Politicians employ various ways for name recall
Religious materials being distributed by
Mark Jimenez.
Its election season in the country and politicians have their own way of selling themselves again to the electorates through the different mediums of communication, mass media, electronic media, billboards, streamers and all sort of campaign stuff. Interestingly, even the things used in the different rites of the Catholic church are not spared by politicians.
To begin with, billionaire Mark Jimenez who is reportedly funding the candidacy of City Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga for congresswoman of the city has a novel idea, that is, distributing a small plastic container of Holy Water, a rosary and a poster of the image of the Divine Mercy among the Catholic faithful. The same materials are distributed in the different parts of the country.
Liberiaga said, the Holy Water came from the Lourdes, France and many people are trying hard to get it. Now, the people don't have to go to France just to get the Holy Water. She said Jimenez is "maka Diyos."
Jimenez, a former congressman of Manila and has been previously sentenced in the United States for funding the candidacy of Pres. Bill Clinton, has a radio program entitled "Hulog ng Langit."
Interestingly, the small plastic container of Holy Water is obviously marked with a capital letter "M" appearing like a vestment of a priest superimposed on the cross. "M" probably stands for Mark, Jimenez's name.
In the Divine Mercy poster, the lower portion is printed with the words: "NAGKAISA SA DIYOS NAGKAISANG PILIPINO PARA SA GLORIA NI JESUS. Observers say the word "Gloria" actually refers to President Arroyo. It is public knowledge that Jimenez is a staunch supporter of the president.
Also in Iloilo City, the first group of politicians seeking for reelection who came up with their propaganda materials were councilors Jed Mabilog, Julienne Baronda and Merci Garcia. The trio distributed long sleeved shirts printed with their names to pedicab drivers and barangay tanods.
The Gonzalezes effort to remain in power could not also be ignored. Streamers printed with "Gonzalez Country" hang all over the different barangays and different areas in the city. Also a 2007 calendar bearing the names and faces of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sr. and Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr.
It has been observed that national officials seeking senatorial positions also came up with different television advertisements.
Commission on Election (Comelec) commissioner Benjamin Abalos earlier said that politicians promoting their names in various ways are not yet violating Election laws as it is not yet campaign period and most of them do not yet expressly declare what positions they are running.