Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

‘Women age you’: is Philippines’ Duterte sexist, or a clever politician?

‘Women age you’: is Philippines’ Duterte sexist, or a clever politician?

The Philippine president is once again in hot water, this time for sexist jokes with an old school friend. But a psychologist says he uses outrage for political gain.

He has cursed the Pope, called Barack Obama a “son of a whore” and boasted of molesting his household help. Now Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
is once again in hot water for his inappropriate comments.

The latest uproar follows Duterte’s visit to Camarines Sur province on Sunday for a briefing on relief operations following Typhoon Vamco.

Recognising a local official as an old school friend, Duterte introduced the man saying: “We’re classmates but his time was wasted on, you know... He’s aged because, you know, sobrang babae [too many women] – that can really age you.”

The official responded with a pun, saying that far from having too many women a congressman had told him he was “undersexed” and that the cure was for Duterte to promote him from “under-sec” to secretary.

Later in the meeting, when the former classmate told Duterte a common friend had died of Covid-19, Duterte responded with a moment of silence, then an expletive, followed by the remark: “If that’s so it was because he didn’t get enough women”.

On social media, the exchange was criticised as sexist, tasteless and inappropriate.

Vice-President Leni Robredo was among those who criticised the remarks. She told ABS-CBN news: “For me during times where we are going through severe crisis the message is very important that we are giving utmost urgency to things that are really urgent.”

Dr Margie Holmes, a popular sex therapist and clinical psychologist, said the jokes were sexist and that Duterte’s behaviour was aimed at offending and agitating his critics.

“He’s a very savvy politician”, Holmes said. Cautioning that she wasn’t clinically analysing Duterte, she said he had a record of saying outrageous things to see what sort of reaction his words provoked. When Duterte’s words failed to produce a backlash, it gave “his critics a feeling of insecurity” and enabled him to push a political agenda such as signing controversial legislation.

However, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Monday the president was just having a “break from calamity”.

“You know, it’s really a habit of Filipinos that, when we go through extreme stress, we really try to make light of our problems. We shouldn’t begrudge him that. He’s seen one tragedy after another.”

According to Roque, “It’s not really anything beyond the fact that the president wants to more or less lighten the mood. Let’s give our president the chance to have a light moment.”

Since coming to power in 2016, Duterte has prompted numerous controversies with his use of vulgar language.

In addition to cursing the Pope, referring to then US President Obama as “a son of a whore” and boasting of molesting the household help while he was a youth, Duterte once ordered soldiers to shoot female communist rebels in their genitals.

“Remember”, Holmes said, “how when he was asked about his health, he responded by asking the reporter about the smell of his wife’s genitals? It’s the classic behaviour of a bully.”

Duterte’s followers often defend his remarks, saying his crude language shows he is “authentic”.

Holmes said Duterte was “inspirational for some people who want to fool themselves into thinking he has the common touch, that he’s not like the other presidents we’ve had”.

She said things have sunk to such a level that “part of me, and I’m not proud to say this, has been desensitised” to the point that she told herself “at least these latest remarks aren’t as bad as the previous ones”.

According to Holmes, Duterte’s sexist jokes were “what people like to hear, at least the men”. Also, she said, “people are looking to laugh in the light of everything that’s happened”.

“If you are lazy and cynical, then you know this works, making macho jokes.”

But, she added: “I think it’s such a sad view of the common person when you think they will only laugh at sex jokes.”

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Budapest Central European Fashion Week Kicks Off
U.S. Celebrates Labor Day
Hungarian National Team Captain Scores Epic Goal
×