ADMITTEDLY this piece should have come out the last week of March just in time for the start of the campaign period (hence the title, get it?), but things were (actually are) a little hectic.
Anyway, we are now in the middle of the local “come pain” period and a lot are already feeling the pain (financially, or otherwise) . Mainly the pocket feels the pain, if you ask me. But there appears to be more no one giving up. Such fighting spirit from our wannabe servants.
We can only hope they will show the same kind of fighting spirit when they do get elected.
By the way if you still don’t know those running for the various positions in the city are for congressman: Avila, Edgar Mendoza; Balisong, Rocky Thomas Aspilan; Bautista, Reinaldo Jr. Asperin; Bello III, Dwight Nicolas Advincula;
Quilala, Rabindranath Pablo; Ramos, Felipe Tribonalo; Vergara, Bernardo Mangaoang; Yangot, Leandro Jr. Bagto; and Yaranon, Braulio Dacanay.
For mayor, the wannabes are: Barcelo, Ruben Liwag; Busacay-Lazo, Erlinda Adan; Domogan, Mauricio Gamsao; Go, Marquez Ocampo; Hernandez, Guillermo Codinera; Labo, Ramon Lozano; Mandapat, Julius Javier; Molintas, Jose Mencio; Puzon, Peter Dulay; and Sembrano, Elaine Dominguez.
For vice mayor, they are: Dpmalsin, Carol Rosado; Farinas, Daniel Tesaluna; and Olowan, Faustino Atiwag.
There are 57 gunning for a seat in the City Council. Only 12 will be chosen, so it will be a very tight race all the way.
****
Try as I might, I just can’t see anyone of them (especially in the top three positions of the city government) with any edge this elections. My tea leaf reading skills must have gone rusty with the days I haven’t been writing.
Take the congressional race for example. There are nine of them. Only one will be chosen. And none of them appears to have any advantage over the rest.
If some say the Igorot vote will decide the winner, then there are two FBIs (full blooded Igorots, as if you didn’t know) in the race. Some say they will halve the Igorot bloc.
Also there are two Ilokanos running. So the Ilokano (some say this means the lowland) vote will also be divided among the two of them.
These two situations could propel the so-called dark horses into the seat. Then again, it may not.
Nobody can be sure.
****
It wasn’t like the last elections, in 2007 (remember?). The reading was clearer than daylight. The then incumbents won. There really wasn’t a big surprise.
But these days, with the general feeling for a change, no one is assured of anything. Even today’s incumbent councilors shouldn’t feel snug. This desire among the general populace to do away with old politics is gaining more advocates everyday. And not only among the young voters, even the grey- haired feel the need to shuffle the entire deck, if you will.
So my fearless prediction is: a lot of people will be disappointed come May 11. And after they compute the amount they spent will be the time they will feel the “come pain” fever.