MANILA – Singer-actress Aiza Seguerra called out fellow supporters of President-elect Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and asked them to stop maliciously attacking non-supporters but learn to respect others whose opinions differ from theirs.
“‘Wag naman tayo maging blind followers. It will help our president kung hindi tayo one-sided at marunong tayong magbigay ng respeto sa opinion ng iba instead of fanning the flames of hatred towards people who don’t share the same point of view or opinion,” she posted on Instagram.
(Let’s not be blind followers. It will help our president if we won’t be one-sided and know how to give respect to the opinions of others instead of fanning the flames of hatred towards people who don’t share the same point of view or opinion.)
Seguerra asserted that it was permissible for the public to engage in an argument. However, she only hoped parties would not be easily angered and biased but would instead be responsible in getting their points across.
“Maging responsible naman tayo dahil dala-dala natin ang pangalan niya (Duterte)… Siguraduhin ninyo kung tama ang information ninyo. Intindihin ninyo kung talagang ganon nga ang mga gustong sabihin,” she wrote. “You have to be fair.”
(Let’s be responsible because we carry his name… Make sure your information’s accurate. Understand the intention behind words spoken… You have to be fair.)
“‘Yung iba nga sa inyo, ang tindi ninyong mangutya agad-agad dahil lang hindi ninyo nagustuhan ang sinabi. Galit na galit tayo sa binabato kay ‘Tay Digong eh minsan nauuna pa ang iba sa atin na mambato sa iba ng mas masasama pang salita dahil lamang iba sila ng pananaw,” she added. “‘Yan ba ‘yung pinagmamalaki ninyong pagbabago?”
(Some of you are even the ones who react violently when you’re not in favor with what’s said. We’re furious with what’s thrown at [Duterte], yet sometimes, we’re the first to say vulgar words just because others don’t share the same perspective… Is that the change you so espouse?)
“Hindi porke’t iba sa opinion niyo, aawyin niyo na. The more na nambabastos tayo, lalong nasisira ang pagtingin nila sa mahal nating president… As much as gusto natin na pare-pareho tayo ng opinion about certain matters, imposible yon.”
(Just because others have different opinions, you’d already harass them. The more that we disrespect others, the more that they will turn against our beloved president… As much as we want everyone to have the same opinion, that’s just impossible.)
At the end of her post, the 32-year-old singer-actress reiterated Duterte’s call for peace and reminded everyone that for real change to be attained, the people should be united despite differences in ‘opinion, religion, ideology and beliefs.’
“Kung mag-aaway tayo at mag babastusan at mag rereklamo ng walang katapusan at maninira dahil lamang iba tayo ng pananaw, then there can be no peace. At ‘yun ang ang unang-unang sinabi ni Digong nung nanalo siya,” she concluded. “We all want our country to succeed. If we want change, we have to work together.”
(If we argue, disrespect, complain and disparage others endlessly because of differences in views, then there can be no peace. And peace is what [Duterte] first called for when he won… We all want our country to succeed. If we want change, we have to work together.)