© VICE News
When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ascended to power in 1999, almost no one in the West, in Asia and even in most of the Latin American countries knew much about his
new militant revolutionary anti-imperialism. From the mass media outlets like CNN and the BBC, to local televisions and newspapers (influenced or directly sponsored by Western sources), the 'information' that was flowing was clearly
biased, extremely critical, and even derogatory.A few months into his rule, I came to Caracas and was told repeatedly by several local journalists: "Almost all of us are supporting President Chavez, but we'd be fired if we'd dare to write one single article in his support." In New York City and Paris, in Buenos Aires and Hong Kong, the then consensus was almost unanimous: "Chavez was a vulgar populist, a demagogue, a military strongman, and potentially a 'dangerous dictator'".
In South Korea and the UK, in Qatar and Turkey, people who could hardly place Venezuela on the world map, were expressing their 'strong opinions',
mocking and smearing the man who would later be revered as a Latin American hero. Even many of those who would usually 'distrust' mainstream media were then clearly convinced about the sinister nature of the Process and the 'Bolivarian Revolution'.
History repeats itself.Now President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines is demonized and 'mistrusted', ridiculed and
dismissed as a demagogue, condemned as a rough element, mocked as a buffoon. In his own country he is enjoying the
highest popularity rating of any president in its history: at least well over 70 percent, but often even over 80 percent.
Comment: It is a priority to understand the background and foreground of President Rodrigo Duterte and put his behavior and rhetoric in perspective. The history of the Philippines and the atrocities perpetrated by the US will be eye-openers for many who seek to understand today's Asia and why the US is regarded as so evil.