Celebrities, personalities, and netizens did not find it amusing how Pres. Rodrigo Duterte addressed the Taal Volcano situation.
On Thursday, July 1, Duterte in a press conference during the inauguration of LRT 2 East Extension Project joked about what he will do regarding the volcano’s brief eruption.
“Siguro lagyan ko lang ng cap—yung butas (ng crate). Taal na ‘yan,” joked Duterte.
But instead of hearing laughter, there was silence after the President made the joke.
Over Twitter, it was not taken lightly as well.
Kapamilya actress Agot Isidro pointed that no one laughed at the joke. She also made a notion about the remaining days of Duterte as a President.
Wala nang tumatawa.
364 days to go. https://t.co/zyiLDjGTor
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) July 1, 2021
In the following tweet, Isidro also observed how Duterte paused for effect. But the actress did not even consider it humorous.
May pause pa sya, for effect.
Pero wala pa din.
Di mo na kami maloloko.— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) July 1, 2021
Gab Pangilinan likewise was not amused by the joke of Duterte. Pangilinan noted that Filipinos are done with the President’s humor and misleading statements.
That croo-croo-awkward-silence energy says it all. We're over all the jokes and misunderstood statements po. Done.
Pls register to vote. https://t.co/iSyFT1R1nb
— gab (@gabpangilinan) July 1, 2021
Star Magic artist Kerwin King even compared Taal’s activeness to the President. He even considered the volcano as far more active than Duterte.
Eh mas active pa yata yung bulkan kaysa sa presidenteng puro joke lang ang alam https://t.co/0sxJeod0Wz
— Kerwin King (@imkerwinking) July 1, 2021
Artist Teta Limcangco pointed that the Volcano already has reached an alert level 3. However, the President downplays such grave concern, which for Limcangco is a far greater problem.
Taal Volcano.on Alert level 3 is a grave concern. But his reaction to the problem is a greater concern. https://t.co/DD2DnMQSSM
— Teta Limcangco (@teta_limcangco) July 1, 2021
Other netizens were not happy with Duterte’s joke as well.
No one laughed. Dead silence. Cricket sound. https://t.co/JS0G6SeI61
— Jason (@call_me_jas0n) July 1, 2021
https://twitter.com/DeductionGeek/status/1410576026497810432
Some even suggested that Duterte’s mouth should be covered rather than Taal Volcano’s.
bunganga mo na lang dapat ang takpan xDDDDD https://t.co/BotrzwU3RV
— mark geronimo (@markgeronimo_) July 1, 2021
Siguro bibig ni Tatay D ang need malagyan ng takip. Charot! https://t.co/ClCTTo3gRL
— Charot! (@IamCharotism) July 1, 2021
Twitter personality Kristoffer Passion even lambasted the President for disregarding the possible problems once Taal Volcano erupts.
San kaya lalabas pag nilagyan ng cap ‘yong bulkan? Sa pores mo? Ganyan ba kababa ang gusto mong diskurso ng kalamidad mula sa mamamayan, Mr. President? 🙄 Yung *biro* mo pang 1945 eh, taon kung kailan ka pinanganak.
— Kristoffer Pasion (@indiohistorian) July 1, 2021
Such a statement from Duterte was also similar back in January 2020 when Taal Volcano first erupted. The President’s wrath and foul mouth showed no mercy at the volcano, saying that he will pee at it.
“Ano ang balita sa p*tang i*ang bulkan na yan? Sige pa rin? Galit pa rin? Gusto kong ihian ang p*tang i*ang butas diyan,” cursed Duterte.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) already calmed the people as it assures that Taal Volcano will not explode the way it did last year.
“Yong January 2020, sa maliit na explosion, lumaki nang lumaki kasi nga may pressure. Tinanggal natin ang pressure sa may crater at ‘yong mas mataas ang pressure na magma ay biglang umakyat,” Phivolcs Director Rene Solidum said in a briefing. “Ngayon ay nagde-degas nga po, so kakaiba ang panimula tungkol dito, at binanggit na na hindi gano’n ka-explosive ang simula nito kaysa sa last year.”
Still, the agency advised the residents to evacuate as Taal Volcano already had a phreatomagmatic eruption between 3:16 p.m. and 3:21 p.m., especially from high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas.
