In a stunning and bizarre ambush interview that has since gone viral, the nation’s president, appearing dazed and disoriented, addressed the public following a briefing on the catastrophic impact of Typhoon Tino. The president, who critics allege looked as though he had “just woken up,” delivered a performance that has ignited a firestorm of criticism, sparking fears about the administration’s competence in the face of both natural and economic disasters.

As the president spoke, detailing the “heavy” damage across multiple regions and outlining the “usual relief” efforts, commentators were quick to pounce. The core of their argument: the government is, once again, reacting instead of preparing.

“If the government’s preparations were sufficient, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” one prominent political commentator argued. “Where was the pre-positioning of relief goods? Where were the agencies? We are now in a situation where they are only just figuring out what to do after the disaster has struck.”

The president’s assurance that the government was “balancing” its response to Tino with preparations for an upcoming typhoon, “Juan,” did little to quell the anger. For many, it was dismissed as “puro dakdak” (all talk) and “puro laway” (all-knowing, no action). The public’s memory is long, and the lessons from previous “Ber” month (September-December) storms like Ondoy and Yolanda are seared into the national consciousness: these typhoons are predictably, devastatingly strong.

The administration’s perceived failure to act on this predictable threat—to issue timely warnings, preposition supplies, or enforce mandatory evacuations—is being seen as an unforgivable lapse.

This critique was further amplified when the president admitted to a “very high” casualty count but refused to provide a number, citing the need for “validation.” Critics immediately interpreted this as a move to hide the true, embarrassing scale of the failure. “He won’t give the numbers because it’s a massive embarrassment,” the commentator blasted. “These agencies have the funds. They have the mandate. This is the kind of scenario that can be avoided.”

This sentiment contrasts sharply with recollections of the previous administration under Rodrigo Duterte, where, supporters argue, a fanatical focus on preparation and pre-disaster evacuation protocols demonstrably lowered casualty counts. The current administration, by comparison, is being labeled as “inutil” (useless).

Perhaps the most alarming part of the president’s address, however, was not what he omitted, but what he chose to emphasize. He announced the approval of a proposal from the NDRRMC to declare a “national calamity.” His reasoning? It provides “quicker access to some of the emergency funds” and “speeds up procurement.”

For those watching, the words “funds” and “procurement” landed like grenades.

In a moment that called for empathy, reassurance, and a comforting presence, the president’s focus on bureaucratic financial mechanisms was seen as cold, calculating, and deeply revealing. “This is what he gets excited about,” one critic noted with disgust. “When it comes to money, he’s fast. He’s talking about procurement instead of comforting the people. This is where corruption thrives.” The perception is that the national tragedy is, for some, a financial opportunity.

But the storm clouds gathering over the administration are not just meteorological. The natural disaster is unfolding against the backdrop of a far larger, man-made economic catastrophe. According to sharp analysis from commentator Sas Sasot, the administration is not just in a slump; it is presiding over an economic “collapse before our eyes.”

The most devastating proof? The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has earned the horrifying distinction of being the “worst performer in the world.”

“I am 42 years old,” Sasot declared, “and I have never, ever heard this. Not even during the pandemic. We were never called the ‘worst in the world.’ This cements this president as being even worse than Noynoy Aquino.”

This comparison to past administrations is crucial. Sasot argues that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left the country with “good economic fundamentals,” allowing the nation to run on “autopilot.” Her successor, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, merely had to “ride the wave” and, to his credit, “didn’t f*ck up” those fundamentals.

Then came President Duterte, who, according to this analysis, “leveled up” the fundamentals. He poured resources into infrastructure, building and upgrading ports and airports, paving the way for what should have been the economy’s “low-hanging fruit”: tourism.

The current president inherited all of this. He inherited a strong foundation and a tourism sector primed for explosive growth. He even claimed during his campaign that tourism would be a major focus. Instead, he has “fumbled” it completely, with tourism arrivals reportedly plummeting by a staggering 25.6 percent.

The question is, how? How do you inherit a winning hand and manage to lose this badly?

The answer, according to Sasot, is a disastrous and arrogant foreign policy. “You cannot save the tourism industry without changing your foreign policy,” she stated unequivocally. By antagonizing China—the region’s single largest source of high-spending tourists—the administration has deliberately cut off its primary economic artery. “You picked a fight with China, and now you have no tourists.”

The idea that tourists from other nations, like India, could fill the gap is dismissed as pure fantasy. Sasot points to hard data: China’s private savings rate is 43.4% of GDP, while India’s is a mere 18.1%. The Chinese population, she argues, has the most disposable income for travel “for decades to come.” There is no substitute.

The consequences are now rippling through every citizen’s life. With no tourism revenue, the government is “borrowing and borrowing,” plunging the nation into deeper debt with nothing to show for it.

The public sentiment is grim. The usual “Christmas spirit,” a hallmark of Filipino culture, is absent. The feeling on the street is not one of celebration, but of desperation. As one citizen put it, their salary is “sakto lang pambayad sa utang”—just enough to pay debts.

This widespread disillusionment is now fueling a potent counter-movement. In a final, shocking twist, the commentators revealed a new, nationwide signature campaign. The goal is not to protest a policy or demand aid. The goal is to bring former President Rodrigo Duterte home, demanding he be returned from the jurisdiction of the ICC.

This campaign, set to kick off on November 23, is being framed as the ultimate vote of no confidence in the current leadership. It is a sign that a significant portion of the populace, feeling abandoned, unheard, and betrayed by the current “dazed” leadership, is now actively working to rally around the “old man” they see as their only true protector.