An Open Letter to President Duterte – Preville


(https://files01.pna.gov.ph/category-list/2021/11/10/duterte-ttp-nov9.png)

HONORABLE RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
President
Republic of the Philippines

Dear Mr. President:

I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. Even in the best of times, running a province is challenging. In these tumultuous times, running a country must be a nightmare. You have consultants who advise you on what they believe is the best course of action. You have adversaries who wish for the worst-case scenario. You have friends that pray for your health, and the Filipino people as a whole waiting to be led.

You were elected with a promise to get things done. The resoluteness and anxiety that you instilled in the people of Davao actually provided comfort to the people of Luzon. We've finally found the man we've been looking for. Not simply fighting the usual poster issues of poverty and corruption, but also the more nefarious issues of drugs and crime. Issues which only you had the authenticity to battle. 

We've seen as you've handled various challenges that our country has faced and continues to face over the years. You made smart decisions and took acts that had fatal repercussions. We were hoping that you would be on top of things when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread over our country. However, our hearts fell as we watched you address your people in light of the situation. We had hoped for more from you. Is it your age or your health that's the problem? Or possibly the people in your immediate vicinity? We have no idea. However, we continued to believe and hope. We continued to have faith in and respect for you because we believe we have a responsibility to respect and honor our leaders.

One after the next, breaking news flooded our social media feeds. Apart from the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases in the Philippines, the fact that many Filipinos are unable to receive government assistance, frontline workers lacking adequate personal protective equipment, POGOs continuing to operate, and ordinary citizens being imprisoned for violating quarantine measures while the wealthy are free to do so, there were many other factors that caused us to pray earnestly for the country.

Add to that the shutdown of ABS-CBN, the BIR's plans to tax all online vendors, the Anti-Terror Bill, and a slew of other issues. I have cried numerous times while praying for the Philippines. My thoughts are with the many Filipinos who are suffering in these difficult times.

I had faith in your abilities. I continue to do so today. Even though I disagree with you on numerous occasions, I will continue to believe and respect you. I'll pray for you and hope that you make wise judgments. I will pray for you to lead in a way that is just and right. I pray for rekindled patriotism and compassion for the people of your country. I pray for the grace to wake up each day knowing you have been given the opportunity to make a significant difference in the country you lead. In addition, I wish you good health.

My hope is that you will redeem yourself  and prove your detractors incorrect, including those who are losing faith in you. Even though the road ahead of you is bleak and dark, I hope you will complete your term with flying colors.

People are in pain. But, even though you've broken my heart many times, speaking ill of you is the last thing I'll do because I know you care about your people and want the best for them. Will you back me up on this? I'm hoping for the best for you.

Sincerely,
Precious Elysha B. Tabangcura
Grade 10 Student

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let Us Rejoice In Our Heritage At The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival!

Image
A noble idea arose in the minds of a group of civic-spirited Ilocanos who wanted to instill pride in their heritage in the youth and future generations. KANNAWIDAN, the Iloko Foundation of Arts and Culture, grew from the magnificent idea and is now a living reality. The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival commemorates the anniversary of the province of Ilocos Sur since its separation on February 3, 1818. Kannawidan is a word from the Ilocano language that means "heritage" or "inheritance." Ilocos Sur has a rich heritage and unique culture that must be preserved for future generations, as many of these traditions, songs, dances, and other Ilocano culture are unfamiliar to the younger generations. Children today are more interested in modern and novelty dances than traditional ones. There is also a need to evaluate the various municipal products, as well as the agricultural products and livestock of farmers and fishermen. As a result, the provincial government of Ilocos Sur...
Read more

Under the New Normal, No One is Left Behind: A Focus on Children's Rights

Image
https://tinyurl.com/25v7j72j What has been the most difficult aspect of your school experience with the new normal learning style?  Are you happy with your academic achievements? How tough is it for you to concentrate on your academics right now? Most importantly, how are you feeling? The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many people's lives and caused widespread disruptions in schools and universities. According to UNESCO, over 188 countries implemented nationwide school and university closures on April 10, 2020, affecting over 91% of the world's student population. During these school closures, all face-to-face lessons were canceled, prompting many schools to transition to the online and modular mode of teaching. This circumstance is tough for the teachers, kids, and even parents. It also sparked debates and discussions about how much students learned or missed during the online class, as well as the modular learning style, which both protects and denies some student...
Read more

The Day of Valor: Commemorating Its Call

Image
Every 9 th of April, the Philippines celebrates Araw ng Kagitingan. On this day in 1942, Japan invaded the Philippines, culminating in the battle and eventual fall of Bataan. This day also commemorates the infamous Death March, in which approximately 76,000 Filipino, American, and Chinese soldiers were forced by the Japanese to march 90 miles, or about 145 kilometers, from Bataan to Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. I was in fifth grade when I learned about all of this. At the time, I was perplexed. The magnitude of the loss? Many people gave up? What's the big deal about losing? Why do we commemorate our fall? According to what I've read, the word "valor" was not originally associated with bravery or courage in combat. The word's etymology can be traced back to two sources. The first is from the 14th century Old French valor or valour, which meant "merit, moral worth, or virtue," and the second is from the Latin valere, which means "to be str...
Read more