The Reunion

LESS than two months from now, the filing of the certificates of candidacy of all those running for positions during the midterm election next year will open and close. Five days. It will open on the first day. It will close on the fifth day.

But, as early as now, we can already see the horizon or the terrain, at least for those running for Senator. Nothing new. The same old family names are on the top to bottom of the list.

For half of the available slots, or six slots out of the twelve slots, there are the incumbent Senators who are reelectionists and are all in the winning circle. For the rest of those who might eventually make it to the winning circle, let us assume for the moment that they are those in the top twenty of the surveys, there are the returning Senators and the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters or wives of those whose fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters or husbands have been or still are Senators. No exceptions. All are with relations.

The incumbent Senators who are reelectionists that are in the top twenty of the surveys are Escudero, Legarda, Cayetano, Honasan, Pimentel and Trillanes. It is interesting to note that the fathers of both Cayetano and Pimentel are themselves former Senators. In addition, Cayetano also has a sister who is an incumbent Senator. It is also worth mentioning that Legarda and Honasan have previously served as Senators, took a break because their two terms have expired, and are now on the way to their second terms for the second time. The father of Escudero, though not a Senator, has been a long-time Congressman, among his other stints in government. In any case, Escudero is an incumbent Senator who is a reelectionist. Only Trillanes has no relative who has become a Senator or a Congressman for that matter, but he still is an incumbent Senator who is a reelectionist.

The returning senators who are in the top twenty of the surveys are Roxas, Zubiri, Gordon and Madrigal. While Zubiri, Gordon and Madrigal have declared their respective intentions of once again running for Senator, Roxas seems to no longer be interested in seeking an elective post, whether for Senator or for any other position, at least for the upcoming midterm elections next year. Although not in the top twenty of the surveys, primarily because his name was not yet included in the surveys, Magsaysay who previously served two terms as a senator has declared his intention to return as a senator.

The sons of incumbent and former Senators who are in the top twenty of the surveys are Enrile, Ejercito, Angara, Biazon and Lapid. It is interesting to note that the father of Ejercito was a former senator and a former President and he has a half-brother who is an incumbent Senator. While Enrile, Ejercito, Angara and Biazon have declared their respective intentions of running for Senator, Lapid has so far showed no interest in aspiring to also become Senator.

There is also one daughter of a former Senator and a former President, and who has a brother who is an incumbent Senator, who is in the top twenty of the surveys. This is Marcos, but her candidacy for Senator is unlikely at this time.

The wives of incumbent senators who are in the top twenty of the surveys are Villar and Santos-Recto. While Villar has declared her intention of running for senator, Santos-Recto has been silent on the matter if not outright disinterested.

To complete the winning circle of the top twenty in the surveys are Binay, the daughter of the incumbent Vice President, and De Venecia, the son of a former Speaker of the House.

There are only twelve slots for senator. So far, there have been twenty family names mentioned above who are in the top twenty of the surveys. It is 21 names if we include former Senator Magsaysay whose name was not in the surveys but has declared his intention to run for Senator. One does not really have to think long and hard if there is any chance at all or any opportunity at all for others without family names to aspire, much more win, as a senator.

We have not yet even included in our count other sons and daughters like Tanada and Barbers whose parents have also become Senators and Poe-Llamanzares whose father everybody knows and Aquino who is the first cousin of the incumbent President who has also previously been a Senator, not to mention the fact that he also has two uncles and an aunt who have also been senators and a grandmother who was a former president.

All in all, we have already enumerated twenty-five family names. To reiterate and to emphasize, we have already enumerated 25 family names and there are only twelve slots for senator.

Family names. This is the name of the game.

The upcoming midterm election is therefore not really a midterm election but a midterm selection. It is, for all intents and purposes, like a gathering of family names, like open only for those who are relatives, like close really to all others, like the reunion.

Comments are most welcome. Please send them to onesmallvoice2012@gmail.com.