Who was former House Speaker Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez referring to when he said that the country's next president "must have brains?"
(LOZANO/Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
There appears to be two top contenders based on this requirement as far as readers of the Manila Bulletin official Facebook page are concerned. These are opposition leader Vice President Leni Robredo and presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
"Walang duda, ang tinutukoy ni Cong Alvarez ay si VP Leni, kasi graduate na ng economics, abogado pa, may masteral pa (No doubt, Cong Alvarez was referring to VP Leni, because she's an economics graduate, a lawyer, and has a Master's degree to boot)," netizen Pablo Hernandez wrote on the MB page.
Hermandez continued: "Leni Gerona attended the basic education department of Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga, graduating from elementary school in 1978, and from high school in 1982. She then graduated with a degree in economics from the UP School of Economics at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1986."
He noted that Robredo took up law at the University of Nueva Caceres and had her master's degree at San Beda University.
Alfonso Gonzales agreed with Hernandez. "Walang kaduda duda…matalino, magaling, at ang mahalaga matino…walang bahid na anomalya (No doubt…smart, capable, and most importantly sensible…not even a tinge of anomalies)," Gonzales said of Liberal Party (LP) member Robredo.
Another commenter, Isaiah Bangkong, wrote, "'Someone with brains' daw dapat ang next president (The next president must be 'someone with brains')" and posted a GIF of Robredo doing a hair-flip.
But readers like Pilar Cañeda Braga feel that Alvarez was actually alluding to his fellow Dabawenyo, Mayor Duterte. "Our Mayor Sara Duterte is Beauty Brains n Breeding perfect to be our next PRESIDENT!" she wrote.
"Agree. Attorney Sarah will be the next President," said Lloyd Acibar Orchondra, highlighting the fact that "Inday Sara" is a lawyer.
"Yes with brain, Yes to Mayor Sara 2022???," netizen Ralph Rafael said.
To this comment, Julieta Gudmalin replied, "Leni is more brainy!?."
In an interview in his radio program last Aug, 28, Alvarez advised his constituents to vote for "someone with brains" as the country's next president. This was in the context of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he described as a "failure."
"Seems that Alvarez is insinuating that Digong has no brains," Gil Luza wrote, referring to President Duterte who is Alvarez's partymate and longtime friend.
DeAndre Salvatorre, an MB top fan, left this savage comment in response to the congressman's remarks: "Not just the next President but also to the next Congressmen. Because the current leaders of the Philippines, most of them have no brains. Including you Cong Alvarez."
"The next president should not be a puppet to any imperialistic nation and oligarchs. It's as simple as that," chimed in another MB page reader in Maurice Matapaja.