MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Will the real Rodrigo Duterte please step forward?

Just like that famous commercial for a soap detergent, there is a new and improved presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte — prim and proper, no profanities and an image of a rebel standing up against the elite and the biased media.

In a speech at  his alma mater, the Lyceum of the Philippines, where he did not utter a single profanity, Duterte said he is actually taking “the posture of a radical” when speaking in a brutally frank manner. This is to challenge the ruling class and the public officials who seem to only care for the elite.

“I am testing the elite in this country because, historically, we are fundamentally a feudal country,” he said. “I am testing the waters of radicalism. (I act) as if I am irreverent, (but) it’s not really true. I pray to God always.

Duterte also took a swipe at Manila-based media, saying he does not have such a bad mouth in reality. He said he just uses foul language because he is fed up with journalists who twist his statements. “In this country, (the ruling class) wants everything to be prim and proper. They control the media, they control television and all, and they want to do governance in accordance with their interest. That’s how it is,” he said.

So, as an estimated 54 Million Filipinos troop to the voting booth on May 9th, they will be choosing between two Duterte’s: the foul-mouthed mayor and the God-fearing, prim and proper candidate for president.

Many will probably vote for both.

Stay tuned for The Adobo Chronicles’ extensive coverage of the 2016 Philippine presidential elections, brought to you by the new and improved Tide detergent.