Yoshi's passion for Mindanao (Vol 3: Former President Duterte)
2023/2/27
It was more than 30 years ago, when I first met former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, at that time Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the then new Davao City Mayor to Japan. I was still a young officer of Japan Embassy in Manila then. To my great surprise, then Mayor Duterte told me, "I don't need really any difficult and serious appointments in Japan. I want to visit motorcycle factories. I also want to join gun shooting training in Japan, if possible."
When I frequently visited Cotabato and Davao, sometime in 2006 or 2007, on “Araw ng Dabaw” (Davao City Foundation Day), I was asked to sit beside Mayor Rody Duterte at the outdoor stage and was able to talk a lot with him while watching the colorful parade. I was surrounded by several lovely Dabawenyas who were wearing gorgeous dresses as they served sweets and fruits for us. I remember Mayor Duterte saying in jest "Welcome to Davao. I especially requested some of our “Mutya ng Dabaw” (Miss Davao) to come especially for you!"
I cannot forget that Mayor Duterte kindly built a monument in Mintal using his personal money in order to pay his sincere respect for the Japanese migrants who have migrated and lived in Davao a long time ago.
I am also amazed by the incredible popularity of the former President among Dabawenyos. When he dropped by our Consulate General a few months ago, many people who happened to learn that he was in my office, flooded outside our office and eagerly waited for him to appear before them, cheering happily and took pictures with him. I believe that his fellow Dabawenyos trust his honest and down to earth personality, without airs that touches the heart of the ordinary people.
Since my arrival in Davao last year, I was extremely fortunate to be able to meet the former President several times and had long conversations with him. He would always tell me "I deeply respect Japan and Japanese people." When the news of the untimely demise of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke out, he was the among the very first to relay his sincere condolences.
He now lives in a very simple house, where I feel "Is this a house of the former President?". He told me laughingly "Since I retired from the President, I have totally no salary. I manage to survive with my small pension, life is not easy." I said to myself "He assumed the post of the President, head of state, for 6 years. He could have easily accumulated a huge amount of money...". Up to this day, I am very much overwhelmed by his humble and modest way of life, and of course his charisma.
February 27, 2023 Ishikawa Yoshihisa
When I frequently visited Cotabato and Davao, sometime in 2006 or 2007, on “Araw ng Dabaw” (Davao City Foundation Day), I was asked to sit beside Mayor Rody Duterte at the outdoor stage and was able to talk a lot with him while watching the colorful parade. I was surrounded by several lovely Dabawenyas who were wearing gorgeous dresses as they served sweets and fruits for us. I remember Mayor Duterte saying in jest "Welcome to Davao. I especially requested some of our “Mutya ng Dabaw” (Miss Davao) to come especially for you!"
I cannot forget that Mayor Duterte kindly built a monument in Mintal using his personal money in order to pay his sincere respect for the Japanese migrants who have migrated and lived in Davao a long time ago.
I am also amazed by the incredible popularity of the former President among Dabawenyos. When he dropped by our Consulate General a few months ago, many people who happened to learn that he was in my office, flooded outside our office and eagerly waited for him to appear before them, cheering happily and took pictures with him. I believe that his fellow Dabawenyos trust his honest and down to earth personality, without airs that touches the heart of the ordinary people.
Since my arrival in Davao last year, I was extremely fortunate to be able to meet the former President several times and had long conversations with him. He would always tell me "I deeply respect Japan and Japanese people." When the news of the untimely demise of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke out, he was the among the very first to relay his sincere condolences.
He now lives in a very simple house, where I feel "Is this a house of the former President?". He told me laughingly "Since I retired from the President, I have totally no salary. I manage to survive with my small pension, life is not easy." I said to myself "He assumed the post of the President, head of state, for 6 years. He could have easily accumulated a huge amount of money...". Up to this day, I am very much overwhelmed by his humble and modest way of life, and of course his charisma.
February 27, 2023 Ishikawa Yoshihisa