The Society of Honor by Joe America

by Wilfredo G. Villanueva

You have to see her to believe. It’s the energy, the quick laughter, the one-liners, folksy. Philippines, we have a rock star, and her name is Samira Gutoc, Sam for short. She’s exactly what the country needs, new blood instead of the same dynastic politics.

She’s not a typical Muslim, she said. Oh, she’s devout, but she breaks out in laughter, even shrieking like a little girl opening gifts. I didn’t have a preconceived notion of a Muslim woman, but it’s safe to say that she would be uhm… dour, even unapproachable.

Turns out she puts you at peace. No barriers. She pulled up her feet in her seat, long-sleeved blouse and skirt keeping her whole body covered, completely at ease with this Catholic man and his wife Renée asking questions.

She loves crowds. Grew up in the Philippine embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where she was born. Attended the Philippine school in Jeddah for her primary, elementary and high school education. The Gutoc family left Jeddah when Sam was 15, so she was a little over her formative years.

WGV: Where do you draw your power? (She has strong public speaking skills, thinking on her feet in back and forth, makes a point with eye-to-eye contact.)

Samira Gutoc: “When I was young, mother trained me as the eldest to speak and perform in a crowd. We sang Whitney Houston songs, five of us siblings, so parang Michael Jackson’s family kami. Speak English or else palo (clapping her hands in mock spanking).”

How do feel about your low standing in surveys?

“God is great! It’s moving upwards. Number 35 ako sa Pulse Asia, 29 sa Social Weather Stations, 24 now. Ninety days to do this!” (Laughing with glee as if on the verge of a road trip.)

Did you debate in college?

Yes, in college of law, Arellano and Mindanao State universities. I also finished journalism in U.P. (University of the Philippines) College of Mass Communications.

You took the Bar?

“Several times. Didn’t pass. I corrected Jessica Soho. She referred to me as a lawyer. Magagalit ang Supreme Court.” (Refreshing, her lack of guile, don’t you think?—WGV)

Ba’t ka pumayag tumakbo? Alam mo ba ang hirap ng pinasukan mo?

“I know! I had five months of introspection. I told Senator Kiko, ‘Hindi ko kaya. What promise can you give me?’ I didn’t enter blindly. I am a David, sila ang Goliath…”

Who are the Goliaths?

“The Villars, Cayetanos… Mainstays… Lapid, Revilla, Legarda, Pimentel, Poe, Zubiri…”

Your relationships with other religions?

“I’m very fond of them because since I was a college student, I was an interfaith leader. I am familiar with URI (United Religions Initiative), the Peace Makers Circle… With Catholics, very much—Cardinal Chito Tagle, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo…”

Kids? Husband? Full family support?

“I have one kid, Ameer Gutoc Tomawis, three years old. My husband is an engineer in Marawi. We traverse Marawi and Iligan, 45 minutes travel. Spiritually, even logistically my husband supports me, but not in the national level. He has a role in Marawi. May 30 ang birthday ni Ameer…”

Oh, a birthday gift for Ameer if you win!

“May 13 ang elections (dreamily, looking sideways, showing the famous profile).”

The last time you talked with President Duterte? Describe the tone.

“In passing lang, when he inducted us as commissioners (in Bangsa Moro Transition). ‘Hi sir,’ I said. ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘You know an uncle of mine.’ I said. ‘Ay okay, okay’. Don’t know his reaction when I resigned.”

Your narrative of your falling out with the president?

He has this supporter, the head of peace talks, Ms. Irene Santiago, she ran for vice president of the republic. I texted her shortly after the start of the Marawi siege, on May 26, 2017 when the president said he will answer for the rape of women by AFP personnel. ‘Ma’am, I am leaving,’ was my message. She didn’t reply. I came out with my position, talked with Catholic bishops and Congress, was bashed by trolls as a result.

She went on to talk about Marawi…

“Naparalyze ang mind ko… ‘Nung bombahin ang Marawi (her voice faltering)…”

Did I detect your voice breaking?

“Yes. This is personal. Maranaw siya. Bakit niya ginawa ito sa kapwa niya Maranaw? Nakapagsalita ako sa congress, naging viral ang video.”

Favorite books?

“Alvin Toffler’s, mysteries, Agatha Christie. I’m reading a book on WPS (West Philippine Sea) by PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.”

Cook?

“No. I don’t do it everyday.”

Favorite dish?

“Putanesca, pesto, carbonara.”

Describe your most frightening experience in Marawi.

“Frightening: so many memories… Riding through the highway where a house was under bombardment, about 500 meters away.”

Did they all die in house?

“No way to know.”

Did you carry a gun?

“Didn’t carry a gun. Don’t know how to fire a weapon. I’m the last person to use a gun. I might be fearless in terms of Bato (dela Rosa), pero takot na takot ako sa baril.”

Seen dead people?

“Once a week, in the hospital.

Badly mangled?

“Hindi badly mangled…”

Smell?

“Maybe my mind is protecting me; can’t recall.”

Was the military courteous?

“Yes.”

Was the other side courteous?

“We didn’t see them. We didn’t enter the war zone.”

(She returned to the bombing of the house.)

“Scared for the people in that house… it was a World Trade Center moment… supposedly walang tao.”

(Continuing her recollection.)

“They come to us, I was the leader of the rescue team. All news outfits came to me… I was the contact person in Marawi.”

What did the Marawi war and the ensuing devastation teach you?

“Resiliency. It’s something na alam ko kaya ko pa. My mom’s house survived intact. Pero my husband’s, wala na. Others lost more than us. Baby Ameer was more than a year old. Maaga siya nailikas not like the rest who were left behind. Iligan is safe. We lived with my brother, in a small two-storey apartment. We were lucky. In some houses, tabi-tabi, five children.”

No enmity between Christians and Muslims?

“Muslims had to help Christian laborers to get back home, like Pagadian. They had to give them money for transportation. They had to help each other.”

Muslim community support for you?

“I don’t know po. I served four million people in Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Marawi city, when I was commissioner. There are 10 million Muslims nationwide…”

Do Muslims vote as a bloc?

“No po. Non-political po ang imam.”

How do you start your day?

“5 a.m. wake up. 7 a.m. leave house in Makati. Nakikitira ako sa aking mom. She’s 70 years old.”

She’s still okay?

“Wow. She’s handling my tarps. She’s hands on.”

Your most memorable experience going around the country?

“In Capiz. Before 5,000 barangay health workers. I had to sing. Can’t give platform speech, yung serious, full text, no. The issue is support, kaya heart-to-heart talk and singing ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’. I said guys raise your hands. They did. Enjoy ako!”

Your first bill to file in the Senate if you make it?

Check on how women funding is getting along, yung funding for gender development. Specifically, how many women survivors in Marawi are being supported.

Any rape cases?

“None that I know of, but Gabriela is making a case documentation…”

Sports? Exercises?

“College football, no longer now. In going to MRT, a lot of walking, climbing stairs, not worried about security.”

Word association. I’ll say a word, please reply with a word that comes to your mind. (She was game.)

• Country – “Philippines.”
• Beauty – “Catriona.”
• Favorite activity – “Meeting people.”
• Love – “Husband, Baby Ameer.”
• Food – “Halo-halo.”
• Movie – “Julia Roberts, Notting Hill; ‘I’m just a girl’, yan ang sinasabi ko: ‘Ako ay isang babae lang asking you guys to vote for me’…”
• Rest – “Sleep.”
• Hate – “Away ng mga tao, don’t like away (quarrels).”
• Guns – “Violence.”
• Prayer – “Solemn.”
• Quran – “Kneel.”
• 12 noon – “Half a day, yehey, malapit nang matapos!”
• Vacation – “Pool.”
• Alone time – “Sitting down alone.”
• Talk – “Speech”
• Law – “Anti-discrmination, Sharia, should be inclusive.”
• Senate – “Miriam Defensor-Santiago.”

Idol mo?

“Not necessarily but she’s someone ideal.”

• Philippines – “My beloved.”
• Muslims – “God, country.”
• Family – “Only one.”
• Infidelity – “Oh no, sad, tragic.”
• Marital breakup – “Last resort.”
• President Duterte – “Tragic, he’s making a lot of mistakes.”

Did you vote for him?

“No.”

• Winning – “Sana.”
• Losing – “Sana hindi.”

Wear makeup?

“I have to, now.”

You’re girlish!

“Hahaha! I carry lipstick now.”

Talk to the Filipino people.

“Hindi ako kilala. Hindi ako artista. Baka matakot pa kayo sa aking mukha dahil sa belo ko. Pero matagal nang kasama ninyo ako sa kalye. Matagal nang kaibigan ng mga Katoliko sa interfaith dialogue. Beterano po sa paglilingkod. Half a million people affected by my work. I know what I’m taking about. Pag walang bahay, hindi buo ang pamilya. Importante ang may titindig para sa atin. Pare-pareho lahat ng Pilipino. Kailangan ng dignidad. Bilang ina, ititindig ko ang bayan kasama ang mga katutubo.”

Why does the Senate need you?

“I have seen the worst of it all. Poverty and conflict. No other candidate has my experience. I can deliver the message that we need laws to guarantee peace of mind. We need oversight to see where funds go to ensure peace of mind. Yawyaw ka nang yawyaw, eh ngayon ikaw naman!” (Referring to herself.)

It’s a happy life?

“Yes, but with tragedies for many… I used to speak about tragedies, ngayon ako na mismo ang affected…”

Otso diretso? If they win, mahihinto ba ang EJK, can the loans from China be stopped?

“I can say yes. They have a definite stand on these issues.

Enjoy ka ba sa interview?

“Trabaho ko ‘yan. Correspondent ako dati sa Philippine Daily Inquirer for Marawi. Reporter and civic worker combined. What I read, what I write, I can work on it.” ∆