TIGER years are traditionally associated with change and social upheaval. Thriving on unpredictability and chance, tigers are adept at navigating the upheavals expected this year. Perhaps this could be the reason the presidential race had developed into something difficult to predict, unlike months ago when Liberal Party standard-bearer Noynoy Aquino enjoyed a comfortable lead.
A confidential survey contracted by a multinational corporation showed that not only are both Noynoy and the Nacionalista’s Manny Villar on a neck-to-neck battle for No. 1, the administration Lakas-Kampi candidate Gibo Teodoro is also gaining slowly, though he might not have enough time.
Abbey Canturias, who was hired to annotate a portion of the survey, showed me some of the figures which reflected the general trends in the other surveys.
Meanwhile, the camp of former president Erap Estrada is working on winning leaders in Mindanao and the Visayas. I heard, for instance, that an important One Cebu leader in the north actually supports the candidacy of Estrada rather than the party’s official candidate Gibo Teodoro.
Come to think of it, Cebu is no longer solidly behind one presidential candidate unlike 2004. While the Garcias and the One Cebu Party declared support for Teodoro, its ally Alayon, headed by Rep. Eddie Gullas, had openly declared its support for Villar. Meanwhile, Noynoy has his own provincial and city organization headed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and provincial standard-bearer Junjun Davide.
Nevertheless, former Customs commissioner and Hyatt 10 member Bert Lina pointed out that the way the campaign is developing, the presidential contest had become a tossup between Aquino and Villar. It has become a battle between one who is identified with people power and change and another who has decided to spend billions in his bid to win, he said.
During a taxi ride discussion last week, the driver insisted that Villar’s commercials were paid for by his friends. That’s what the ads said, I retorted. But Villar himself admitted during a televised debate that he is spending his own money.
Perhaps, somebody should stand up and formally question if Villar’s commercials are actually telling the truth. But then, I thought, it could be Villar’s billions that his friends used to pay. And talks of billions being spent leads to questions on how this “Sipag and Tiyaga” businessman would recover his money and gain profit from his political investments in six years.
A Don Bosco priest, nevertheless, cracked a joke during our dinner with Lina that those who intend to steal after May 2010 may have to contend with empty government coffers after GMA’s term. “Wala na silang manakaw,” he said.
How’s that for a Year of the Metal Tiger surprise?
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Customs District Collector Ronnie Silvestre, who assumed office last December, met fellow members of Cebu’s Don Bosco Technical High School (DBTHS) Class 77 last Thursday evening. A graduate of Don Bosco Pampanga, also in 1977, and a former national federation president, Silvestre continues to be active in Bosconian alumni circles.
That evening, Silvestre brought along his friends Bert Lina and a Don Bosco priest who celebrated mass attended by no less than Customs Commissioner Boy Morales at the Customs bureau the next day. After the mass, both Silvestre and Morales unveiled the new Cebu customs logo and then supervised the shredding of confiscated smuggled cigarettes.
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Kusug recently decried BOPK’s policy of evading debates as well as turning the traditional pulong-pulong into a venue for singing and dancing.
The policy could be because of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s arrogant posture of being way ahead in the campaign, while at the same time denying Kusug a chance to confront BOPK candidates face to face on issues.
But the strategy could backfire. It opens the field for Kusug to discuss issues with the electorate without opposing views and exposes BOPK candidates to criticisms of their abilities. It also shows BOPK does not consider Cebuanos to be intelligent voters. On Election Day, BOPK supporters will be voting for candidates who had proven themselves good singers and dancers, not good government executives or legislators.
Perhaps, Mayor Osmeña just wants to be the only BOPK bet discussing issues. Siya ray maayong laki. Or BOPK intends to steal the thunder away from CPDRC’s famous dancing inmates now that Gov. Gwen Garcia has a serious quarrel with Byron. If BOPK wins, we will soon have a singing mayor and dancing legislators. Pang-Youtube ni, parts.