Image: Facebook/Ogie Diaz
Comedian Ogie Diaz has been making headlines for speaking his mind on issues that he believes matter. He, however, has a price to pay for his candidness — the onslaught of bashers.
Diaz’s straightforward nature, apparently, did not bode well with people who don’t agree with his opinions. After he expressed his disappointment over Spokesperson Harry Roque’s and Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo’s defense of President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statement about extrajudicial killings, he was labeled “stupid” and “uneducated” by his bashers.
“Sabi ng mga bashers ko, ang bobo ko raw,” Diaz wrote, hitting back at naysayers in a post he shared via Facebook yesterday, Sept. 30. “Kumuha daw po muna ako ng Law para maintindihan ko ang trabaho ni Spox Harry Roque at Atty. Sal Panelo.”
(My bashers say I am stupid. That I should study Law first so that I will understand Spox Harry Roque and Atty. Sal Panelo’s jobs.)
“Eh sa totoo lang, kahit ako, kukunin ko sila pareho kung gusto ko ng tagapagsalita at taga-depensa,” he continued. “Kasi expertise nila yan eh. Kasi mahuhusay sila sa kanilang larangan.”
(Truth be told, even I would get them if ever I want a spokesperson or a lawyer. Because that is their expertise. Because they are great in their respective fields.)
Diaz asserted that the two government officials are aware of the existence of voices which would react to what they say and must be heard too. The comedian also said that he knows he cannot please everybody, and that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
“Nagkataon lang siguro na hindi nyo maiaalis sa akin ang pagmamahal sa bayan ko,” Diaz noted. “Susuportahan ko po ang ating Pangulo sa kanyang mga magagandang adhikain basta alam kong pakikinabangan ng taumbayan.”
(It just so happens that you can’t take away my love for my country. I will support the President in all his good ambitions as long as I know they will benefit Filipinos.)
He then pointed out that he was merely exercising his right to freedom of expression, the same reason cited by the administration for letting Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary (PCOO Asec) Mocha Uson do and say what she does. He then explained that one does not need to be a lawyer to understand what lawyers do in defense of their clients.
“Kaya dun sa mga kumukwestiyon sa educational attainment ko, dahil wala daw akong karapatang sumawsaw sa isyu ng pulitika, pasensya na po at high school graduate lang po ako,” Diaz stated.
(So to all those who are questioning my educational attainment, saying I don’t have the right to delve into political issues, I am sorry I am merely a high school graduate.)
The comedian recounted that he started working at 17 years old to help his mother after his father, who was a taxi driver, died in 1986. He admitted that he was envious of people he knows who have graduated from college.
“At alam nyo ba, yung isa sa mga kilala kong college graduates, propesyonal, titulado,” Diaz said, ending his post with a sharp remark apparently aimed at those who belittle his educational attainment. “Pero hanggang ngayon, awa ng Diyos, di pa rin nagbabayad ng utang sa isang high school graduate.”
(And you know what, one of these college graduates I know is a professional, bears a title. But up until now, God have mercy, [s/he] has not yet paid his/her debt to a high school graduate.) JB
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