For President Duterte: the Philippines is now the "Republic of Marites."
Out of nowhere during his meeting with his Cabinet members on Wednesday night, the President made a realization as he quipped about the country slowly turning into the country of the "marites."
Marites is a common female name in the Philippines. However, it also became an amalgam of "Mare, ano ang latest (Sis, what's the latest?)," which referred to people who are fond of gossip.
"Lahat ng tao may chismis. Babae't lalaki. Noon sa mga babae lang 'yan (All people now have gossips. Girls and boys. Before, gossips were only for girls," Duterte said in the taped meeting that was aired Thursday.
The President also said he pities those who are named Marites.
"Magsabi doon sa classroom, Marites, ganon (In the classrooms, one would say: Marites," he said, which elicited smiles from his Cabinet members.
"Chismosa. Lahat naman (Gossipers. But all are just the same)," he added.