Why Senator Robin remains popular
Look at Padilla. Here is one man who, despite his seeming incompetence, has never been involved in any corruption-related controversy.
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Look at Padilla. Here is one man who, despite his seeming incompetence, has never been involved in any corruption-related controversy.
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Senator Robin Padilla has been getting flak for his perceived legislative incompetence and controversial public statements on national issues, earning the ire of both his critics and political opponents. The fact that he is politically associated with the Dutertes surely exacerbates this.
Despite these, though, the solon remains popular and is even a frontrunner for the vice presidency in 2028. Expectedly, his detractors condescendingly view this with utter disgust as they cannot figure out why people still support him.
To be honest, there are quite several reasons why.
To begin with, he projects an unfiltered, down-to-earth authenticity that resonates with ordinary working-class Filipinos. This populist image definitely endears him to the voting public.
While most politicians sound and look performative, he brings to the table a certain amount of sincerity, which the public admires. This is the same quality seen in those who command a solid and loyal political base.
If former vice president Leni Robredo, for example, rides public buses, people tend to view that positively, given her perceived simple lifestyle and transparent public record.
If Senator Risa Hontiveros does the same, it comes off as outright performative, meant simply to impress and perhaps invite attention. This is not to say her behavior is inauthentic. It’s just that her rigid, professional political persona does not make her seem grounded enough.
In the case of Vice President Sara Duterte, her what-you-see-is-what-you-get personality works all the time because people prefer unmasked political feistiness over excessive virtue signaling. This could not be more true in the case of her father, who, despite the allegations hurled against him, still commands a huge following.
The problem with civil society is that its members fail to understand the value of authenticity or, at the very least, the semblance of it. This is why their hearts are always broken.
Look at Padilla. Here is one man who, despite his seeming incompetence, has never been involved in any corruption-related controversy.
He gives back to the community and, in fact, has donated a significant amount of money to assist the Muslim community and provide relief goods during times of national crisis. In 2008, he even donated his entire endorsement fee to fund the schooling of 53 underprivileged children.
At any rate, this is not to give him a pass for his ineptitude in legislative work. In fact, I never voted for him precisely because of that. I have never viewed him as someone who can really contribute in the Senate.
But I get why more people like him.
