In a stunning twist of irony, President Bongbong Marcos emerged from the shadows, unleashing a scathing rebuke against China’s relentless bullying in the South China Sea. Yes, the same president whose critics — the pro-Duterte camp and vloggers —have painted as a “weak leader.” It seems he’s traded his quiet demeanor for a megaphone, finally addressing the elephant in the room—China’s maritime harassment.

Issuing this condemnation on Holy Thursday, a day of reflection and vacation for many, adds a surreal layer to the spectacle. It’s as if Marcos chose this moment to showcase his diplomatic prowess while everyone else was kicking back with cocktails and taking a dip in the pool.

Will his critics now hail him as a master diplomat and world-class negotiator — a leader who has been quietly harnessing the advice and support of his national security officials and the international community?

We also can’t help but be reminded of one blogger named Mark Lopez who recently questioned who was running the country while the president was nursing a flu. Well, there goes the answer.