Social media was particularly toxic this week owing to the interviews with the 2022 presidentiables. Social media posts are this era’s opinion columns, especially to generations that grew up not reading broadsheets or watching the news, but instead just getting their information and ideas from their mobile apps.
In this free-for-all space, everyone is an opinion maker; everyone seems to be having such a good time being heard and read.
Calling out is the new sport. Some have a way of turning it into a good fun read. Here are some from this week’s social media posts and chat groups, unedited. Now, don’t get “pikon.”
Facebook post of Gege Cruz Sugue (reprinted with permission):
My knee-jerk reactions to the Jessica Soho oral exams, er… interviews. I need to watch the episode again to confirm. Hope they post the whole show. (Don’t hate me. Knee-jerk reactions nga.)
First off, ang galing ni Teacher Jessica. Walang favoritism. Well prepared.
Leni—Siya yung studious classmate na deserving maging valedictorian. Because not only is she smart and may depth, active pa siya sa extracurricular and community outreach programs. Pero sobrang self-effacing that the shallows may think she’s too blaah. Bilib close friends niya sa kanya, but only because they know her well enough sa echo chambers nila. She needs a personality-building, dressing room, MTV-style makeover montage for her to be polished into the kickass diamond that she is at the core and to be transformed into somebody who would wow the whole school, even the mean girls. (And it might be time to stop starting every sentence with, “sa akin lang…”)
Isko—Siya yung nag cramming and speed reading sa review ng lessons. Pero mostly nag Google lang ng quotes and nag practice ng projection. May “sauce for the goose and gander” pang nalalaman. And yung hindi siya sure sa answer, daanin na lang sa macho bravado. In other words, winging it for pogi points to wow the shallows. Ang confidence niya galing sa kanyang stint as president ng barkada niya. Major issue niya yung bitter siya hindi siya kasama sa mga rich kids-—lalo na yung dalawang pamilyang lagi niyang minemention.
Ping—He knows what he’s talking about. Matagal na niyang pinag-aralan yan. May substance naman. He’ll get a good grade sa objective part ng exam. But B minus lang sa essay part kasi kulang sa flowery words. Some people don’t like him because feeling nila may ibang agenda. And he can’t seem to shake off the rumors that he roughed up some classmates in the locker room. Plus yung katandem niya sa iskul bukol yung #1 plagiarist sa klase.
Manny—Siya yung nag review namang mabuti to the best of his ability. Uhm, yun nga lang-—yun na ang the best of his ability. And mahilig siyang magshare ng food niya sa classmates kahit nung hindi pa siya tumatakbong class president. He cannot be accused of friend buying, kasi hindi pa naman campaign season.
LBM—Absent. Because the dog ate his balls.
Ano ba iyong kay Boy Abunda. Imbistigasyon o interview. Parang nasa pulis station si VP Leni.#BoyAbundaBiased
— LAHING 🇵🇭 PINOY 💝💝💝 (@lahingpnoy) January 26, 2022
One hour of her showing her vast knowledge on current issues and yet you got triggered by that 5-second statement as if hindi naman totoo lol
— Jai Cabajar #NeverAgain (@jaicabajar) January 26, 2022
From a chat group:
Here’s how Presidentables were assessed if they were Doctors . . .
1. ISKO MORENO— isang tingin pa lang, may confident diagnosis agad. He will cite the latest studies, and glibly rattle off impressive sounding medicines and treatments as breakthroughs. One size fits all yung approach.
2. PING LACSON: He would be the doctor na may years of experience, may awards pa nga. Pero you don’t quite trust him kasi balita mo may mga malpractice suits against him.
3. LENI ROBREDO: Siya ung nag-iisang doctor sa barrio niyo. Maaliwalas ung clinic niya, located in one of the few areas where posibleng makakuha ng Globe signal.
Ang advocacy niya, preventive medicine, kaya libre ang check-up. Pero she will treat all cases, give you free medicines, then link you to her network of volunteer doctors and donors.
4. MANNY PACQIUAO: Primarily a faith healer, but he will use his own resources to make sure merong hospital and medicine sa province niyo.
5. BONGBONG MARCOS: The doctor you met at a party. Impressive credentials, pero hindi recognized alumnus ng supposed alma mater niya. Balesin levels ang clinic, pero the doctor is out.
VP LENI is absolutely RIGHT on the WEST PHILIPPINE SEA issue! We don’t need to even discuss “WAR”, when in fact the issue here is utilising and LEVERAGING our strategic ASSETS, including our ALLIANCES and UNCLOS! No one wants war, not even CHINA! Strategy ang issue here!
— Richard Heydarian (@Richeydarian) January 26, 2022
You can be articulate but really say nothing of substance, project gravitas but be unbelievably shallow, be full of information but be totally bereft of wisdom.
Oh and wear glasses but refuse to see the person in front of you.
— Gabe Mercado (@gabemercado) January 26, 2022
For the times I have interrupted women while speaking, I apologize.
Seeing Boy Abunda’s interview tonight was my magic mirror moment in realizing how offensive and infuriating mansplaining is.
Let’s do better, men.
You too, Boy.
— Gabe Mercado (@gabemercado) January 26, 2022
I’ve been around top business executives. American, British, Japanese. VP Robredo is of that caliber. Organized, precise, goal driven, and smart. Her platform elements are superb. But the quirk of democracy is that you can elect a petulant bum if you wish. I dunno why you would.
— JoeAm (@societyofhonor) January 27, 2022
People telling Leni to take the high road. Please.
Hirap maging babae. Pag palaban, sasabihan na take the high road. Pag naman pa tweetums, sasabihan na mahina.
Women are expected to abide by society’s double standards??? No. Let women be themselves.
— t.ocin.o (@nicoquejano) January 26, 2022
