Ni ROY C. MABASA

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar – Positibo ang imahe at malakas ang dating ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mamamayan ng Myanmar at naniniwala sila na masuwerte ang mga Pilipino na magkaroon ng isang katulad niya bilang lider ng bansa, ayon sa isang manunulat na Pinoy na ngayon ay nakabase rito.

“When President Duterte got elected suddenly, our being Filipinos in Myanmar mattered,” sabi ni Jose Dennis Teodosio, nagtatrabaho bilang consultant for creative services, scriptwriting and training sa Myanmar Media Development Center.

Ayon kay Teodosio, sa tuwing sumasakay sila ng taxi sa Myanmar, magtatanong ang driver kung sila ay taga-Pilipinas.

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“When we say ‘yes,’ the driver would say: ‘Ah Duterte,’” aniya sa isang panayam. “To make sure that we get to compliment their recognition of the President we ask them how come they know about Duterte. And then they said, ‘He is a strong man. His words are powerful and he is not afraid of anyone.’”

Sinabi ni Teodosio na feeling proud sila sa impression na ito ng mga mamamayan ng Myanmar. Ngunit bilang isang overseas Filipino worker na nakabase rito, sa tingin niya ay mahalaga na mapanindigan ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga inaasahan ng lahat hindi lamang ng mga Pinoy na nasa Pilipinas “but also the Filipinos based in other countries.”

“So when we heard he was coming, we didn’t know how to react because we thought he had no chance to stop by Myanmar,” aniya. “And then we were surprised, weeks before his arrival, people are saying, ‘your President will be here.’”

“I feel that people here in Myanmar, aside from being impressed with how President Duterte won the election, are also excited on his opportunity to visit Myanmar,” dagdag ni Teodosio. “So I think it is going to be a privilege for everyone, both the Filipinos in Myanmar and the Myanmar nationals, to get the chance to be visited by our President.”