Unpacking ‘shimenet’

It is not very common for a political issue to profoundly capture the attention and imagination of young people, so it was fascinating to see the term “shimenet” trending online for the past week. For context, shimenet originated from the ongoing budget deliberations at the House of Representatives for the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

In response to a series of questions by House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas on how the P125-million confidential funds in 2022 were spent in just 11 days, Vice President Sara Duterte responded, “She may not like my answer. She may not like how I answer. She may not like the content of my answer, but I am answering.” Some people, however, pointed out that her pronunciation of “she may not” sounded more like “shimenet”—leading to the creation of various videos and memes poking fun at her response.

Most of these videos feature young people quoting VP Duterte as a way to get out of a sticky situation. Some of the scenarios depicted are avoiding a graded recitation in class or avoiding your parent when they ask you what you did with the change from the money they gave you. But what really amplified its reach is how some people combined the audio clip from the budget hearing with other famous pop songs, turning it into a catchy remix that garnered even more views and likes. All these humorous takes have helped solidify shimenet’s place in the Philippine lexicon and will now be a word associated with evading important questions.

However, some believe these viral posts unintentionally distract public attention from more pressing discussions on governance and accountability. Some have also argued that making fun of VP Duterte’s pronunciation is the kind of elitist dialogue that could reinforce regionalism sentiments and further bolster the Duterte family’s populist appeal. In fact, there are pro-Duterte bloggers who have already spun the narrative in the Vice President’s favor. Her evasive and combative responses during the interpellation are being framed as a sign of being “authentic and strong-willed,” portraying her as an underdog who successfully stood up to corrupt and petty congressmen.

These are valid points. While research largely indicates that bad publicity generally harms politicians and leads to a decline in public approval ratings, there are also examples of how populist politicians have successfully used negative media attention to their advantage. The oft-cited example is how former United States president Donald Trump used the publicity he generated through his notoriety to support his 2016 presidential campaign, presenting himself as an alternative to a traditional politician. This is consistent with the findings of other studies on how politicians who engage in negative behavior are rewarded with more media coverage and increased visibility. While this does not necessarily mean it will translate into better public image, it does raise the question as to whether the real issues at stake behind the shimenet phenomenon—transparency, accountability, and responsible governance—could easily get lost amid the noise created by the internet jokes.

Personally, I appreciate how the shimenet phenomenon has brought more attention to the ongoing budget deliberations. As I have written in a previous column, humor has always been an effective way to make current events more digestible and accessible to the public. Before this meme went viral, only a few people may have been interested in how the budget deliberations were being carried out. Thanks to a slew of witty videos and catchy tunes, it is currently in vogue among young people to be informed and to weigh in on the issue.

It is essential then that this newfound attention be used wisely. The focus should not remain on VP Duterte’s pronunciation but for us to keep demanding clear answers. What helps the discourse is that a best practice exists to look up to. Previous articles have resurfaced about former vice president Leni Robredo’s budget spending, highlighting how their office consistently received the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit. During the 2021 deliberations, several lawmakers from the House even asserted that the OVP should be allocated at least P1 billion in funding to continue implementing the programs they started in response to the pandemic. This is a perfect example of how jokes can lead to more conversations about the kind of transparency that we deserve and should demand from public officials when it comes to how the government spends our hard-earned taxes.

And if “shimenet” can continue to spotlight these issues and serve as a springboard for these discussions, it will have served a purpose beyond mere entertainment. Ultimately, our goal should always be to ensure that public officials are held accountable for their actions, not just for their mistakes to become viral.

eleanor@shetalksasia.com