 1969 and remains an unsolved problem. I really think Mayor Duterte will be able to lead the final peace efforts to end this insurgency problem. Too many Filipinos die in the hands of fellow Filipinos on both sides of the conflict. Again, it’s more fun in the Philippines only as much as it’s more safe in the Philippines. The insurgency has to STOP.

 

May 6, 2016

This risk analysis with MAIN hazards is the closest I will get to mudslinging. Grace Poe remains the safest bet. Take note that very likely is not 100% certain. There is a small chance that as President, Duterte will uphold due process and instruct the armed authorities to prioritize disarming suspects who resent arrest rather than opting to kill in haste. I continue to pray there will be no innocent victims of extra-judicial killings.

 

May 7, 2016

The greatest miracle that can happen to the Philippines is NOT Duterte winning and then governing to champion the upliftment of firstly, the underclass, then the working class and finally the middle class. The bigger miracle that would unite the nation even further is for Ferdinand Marcos Jr to admit, apologise and return the money. He has six years as VP to do so or he can forget about gunning for the Presidency. Let’s continue to pray.

 

May 8, 2016

This apology or defence of the presidential candidacy of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has been a very difficult discourse. I was about to quit after I heard the rape comments but I accepted his explanation that it was not a joke but a narration of the gutter language he used back in 1989 in utter anger addressed to the criminals. I never had problems with him being a role model for the youth because I do believe his love for country is what they should emulate. As for his coarse language, parental guidance (PG) recommended.

I do not fear a dictatorship or a communist regime happening within the next 6 years of his Presidency. His efforts to liaise with the NPA, MNLF and the MILF are purely for reconciliation purposes. Too many Filipinos die in the hands of fellow Filipinos on both sides of the conflict. President Ramos and his then DILG secretary Rafael Alunan attempted very similar and partially successful strategies in the 90’s. Also, Duterte’s goal of correcting the historical injustice against the Moros is highly commendable.

I do applaud wholeheartedly Duterte’s plans for federalism as the way forward for the Philippine archipelago. The local government code of 1991 as a form of devolution is not enough. The islands are separated by so much water and need further autonomy. As various regions develop, regions that lag behind will rise against their local oligarchs. The central government, which should be moved to Mindanao, will have a diminished role and become the glue to hold the regions together and promote the sovereign Filipino pride.

His threats to kill criminals and dump them in Manila Bay are made to instil fear in the criminals themselves as well as to reassure those citizens who have had first-hand experience of the criminality in the country. We all know it is exaggerated but I do believe he is capable of finishing off those who resist arrest. I still hope though that the priority is to disarm rather than opt to kill in haste. I do fear for the lives of innocent citizens who may either get caught in the crossfire or be mistaken as actual suspects.

In conclusion, I continue to recommend Rodrigo Duterte’s candidacy to the Filipino voter but I do so with much fear and tremble. It is truly a big gamble. There are extreme risks but in any form of gambling, high risks do equate to high return through the small chance of winning. With regards to the other candidates, I go for MDS, GP, MR and JB in that order.  May the Triune God continue to bless us and keep us in tomorrow’s Philippine elections and as we push on through this 21st century of promise.

 

Yours in Christ,

Coach Conto