On March 23, a special session at the House of Representatives was conducted. The members of the congress were to deliberate the controversial bill that would grant President Duterte emergency powers, supposedly to help stop the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. But something curious happened before the session: Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano had a little photo op with a piece of Manila paper:
Obviously, it was an attempt to mimic the call of frontliners on social media. But Pinoy netizens weren’t having any of it — especially as the outrage over politicians getting prioritized over PUIs and PUMs for COVID-19 testing was still fresh. But in the middle of all the frustration and anger, Pinoy netizens managed to do what they do best: take a disgusting situation and turn it into a meme. These are some of the funniest takes on the congress’ gimmick:
Merienda time
Running out of ideas for your next meal while on quarantine? Why don’t you order your favorite Pinoy merienda from these politicians?
You were warned
This is the popular art installation in Pinto Art Museum you’ve probably seen in everyone’s insta feed. Truthfully enough, let us warn our family and peers about the actions of these politicians confidently posing in front of the press, thinking they’ve done something revolutionary.
Happy monthsary!
Ah, kids these days. A popular trend among Pinoy teenagers are celebrating monthsaries or even weeksaries with the cheesiest gifts and letters. And this is one great example of it. Tag your crushie, baka naman gawin niya ‘to sa’yo someday.
Group reporting
This one brings so many memories from elementary. When we didn’t have projectors, we had the classic manila paper and Pilot broad marker pen combo for presentations. No tape? No problem. Your classmates can just hold them while the group leader does the presentation.
Off to shoot some hoops
None of this makes sense anymore.
Hyun Bin Oppa!
Even members of Congress seem to be hooked on Hyun Bin from Crash Landing on You. I mean, how can you get over Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok? Never.
Ihaw-ihaw kayo dyan!
Career change? Since we can’t go out of our homes, all we can do now is to dream of our favorite street food: fishball, kikiam, kwek kwek, adidas, at isaw dun sa may kanto.
Let’s be obedient.
Given the response we’re getting from the government, we will definitely skip these names in the next elections. So please be wise the next time! If you haven’t registered yourself as a voter, please do so when life gets back to normal. Exercise your right to suffrage so that the next time we get an outbreak (we’re not hoping), our government’s responses would be better.
After the backlash on social media, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano released a statement:
It’s their job to show up at work. We’re still dumbfounded why they did that gimmick – was it to show the Filipino people they were doing their jobs? Or was it just an excuse to praise themselves? Amid the clownery happening in the government, let us continue to show support to the true heroes of this pandemic: our frontliners and service workers.
Do you think that the Congress gimmick was proper? Or would you want to see them hold more signs the next time? Tell us below!
