LYDIA Rufino sheds tears of joy as she watches her beloved mayor become President. KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO
The connection between President Duterte and people in the provinces pinning their hopes on his promises could be best described by the tears that fell on Lydia Rufino’s cheeks as she and several dozens of other residents of Davao City watched a live feed of the new President’s inaugural speech.
Rufino, 54, who watched the inaugural ceremony in Malacañang through a live feed at Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City, turned emotional when folk singer Freddie Aguilar started to sing what could be Mr. Duterte’s theme song, “Ipaglalaban Ko.”
Rufino said the song hit her as one that summarizes “Duterte’s brand of leadership.”
She said she used to see Duterte on a regular basis in her village in Agdao when the President was still acting vice mayor.
“He was always there to check the situation,” Rufino said. “It was during those times when our area was known as the killing fields of Davao. Bodies were just being dumped along the road,” Rufino said.
Things changed when Mr. Duterte assumed power as mayor and ruled for two decades, she said.
“It is safer now and government services are more efficient,” Rufino said.
She said she shed tears of joy to see a son of Visayas and Mindanao become the 16th President of the country.
Bigger family
She felt sad, though, that she wouldn’t be seeing Duterte regularly in Davao anymore. “He will now be taking care of the entire country,” Rufino said.
Soraya Langga, who sells ice cream at the public market of Davao City, said she could not explain her happiness as a Moro who hails from a town in North Cotabato province torn by war between government soldiers and Moro rebels.
“I am confident that the conflict will be resolved under his leadership because it is his mission to make the country peaceful,” Langga said. She said she believed that Muslims always had a place in Mr. Duterte’s heart.
“He is always kind and understanding toward Muslims,” Langga said.
The last time she saw Mr. Duterte was during his thanksgiving party at Crocodile Park in Davao City on June 4.
“I hope we can still see him now that he is now the mayor of the entire country,” Langga said.
In Ilocos Norte, people were glued to their TV sets to watch the inaugural ceremony.
Employees at the Ilocos Norte provincial capitol in Laoag City took a break from work when Mr. Duterte was sworn in as President. An employee was overheard saying: “Let’s pray for him.”
IN LINGAYEN town, Pangasinan province, militant group leaders talk with a police officer during a rally in support of President Duterte. They also aired a wish list for his administration. GABRIEL CARDINOZA/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
Where change starts
Fe Siazon, human resources and management officer of the provincial government, said she felt Mr. Duterte’s sincerity.
“He is correct,” Siazon said. “Change begins in all of us,” she added.
In the City of San Fernando, Pampanga province, Gov. Lilia Pineda, who supported Mar Roxas during the elections, reiterated Mr. Duterte’s message against drug trafficking.
Froilan Patricio, a jeepney driver in San Fernando, praised Mr. Duterte for his effort to bring back the people’s trust in government and his campaign against crime and illegal drugs.
Leftist groups took advantage of the occasion to join rallies in Metro Manila.
At least 700 members of militant groups in Southern Tagalog joined the pro-Duterte rallies.
Diego Torres, of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)
-Southern Tagalog, said his group was able to meet Mr. Duterte after the inaugural and present to him a “people’s agenda.”
It listed concerns on the proposed Laguna Lake Expressway Dike Project, the distribution of the coconut levy fund, land conflicts and land conversion, and military operations in the region.
“The agenda was not fully discussed but it was submitted to him. To us, this is a small gain. We are looking forward to working with him,” Torres said in a telephone interview.
Torres said the activists were set to hold a vigil Thursday and light candles to symbolize hope in the Duterte administration.
Militant issues
He said the group is supporting the resumption of peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the government, and a general amnesty for political prisoners.
In the Bicol region, people watched the ceremony on their TV sets in homes and offices.
Others got updates on social media.
No gatherings were held in Albay province, but members of militant groups traveled to Metro Manila to show their support for Duterte.
Jenelyn Nagrampa, secretary general of Bicolana Gabriela, said at least 900 members of different militant groups in Bicol took part in a caravan to Mendiola to support Duterte.
“We came here not to protest but to support him,” she said.
In Oriental Mindoro province, college students who watched the live telecast of Duterte’s inauguration at a food stall, said they were hopeful about the new administration.
“[Mr. Duterte] seems to be now ready to perform his role as President, and that finally, change is coming,” said Samantha Ashley de Castro, a sophomore student at Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology in the City of Calapan. Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao; Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon and Leilanie Adriano, Inquirer Northern Luzon; and Maricar Cinco, Ma. April Mier, Mar S. Arguelles and Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon
