Siya yung DDS na humamon sakin ng pustahan that PBBM was confined at St Lukes. No, hindi na kami nagpunta dun bec he himself accepted that the President is alive and well.
But the meeting became something more than just settling a bet. I decided to spend time with him, hindi dahil madami ako oras but because I wanted to get inside the mind of a DDS supporter. Saan nanggagaling ang level ng loyalty nila? How does one blur the line between fact and imagination so easily?
He said that like many of his circle, he simply believes what his perceived DDS leaders say. In this case, he cited personalities like Atty. Guanzon, amplified by vloggers and influencers. Para sa kanya, their words are not opinions, they are truths.
And this wasn’t the first time. He once believed that Tatay Digong had already returned to Davao, only to later realize it wasn’t true. Yet the pattern repeated. He continues to admire and look up to figures like Harry Roque, Mike Defensor, Sen. Marcoleta, Banat By, and a host of other DDS personalities, despite inconsistencies in what they say.
Tinanong ko siya; "How does it feel to be repeatedly misled? Do you ever feel like you’re being played, your anger fueled, your emotions stirred, only to be proven wrong later?”
Bomalabs ang sagot nya kaya tinanong ko sya ulit if attacking the President makes him feel better.
And perhaps the most telling of all. Tinanong ko sya exactly like this: "Why are you so fearless in cursing the highest official of the land, knowing the vast power of the presidency—not just legally, but in many other ways?”
Sagot nya: “Duwag si BBM. kaya hindi ako natatakot!”
And there it is. Maaaring mali ako but this is what i realize pagkatapos namin mag-usap.
Majority of the DDS , (hindi ko nilalahat), replace institutional credibility (mainstream media, verified sources) with personalities they trust. Once trust is given, it becomes absolute. Fact-checking is no longer necessary because “our leader said so.”
Outrage is constantly fed- galit at pagmumura sa pangulo, distrust of institutions, a sense of injustice. This emotional high creates a loop. The more they feel, the less they verify. And when proven wrong, the emotion simply shifts to the next narrative.
Alam nila na hindi sila nag-iisa. Alam nilang marami sila. They exist in echo chambers where everyone believes the same thing. Doubt is drowned out. Validation is constant. And in that environment, even the most absurd claims begin to feel real.
Dito ako namangha. Even after being proven wrong multiple times, the loyalty remains. Because in the end, it was never about the truth.
It was about kung sino gusto nila paniwalaan-- and how those beliefs make them feel.
And until that emotional grip is broken, no amount of facts will ever be enough.
Peace mga ka - DDS
#CTTO