30/05/2026
On a serious note, if there is one lesson in life that I hold on to, it is this: “Bahala’g pobre basta dili magpadaog-daog.”
Long before I won the elections, I had already been a target of online attacks. And I know there will probably be more in the future. Was I hurt? Of course. I am only human. But never did it cross my mind to hurt them back. I continue to believe that there is still goodness in people.
The question now is: how do we stand up for ourselves without becoming the very thing we oppose?
Many have told me to simply ignore it, to let it pass because, realistically, there is little I can do against anonymous attacks supported by the powerful ones. Perhaps there is some truth to that. But laws exist for a reason. Government agencies exist for a reason. If we simply allow these acts to continue unchecked, we risk normalizing them. We risk creating a society where people are afraid to speak up because they fear becoming the next target.
This is one of the dangers of misinformation and disinformation. Beyond misleading the public, they are often used to intimidate, silence, and discourage people from participating in important conversations. Whether the false information is directed at me, my party mates, political allies, or even those from the other side of the political fence, it disturbs me all the same. No one deserves to be attacked through lies and deception.
This also why even during the campaign period, I never resorted to mudslinging because elections are temporary, but our responsibility to serve the people continues. After the campaign, we still share the same city, the same community, and the same duty to work together for the common good.
Standing up against disinformation is not about revenge. It is about protecting truth, encouraging respectful discourse, and ensuring that others will not have to endure the same attacks in silence.
We can disagree. We can debate. We can criticize. But we should never abandon decency, honesty, and respect in the process.
No hate, just love. 🫶🏻