A short Japanese anime clip featuring a down-to-earth President Rodrigo Duterte has made the rounds on social media after it was posted on Facebook on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Davao Nikkei Jin Anime Club and Facebook page Bisayaball conceptualized a 1-minute-and-28-second clip entitled “El Presidente,” which details significant events of Duterte’s campaign, including his State of the Nation Address where he is seated beside Sen. Koko Pimentel and Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.
As pinpointed by many anime fans, the track played in the video was “Silhouette,” the opening theme song of “Naruto: Shippuden” performed by Japanese rock band Kana Boon.
Likewise, the video featured a scene wherein Duterte, wearing ordinary clothes and rubber slippers, answers queries from the media while sitting in a monobloc chair at his humble home in Doña Luisa Subdivision, Davao City. In most parts of the video, the President was portrayed with his “trademark” macho image of riding a motorbike wearing a leather jacket, repelling “evil” monsters, “Yellowtards,” and drug lords.
The final part shows President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shaking hands, symbolizing the ties that bind the Philippines and Japan.
Other personalities featured in the clip are Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa.
As of this writing, the video racked up 17,000 likes and reactions, 36,600 shares and 743,000 views.
Several Facebook users requested for the animators to create an anime series based on President Duterte’s life and political career.
“I hope this could turn into an anime series. Great and timely concept! This is the right medium to promote love and support to our president especially to the youth,” wrote user Jeffrey Delatado.
On the other hand, user Jude Tan wrote, “This could be that anime series you look forward to in the afternoon or evening.” Gianna Francesca Catolico/rga
