on the homestretch

This is entirely my observation but I’m sure a lot of you will agree: Kung ang pagpili ng magiging next President natin ay ibabase ko sa mga taong nakapaligid sa mga leading candidates today, walang mananalo sa kanila. Most of them, lalo ang mga frontrunners ay may kanya-kanyang nega factor na naka-kabit. Mga taong hindi nakaka-tulong, instead nakakabawas ng boto na dapat nilang anihin.
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Coz if we are to live by Jose Rizal’s wise words, semplang ang karamihan sa kanila. Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who are, remember? It’s their association with certain individuals that could make or break their winning chance. Here’s why.

Noynoy. A few postings back I said that Kris maybe Noynoy’s ace but she could also be his achilles’ heel. Dahil nga masyadong controversial si Kris. Back then, I said I wouldn’t take it against her dahil ganon na sya talaga even before Noynoy got into the Presidential race. Kaya lang sana, nag-effort sya kahit kaunti to stay away from bad publicities, kahit during this campaign period lang. Just to let the spotlight focus on Noynoy’s campaign. But the bratty Kris just can’t. Para syang mauubusan ng air to breath if she’s not in the news. She always wants to hug the headlines. From her scandalous ‘suguran’ issue, to that catfight with Ruffa, her reportedly harsh words for Ch2’s newsteam (which is ironic dahil home network pa nya) and her latest callous remark about Noynoy’s detractors. Kaya hindi ko na lang iboboto si Noynoy. For Kris’ sake na rin. Kasi baka pag naging Presidente si Noynoy, talagang hanapin ni Kris ang mga nanira sa Kuya nya at pagsasaksakin. Ayaw ko namang makulong sya. The Philippine entertainment scene will not be the same without her.

Villar. Manny, manny, money. Whether you’ve really risen from poverty or not, hindi issue sa akin yon. Although I must say nakakairita na minsan ang sobrang pag-gamit mo sa mga batang lansangan in your campaign jingle, patatawarin pa rin kita. Coz I like you. Nakikita kong isa ka sa mga ‘pwede’ among your competitors. But that iota of likability flew out of the window when you started associating yourself with Revillame. The guy who sells himself to the public as someone who is pro-poor, maka-masa, maka-mahirap. Which I don’t buy. And I know a lot of thinking, wise Pinoys don’t buy either. Ano’ng maka-mahirap sa ginagawa nya? He’s simply giving away the money of the sponsors and tv station he works for. But he’s not so good in hiding his contempt. Look at his unguarded moments and see how he truly disdain these poor ‘amoy-araw’ people. And for you to associate yourself with that kind of person, you can’t blame me for thinking that you’re of the same breed. Mga manggagamit ng mahihirap for their own advantage. Dahil dyan, wawawa ka sa akin.

Gibo. A close friend of mine turned green just a couple of weeks back. Nasa dyaryo rin the other day that Ruffa turned green along with other celebrities and familiar names. Hmmm.. dami yatang naggi-green revolution nitong homestretch na ang campaign period. Well, hindi masama kung si Gibo ang manalo. He has one of the best qualifications kung ikukumpara sa mga kalaban nya. But again, there’s one thing that bothers me. It’s his association with the current government. Di ba’t sya ang official candidate ni Gloria. And even if he tries so hard to distance himself from Malacanang, nakatatak pa rin sa noo nya ang bendisyon ng Administrasyon. Unfortunately, because of the plummeting popularity of Gloria, that blessing reads more like 666 instead of boosting Gibo’s powers. Sigurado ba tayo na pag nanalo si Gibo he can steer clear of Gloria’s maneuverings? Just the thought of Gloria extending her influences in Malacanang beyond her term is sickening.

Bro Eddie. It’s his religious group that will soon prove to be his biggest stumbling block. Kahit sabihin pang 100% ang boto sa kanya ng kanyang mga alagad, gaano ba karami ang JIL members sa Pinas? Mas marami ba compared to the member of INC na siguradong hindi sya susuportahan? Mas marami ba kesa sa mga Muslim brothers natin who would rather vote for a candidate with a more ‘neutral’ religious affiliation? Mas marami ba kesa sa mga thinking, well-informed and highly analytical Pinoys who know that religion takes an evil form when mixed with politics? Di ba mga fathers and archbishops?

Jamby. It’s her lack of association kaya hindi ko sya iboboto. Sinumpa na sya ng mga fans ni Juday dahil sa kawalan nya ng utang na loob. Kinalimutan nyang nong unang beses syang tumakbo sa Senate, kumain sya ng alikabok. But when she got Juday’s endorsement, ayan napwesto sya. Nagka-amnesia nga lang. And I’m sure kahit poster nya iniiwasan ng mga sundalong sinigaw-sigawan nya sa Tanay when the 40 health workers were arrested. At siguradong pag nalaglag ang passport nya, hindi na nya makikita dahil susunugin ng mga taong hinawi nya nong nagpa-renew sya ng passport sa DFA. At dahil maka-kalikasan daw sya, hayaan ko na lang na mga punong kahoy ang bumuto in her favor. Let nature take care of her. Kahit pa buhawi, lindol o tsunami.

Gordon. JC. Sino pa ba… ewan. Hindi ko na sila pag-aaksayahan ng panahon.

Kay Erap na lang ako.

Wala kasing nega kay Erap. His wife is a respectable lady senator herself. Si Jinggoy respetado rin. Besides, Erap is such a strong personality himself and he will not allow his alipores steal the limelight from him. But that doesn’t mean walang nega sa campaign nya. Not the people around him at least. But it’s Erap himself. Why? Sus katulad ka rin ba ng karamihan ng Pinoy na madaling makalimot. The Boracay mansion, the jueteng scandal. Ang iced tea na hindi kinakain, ‘iniinom po yon’. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa nakakalimutan that it was Erap who made me march on to Edsa. But on second thought, meron tayong dapat ipagpasalamat kay Erap. Dahil sya ang naging dahilan kung bakit nakita natin ang tunay na kulay ni Gloria. Kaya dapat siguro iboto ko si Erap. At dapat ikampanya ko sya para manalo. Sa isang kundisyon. That he will do exactly what Gloria did to him. Aba, di hamak na mas maraming isyu ng kurakutan sa present government kesa sa gobyerno ni Erap. So dapat lang na kasuhan nya ng mas matindi si Gloria. At dapat, walang bargaining at pardon sa bandang huli. Payag kayo?

So 5 days to go at botohan na. Ewan kung anong mangyayari. Ayan at palpak daw ang mga PCOS na gagamitin. Kaya maraming nagsasabing may failure of election na mangyayari. Wag naman sana. Kailangan na natin ng pagbabago. Ngayon. From real Presidents. At hindi galing sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila.