Siftings
The May Elections, For Starters
I have several axes to grind about what’s going on around us. Everything that’s sensational, horrendous or horrific in this archepelagic republic seems to be suspended in mid-air ever since the official start of election campaign. Just for starters, what’s going on at the court trying the case of the Maguindanao massacre? Now and then a witness gives his testimony. For a few days afterwards, the media gives it a lukewarm hype, something in the neighborhood of 40% airtime and exposure compared to the 150% exposure it got in November to December 2009 period, then silence that can be deadly.
There’s the Legacy scam which seems incapable of being resolved to the satisfaction of investors while the perpetrator De los Angeles lies in hospital trying to survive not only the scam but also his very serious health problem. This calls to mind another prisoner-to-be hoping to escape the case to be filed against him by staying in hospital, thanks to the ineptness of FBI agents who put a slug into his body. That one takes the cake, with his mother Marlene Aguilar hamming it up to get sympathy for her son but I suspect for herself mostly, and getting shortlived superhigh media attention via comedienne Pokwang’s impressions and lampoons on “Banana Split.”
There was some months ago a resurgence of interest in the case of the Barrameda girl who was murdered allegedly by the family of her estranged husband who took away her little girl. And just over a week ago, there is the murder of an ex-vice mayor of Pulupandan in Negros Occidental being laid at the doorstep of the incumbent male who, it is recalled, once figured in a high profile domestic squabble over the custody of his child with TV host and celebrity Plinky Recto, daughter of an illustrious political clan. But what the heck! This country is nothing if it does not have a couple of sensational news every month or so.
And now its elections come May that’s taking up so much of our time and energies. As of this writing, I have not made up my mind about my absolute choices but I will vote straight for President and Vice President. The reason is obvious as for Senators and local candidates I am more likely to vote ekis, as they say. There’s still time for the final listing to be made May 10, but here’s my insights on the wannabes now vying for our votes. No particular names shall be disclosed but here’s some of my insights.
I will not vote for:
The candidate who is so desperate to get the position that his campaign expenses are already running to the billions. At the rate he’s going, his expenses might reach trillions come May! Although he is rich and all that, spending all that money is going to make him greedy! He is certainly going to get his riches back, come hell and high water! So where is he going to get the riches back after he gets the position, aber? Figure that one out, Kababayans Ko.
The candidate who is identified with the unsavory machinations of the present administration, whose desire for power despite a health problem smacks of an unhealthy obsession with the perks of power and influence, and going back to get such by winning in local elections is just a ploy.
Another candidate identified with the present administration who is perceived as bright, brilliant, etc., but has no qualms about aligning himself with a tainted power structure. We have no way of telling how he would conduct himself as president, given his previous public record as a public servant with no perceived accomplishments of national impact tucked under his belt, one which he badly needs to get name-recall. And he even appears to have dropped his running mate this early. Where is the morals here?
A candidate who is also bent on getting to the top, and agreed to slide down to the second position when the going got rough during alignment of priorities and such. A pity because this candidate got top honors in the last sensational elections. Sana nag-remain na lang sya dyan.
This candidate has accomplished the gargantuan task of building an economic free zone which engendered drugs for thousands of Filipinos. He is also perceived as hardworking, industrious and un-corrupt. He and his running mate are good material for the topmost positions of the land, but they lack the wherewithal, machinery and support of the masses and middle classes that could matter.
The candidate who has made a career of mouthing slogans that are purported to be pro-poor. When he was unseated from power, revelations of his properties and amorous liaisons, which may or may not have been funded by the people’s money, either through government funds or jueteng, certainly did not align him with the Great Unwashed, starving, toothless Masses whose cause he pretends to espouse. Every pronouncement issuing from his mouth seems false, showbiz talaga! The only true and genuine thing about him is his moustache! Aber?
(To be continued)
