Will ‘Mr. Palengke’ work for Escudero?

Mr. Palengke" worked for Mar Roxas when he ran for senator in 2004 (topping the winners with 19 million votes) and just before run-up to the 2010 presidential race.

He was photographed wading into public markets and checking food prices.

Then he slid down to vice president for Noynoy Aquino, putting on hold Malacañang dreams as he saw deluge of popularity brought on Noynoy by mom Cory Aquino's death nine months before elections.

At the time too, his "Mr. Pedicab" pitch, in which he rode on "padyak" to woo voters, wasn't selling.

Would "Mr. Palengke" work for Chiz Escudero who'd seek reelection as senator next year and the presidency or vice presidency in 2016?

To set facts straight, Chiz hasn't adopted "Mr. Palengke." A news reporter attached the name after studying the pattern of spending his P200 million pork barrel.

Chiz wouldn't touch the "Palengke" moniker. Not only is it not original, it had lost its appeal and was even dumped by Mar.

'Kung happy ka'

Catchphrase or name to market the candidate needs to tug heartstring or move mindset of the voter. It has to be doable: Could Mar's market visits bring down food prices?

It has to be authentic: Would voters not see as sham a public official taking a ride on a child-driven “padyak"?

Less ambitious but more genuine-sounding would be such a slogan as Juan Ponce Enrile's "Happy ko kung happy ka!" You'd at least smile over a candidate's modest wish.
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CORRECTION: The heading in yesterday's News Sense should've read "Atwitter over..." not "A twitter over..."

(paseares@sunstar.com.ph)