Filipino celebrities took to their social media platforms to express various opinions on President Rodrigo Duterte’s late-night press conference last Monday, March 30.
The press conference aired at around 11 PM, seven hours after a Malacañang spokesperson announced that it will begin on a “tentative” 4 PM schedule.
As the press conference ended, actress Janine Gutierrez said on Twitter that although she “appreciated the visibility,” she said it is “nothing without transparency.”
"Hay. Nakakalungkot. Kung essay yun sa exam, hindi papasa. Wala naman yatang nasagot sa mga tanong ng bayan,” she began her tweet.
Hay. Nakakalungkot. Kung essay yun sa exam, hindi papasa. Wala naman yatang nasagot sa mga tanong ng bayan. I appreciate the visibility but that means nothing without transparency. Anong plano? Hindi naman pwedeng tiwala lang.
— 🌺JANINE (@janinegutierrez) March 30, 2020
Spoken word artist and actor Juan Miguel Severo listed the things he wanted to hear during the speech but wrote that he got nothing from the President’s speech.
What I hoped to get:
— Juan Miguel Severo 🏳️🌈 (@TheRainBro) March 30, 2020
1. Budget allocation
2. Urgent opening of more centers for eventual mass testing
3. Procurement/distribution of testing kits & PPEs
4. Pay & benefits for health workers
5. Address dwindling food supply
6. Sanctions for abusers
7. TIMETABLE!
ETC!
But pic.twitter.com/lW33pUrtBW
He also criticized Duterte’s statement which spoke that frontliners are lucky to have died in the middle of the pandemic because they were doing it for the country.
“Bayani ang lahat ng health workers pero di nila kailangang maging martir. At iba ang namatay para sa bayan sa namatay dahil sa gobyerno ha,” he said.
In a series of tweets, actress Alessandra De Rossi tweeted in jest the real question of the countrymen as they await Duterte’s address.
“#TanongNgTaongBayan within this lifetime po?” she wrote.
But, seriously....
— alessandra de rossi (@msderossi) March 30, 2020
Wer n u? D2 na me 😂😂😂
#TanongNgTaongBayan within this lifetime po? 😂😂
— alessandra de rossi (@msderossi) March 30, 2020
But, seriously....
— alessandra de rossi (@msderossi) March 30, 2020
Wer n u? D2 na me 😂😂😂
Guys, on the way na po! Edsa na po!
— alessandra de rossi (@msderossi) March 30, 2020
The next day, March 31, a netizen questioned Alessandra’s tweets, voicing out disappointment over the opinions she shared. The actress fired back, saying she was simply waiting for 6 hours in front of the television that is why she began tweeting jokes.“Baka ikaw may suggestion ka bukod sa umupo at mag abang from 4pm-11 habang naghahanap ng kakampi imbes na kaaway. Nagpapatawa nalang ako nakuha mo pang lagyan ng issue,” she responded in another tweet.
Naghintay lang naman ako 6 hours sa tv kaya nag joke nalang ako. Umabot ka sa sumbatan... Di na ako sure kung para saan yan. ♥️ Napanood mo ba yung bamabanti? Mater dolorosa? Watchlist? Sure naman akong hindi. So wag sana ALL. 😂♥️ PEACE. https://t.co/APMM7iii6a
— alessandra de rossi (@msderossi) March 31, 2020
Comedian-singer Ethel Booba simply joked that she was later than the President, who was seven hours late from his tentative 4 PM arrival.
Mas late ako kasi di ko naabutan pinalabas. Charot!
— Ethel Booba (@IamEthylGabison) March 30, 2020
"ANO NA 9:30 NA!!! Duterte Standard Time #TanongNgTaongBayan," celebrity photographer BJ Pascual said, as he waited for the beginning of the President’s address to the nation.
ANO NA 9:30 NA!!! Duterte Standard Time #TanongNgTaongBayan pic.twitter.com/vdIUrfRmbW
— BJ Pascual 🏳️🌈 (@bjpascual) March 30, 2020
As the speech ended, he was more disappointed.
"Wait, what???? That's it? We waited for almost 8 hours for THAT? Ano po yung plano? Paano po yung 200 Billion saan po mapupunta?” he said in another tweet, referring to the budget the government is planning to spend in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Host Bianca Gonzalez-Intal called for the national government to release an “official detailed update” on where the P250 billion fund is going to be used. The P250 billion is the amount given to Duterte under the special powers for him to fund the requirements needed for the novel coronavirus crisis.
Under the law granting Duterte emergency powers, which he signed himself, he is required to submit a weekly report to Congress on how the aforementioned funds will be used.
"Para lang po alam ng mga taong nangangailangan ang tulong na dumating at dadating. Please po.” Gonzalez-Intal wrote.
The entirety of Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine since March 17 as cases of the novel coronavirus disease continue to rise in the Philippines. The lockdown put businesses on a temporary close (except for those selling essentials), mass transportations are suspended, and people are advised to stay in their own homes.