Plot twist of the year?
The Filipino public was certainly “shook’d” even before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) today when former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced Pantaleon Alvarez as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Netizens were quick to react, with others using a screenshot of Arroyo cupping her hands between her mouth as a meme.
Twitter user @ronranierreyes wrote: “HELLLOOOOO GARCIIIIII I’M BACK.”
This refers to the “Hello Garci” scandal wherein a wiretapped recording of Arroyo’s conversation with a Commission on Elections official was made public. This further stoked allegations that she rigged the 2004 Philippine Presidential elections.
HELLLOOOOO GARCIIIIII I'M BACK pic.twitter.com/MaPWfWQUxv
— Ron (@ronranierreyes) July 23, 2018
“From this to THIS. Like a phoenix, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has risen from the ashes. Talk about plot twist,” @JoyMelGarcia wrote. She added the hashtag #SONA2018.
In 2012, Arroyo faced a PHP366 million (US$6,847,335.03) plunder case from the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged misuse of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) funds, leading to a 4-year hospital arrest.
When Arroyo came out of her hospital arrest, she was noticeably not wearing her neck brace anymore (which is seen in the first image), which she reportedly said was for back-related pains.
https://twitter.com/JoyMelGarcia/status/1021305308419842048
“Pinoy Horror Story: Gloria #SONA2018,” @nikowl wrote.
Pinoy Horror Story: Gloria #SONA2018 pic.twitter.com/95ODE8Ygdh
— Nicol (@nikowl) July 23, 2018
Others poked fun at the new meme.
“KIKI DO YOU LOVE ME ARE YOU RIDIN,” @nikowl added in his tweets, referencing Drake’s new viral dance challenge.
KIKI DO YOU LOVE ME ARE YOU RIDIN #SONA2018 pic.twitter.com/HDmTBwj53G
— Nicol (@nikowl) July 23, 2018
“RESORTS WORLD MANILAAAA!” @cannupener said, referring to the infamous tagline of — yep, you guessed it — Resorts World Manila.
"RESORTS WORLD MANILAAAA!" #SONA2018 pic.twitter.com/Gh3EpwkCF8
— Jeypee (@cannupener) July 23, 2018
@itsraflxs shared a clip of actress Judy Ann Santos who said in Filipino: “If you’re just going to sin, go all the way.”
https://twitter.com/itsraflxs/status/1021312331567919106
Others had a more somber approach to the appointment. @jonasbagas called it “the House of Plunder.”
https://twitter.com/jonasbagas/status/1021302429319684096
@lalarimando added to the conversation and called the stunt cunning.
“Gotta give it to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines. From presidential daughter, to Senator, to Vice President, to President, to someone jailed then acquitted for plunder, to a Congresswoman, and now House Speaker (via a coup),” she wrote. “So Machiavellian.”
Gotta give it to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines.
From presidential daughter, to Senator, to Vice President, to President, to someone jailed then acquitted for plunder, to a Congresswoman, and now House Speaker (via a coup).
So Machiavellian. Whew.#SONA2018
— Lala Rimando (@lalarimando) July 23, 2018
Arroyo is the first woman to become Speaker of the House.
How did you react when you heard the news? Leave a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
