But it’s probably not for the reason you think it is.

Let me first give some background. I’m 25. My wife is Filipino. I live in the Philippines. And that basically makes me half Filipino (right??). Here’s us:

I have been living in the Philippines on and off for the past two years. Shortly after Typhoon Yolanda, a team from my hometown came over to aid in reconstruction, rehabilitation, and redevelopment. I was part of that team.

That’s where this all begins.

One of my goals when I travel is to try my best to get to know the people and the culture of the place that I am (and I have worked in over 10 countries). When I arrived in Tacloban, one of the first things I heard, upon asking about the Philippines, culture, etc., was this:

we are so thankful you are here… look around at all of these organizations – the United Nations, World Relief, Samaritan’s Purse, etc. – they are doing more than our own government… in fact, our government has barely offered us any help at all…

Mind. Blown.

I was standing on the site where one of the greatest natural disasters in human history occurred… and the government of that country – the government of the Philippines – was doing virtually nothing (compared to NGO’s) to help.

Strike one.

Shortly after our work in Tacloban, we headed to Cagayan de Oro to work with some friends who started a ministry called Streetlight (http://www.ellipsisinternational.org). During our time in CDO, we spent the evenings roaming around the city, getting night barbeque (because if you don’t you’re a fool), and trying to meet the Street Kids that Streetlight works with where they are at. However, one night things took a turn for the proverbial worst.

A friend and I were sitting in the public square called Divisoria. We looked over and noticed a 40 year old German man that we had met earlier that day. He tried to sell us artwork (which was weird). My friend and I got up and began walking towards him. As we did, we saw two 50+ year old white men walk up to this German. He turned around and called two young girls over to him (no more than 15 years old, each of them). The two old white men handed him some cash, and the German man handed them the two little girls. Rage went throughout my body.

We followed the old white men. We saw what hotel they went into. But we also saw a police officer down the road. We ran up to him, we told him about what happened, and he said, “I’ll check it out.”

Well he did check it out. And he cashed out.

The two men had paid the officer what looked like a measly p500 (about $10usd) so that he would allow them to force sex on two young girls who couldn’t possibly know that what they were doing is degrading to their bodies, their souls, their minds, and their hearts.

Strike two.

Should I go on about the corruption of the military? Or the disgusting nature of the rich taking advantage of the poor? What about the government embezzling billions? How about government officials making sure anyone who rivals them is murdered? Should I count my strikes up to the millions?

Before you say anything, yes I have done my research, and yes I do care about the people of this (now our) country. This affects me and my family, even though my citizenship is of the United States of America.

There is a time, I believe, that a nation gets so corrupt, so immoral, so backwards, that God steps in and says, “Enough is enough.”

And sometimes God puts an immoral leader in power to show immoral leadership what happens when immorality runs its course

The entire book of Daniel (found in the Old Testament within the Bible) is about this. Israel had become so immoral, so broken, so corrupt, that God gave them over to one of the most immoral men on Earth at the time: King Nebuchadnezzar. Immoral as he was, God knew something about this king:

He was strong. He was bold. He would take a firm stand and hold to it

What happens in the story? Nebuchadnezzar eventually turns to God, becomes less immoral, but remains strong, bold, and firm, just like a good leader of a nation should be.

Maybe, just maybe, the Philippines (America is worse, trust me), is in a similar situation. Though my president, truly, is Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, I am well aware of the fact that the Filipino’s (maybe foolishly) are afraid that her health will make her time in office limited and thus prevent any real change. I get that. And I get that she cannot possibly win the election due to this. She is the least corrupt, the most qualified, and the boldest (do the research, you will agree, trust me).

This country needs change. Between Roxas, Binay, Poe, and Duterte, it is clear that Duterte is the strongest, the boldest, and the firmest of the bunch. Hear me out on this though:

Duterte is still morally corrupt.

Yes, I said it. It’s a fact. He’s a womanizer (self-proclaimed in 2015). He’s rash to make decisions that are often foolish. He’s a murderer (at least vicariously). He’s living with a woman who is not even his own wife. He’s not a man of complete upright moral integrity like everyone believes aside from research. We must realize that if Duterte becomes president men might become more immoral in relation to women, their wives, and their families. That’s how leadership works; it infects from the top (president, CEO, etc.) to the bottom (civilians, employees, etc.).

But he’s my president.

He’s my president because I believe God is putting him in power to make great change in this Republic, the Philippines.

He’s my president because I trust that if God can change the heart of Nebuchadnezzar, he can change the heart of Rodrigo Duterte.

He’s my president because I want to see this nation flourish, and Rodrigo Duterte is the only one bold enough to destroy corruption.

He’s my president because he does what he says he will do, and that is what a nation needs, especially a nation where corruption comes from the top down.

Let’s prepare to pray for him as he leads this country, let’s prepare to fight against his immoral guidance (especially in regards to women), and let’s prepare for great change.

I’m an American, and Rodrigo Duterte is my President.