Lea Salonga asks Pinoys to unite behind the President if the country wants to achieve a Singapore-like discipline on her Facebook post.
unity! Stop the bickerings! These are the general sentiment echoed in the viral post of the world-class celebrity on Facebook that resonates among the netizens who read it.
In a Facebook post, Lea Salonga recalls the Michael Fay incident in Singapore in the 1990’s.
Ms. Salonga recalls the massive outcry from Western countries condemning the barbaric act of the Singaporean government on national TV and print media, plastering his photograph that made him look vulnerable, more like a child than someone on the verge of manhood.
President Bill Clinton, the US president at that time intervened on behalf of the young American but only managed to bring down the punishment from six lashings of a cane to four.
The famous Broadway singer-actress recalled how the Singaporeans rally behind their government, perhaps taking a dig at Pinoys who bashed Duterte after the diplomatic gaffe rather than rallying behind the President.
The actress-singer says that this is the kind of attitude of Singaporeans that she has been yearning for the country.
She ended her post by enjoining Pinoys to unite behind the President because, after all we are all in this together.
Check out the full text of her post below.
For some strange reason I started thinking of an incident back in the 1990s that took place in Singapore.
An American teenage boy by the name of Michael Fay was found guilty of vandalizing cars and stealing government property, and was sentenced to 6 lashes of a cane. President Bill Clinton pleaded for clemency, hence the sentence was lessened to just 4, after which the young Mr. Fay was deported back to the United States.I remember the protestations of the west against the cruelty of this kind of corporal punishment (although there were some folks that were totally in favor of it). Afternoon television programs featured it. People Magazine wrote an article on the young Mr. Fay. The photograph used made him look vulnerable, more like a child than someone on the verge of manhood.
However, in Singapore, after the sentence was pronounced, many people interviewed for the news were proud of their country, that they were this strict in meting out punishment for crimes against the state and its people. Plus, cars are extremely expensive, costing at least twice the amount it normally would in the US. So of course the anger over them getting keyed is high as well.
Moral of the story: obey the rules of the country you live in or visit. Render no destruction to property, public or private. All visitors are subject to the same laws as its residents.
It was this kind of strictness that I yearned for here in the Philippines all those years ago. And now my mind is thinking of the word “perhaps.”
Perhaps if government was more strict back then…
Perhaps if the war on drugs began much earlier…
Perhaps if everyone was less apathetic and more sympathetic and empathetic towards one another…
Perhaps… Perhaps… Perhaps…
So now here we are.
This is on all of us. We’re all in this together. It’s pointless to stand on one side and place all the blame on someone that isn’t us. WE all did this. All of us. So it’s going to take all of us to fix it.
Source: Lea Salonga
I totally agree with your opinion Miss Salonga. This time we should be together to share the responsibilities to achieve what is good for the Filipino people. Discipline which has been lacking should be a priority. Support our President. It’ may contradict many people opinion but he is sincere in his fight for change. Time to wake up. We have been sleeping for long time. We have to wake up for the betterment of all of us. God in the end will be like what Duterte is doing. He will kill all evil for the benefit of the good. If the process some good ones are killed, God , will not forget to resurrect and put them in better place. After all He knows who are evil and who are not.
Salamat Miss Lea Salonga. I am happy reading this. Full of hope and inspiring.
coming from someone who knows how to speak her own mind and from her heart. Let us unite and submit to our President’s leadership.
WOW ,A BRILLANT SUPER SINGER INTERNATIONAL.ITS NICE TO HEAR THIS FROM YOU,GOD BLESS YOU MORE,MY IDOL.
I am also wondering why some of our countryman are criticising the good work our dear president are doing. Everyone are going to benefit from it , also our young people are going to have a very good future in the end . God Bless our president Rodrigo Duterte, please continue your good work for the betterment of our country !
Yes I am very proud of Singapore. It is because we have discipline thats why we are free – free from muggers, from from drugs, free from crimes, etc. Majullah Singapura!
I am so much happy reading this message of yours ms.lea salonga..sana ganyan mag isip yung ibang mga kababayan natin
I can say Filipinos have this crab mentality. If tatay digong will be successful with his advocacies then it will be all of us Filipinos. Who will benefit from it.
Miss Lea,your “Perhaps” are becoming “Now na!” ..if we rally behind our PresidenL.C.Espinelli
Definitely, it could have been better if the war in drugs was started much earlier. Unfortunately for the Phl and its people, the previous president did not even recognize it as a problem. That’s why Pres. Duterte is God send. Let us therefore rally behind him all the way.
Yes, we should all support him. It’s for our kids and the next generation’s future. Thank you Ms Salonga for that. God bless us all. Amen.
Thank you Ms Lea. Sana maisapuso ng lahat ng Pilipino ang napakagandang pahayag mo. God bless Pres. Duterte for he only wants a better life for the filipinos. We are behind you and are praying for your good health and safely.
Thats my ldol lea…. Im proud of you…
I agree 199 %! sana naman yun gustong umeksena diyan ay manahimik na lang and let our president do his job.
Eye opener. Thanks Lea!
I am 100% with you Leah. Thank you for giving us hope. I’m glad that you’re like us who appreciates what the President is doing.
Lea Salonga, thank you for your eye-opening comments. It will do the Philippines no good if bickering continues. Filipinos need to support the government now more than ever. Duterte has done exactly what he promised in his campaign to eradicate crime and corruption. Give him a chance to deliver.
Totally agree,let’s unite people of The Republic of the Philippines if we want a better change,let’s start to ourselves!!
Well said Ms. Lea Salonga. Thank you so much for the move for progressive peaceful Philippines. We strongly support President Rody Duterte and the new administration. To God be the Glory.
I admire you Ms Leah Salonga. Talking with sense and we’re proud of you. You are Right ! sana nung umpisa palang pareho ng kay Pres Duterte ang goal ng mga nakaraang Presidente.thumbs up for you!!!
Mabuhay ka Ms. Lea Salonga! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Moving forward to a better Philippines if we stand united for it will be for the benefit of everybody.
We should be thankful what’s happening now and this is already a gift from ABOVE to free us from all the sufferings all these years.
HOPE EACH ONE HAS THE SAME MIND SET LIKE YOU LEA SALONGA.
I support Duterte, and I am very happy that he is in office.
Lets not be like Singapore, lets be better. We have such a beautiful country with so much natural wonders, lets bring it back to where it was supposed to be.
I do have some requests/suggestions that i wish someone can give to the president.
> Eliminate dog meat trade. I know this has been illegal in the country, but there are still reports in Bagio and Cavite about underground dog meat. The way they are treated is very cruel, and we filipinos should show the world that the stereotype of Asians eating dogs doesn’t affect us.
> Harsh Punishment for Animal Cruelty. I had a friend whose Husky missing, and they found him dead in the river. The dog was beaten with holes in his neck. This is unacceptable behavior and this should also be given the same punishment as the murderous drug lords who refused to give in.
> Return Spanish in school. What is unique about being Filipino is that we are considered by many as Hispanic/Asians. We are a fusion of two of the most popular cultures in the west. Other than making something more special about us, this would also give us an advantage since Spanish is a very popular language and it is also part of our roots.
Filipinos are all for discipline …starting with government workers and police enforcers … but where is your warning against extra judicial killings -it is also about discipline -investigative discipline before judging someone with death ? I am not against death penalty for the most heinious crime -but when every crime is visted with EJK? It speaks of the low point of our humanity and culture-as a nation.
beauty with a good heart and a brilliant mind?that’s what you are ms lea salonga!some people forget the good 3C’s!COMPLIMENT,CONTRIBUTE,andCOOPERATE!rather than complaining,criticizing and condemning!
Well said Lea, you are really smart and beautiful. Pres. Duterte is making every effort so he can deliver his promised to all Filipinos. For ” A Change”. He is the last card on the table ” ALAS 71″, working hard to fix Phils. corrupt and ineffective justice system. Take all the risks or nothing will happen. God bless him.
My absolute support on Ms Salonga’s messsage. And for more or even BEST on the composition of her open letter – an ideal example/pattern of eloquence on how a public message/blog should be – compact and concise rather than VERBIAGE that discourages public consumption, hence wasting a sincere and valuable message. Moreover, Ms Salonga’s diction was ideal for the average reader rather than just for scholars – indeed a combination of humility and class act from an intellectual /sophisticated source.
Duterte is a murdering monster. Lee Kuan Yew never used death squads in Singapore. He used his intelligence. A thug can never create a civilised rich country.
Thanks Lea for these nice comments. I appreciate for writing these on your facebook. You are for the betterment of our country. You are far better than these people who kept on lambasting the President as if they are not citizens of the Philippines. Maybe the their reason is they want the old administration way of handling the Philippines. These people are highly educated, product of exclusive schools but they have these crab mentality. mabuti pa yong taong high school or elementary graduate lang at naiintindihan ang mga problema na bayan natin. So again, CONGRATULATIONS LEA FOR THESE NICE COMMENTS YOU MADE AND YOU WROTE IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVERY FILIPINO UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU ARE DRIVING AT. MAY YOUR TRIBE INCREASE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.