In Burbank, California… CHURCHGOERS APPLAUD AS PRIEST CITES DUTERTE’S STRONG LEADERSHIP

By Manny Pinol

If you think that Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, who is being begged by millions of Filipinos to be the next Philippine president, is hot copy only in Davao City, Mindanao, Visayas and many parts of Luzon, you will be in for a very big surprise.

On Sunday in Panorama City, Burbank, California, some 300 parishioners who heard mass in the St Genevieve’s Catholic Church, erupted into an thundering applause after parish priest Fr. Romeo Pobras delivered a homily which focused on strong leadership and sacrifices.

When Fr. Pobras ended his homily by saying that the example he was referring to for strong leadership and sacrifices was Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, the predominantly Filipino churchgoers broke the serenity of the church by applauding loudly.

“Nakakatuwa. Nakakapanindig balahibo. Pati mga Pilipino dito sa America gusto nilang maging Presidente si Rody Duterte,” Filipino physical therapist Reynaldo “Jeff” de Guzman told me in a message.

(It feels good. It’s hair-raising. Even Filipinos in America would like Rody Duterte to be president.)

De Guzman, who is my Godchild in his wedding, used to be one of Manny Pacquiao’s physical therapist and now works in several California hospitals.

De Guzman reported that the strange church event was unheard of among the large Catholic Filipino community in Burbank who for years have been largely indifferent to the political developments in the Philippines.

“Hindi mo talaga maitago Ninong ang pagnanasa ng mga Pilipino pati dito America na makakita ng pagbabago sa gobyerno at mahinto na ang pagnanakaw ng mga politico natin,” he said.

(You can’t hide it anymore, Ninong. Even Filipinos in America would like to see changes in government and would like an end to the corruption among our politicians.)

De Guzman’s report on the reaction of Filipinos in Burbank, California to the mere mention of Duterte’s name reflects the growing demand of Filipinos all over the world for Duterte to be President.

Overseas workers and even seafarers have organized themselves into groups linking up with one another in the hope that their voices would be heard and that the colorful and controversial Mayor of the biggest city in the world will change his stand on shunning the presidency.

Will Duterte finally listen?

If it is any consolation, Duterte is a devout Catholic and he believes in the old Latin maxim: “Vox Populi, Vox Dei.”

(Photo credit: St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church in Panorama City, Burbank, California downloaded from the church’s website.)