I WATCHED the video of Filipino music icon Freddie Aguilar pitching for Cebu City mayoralty candidate Edgar Labella and I agree with Plaridel awardee P.A. Seares, who wrote about it in his column yesterday, that it is aimed to tug at the heartstrings.
The song is a radical departure from the standard local campaign jingles that we know, which are bouncy, even danceable. Lig-onon ang Kausaban is almost plaintive; it’s hard to find joy in the video even as it promises change, except in the last part where a fresh-looking Labella addresses the audience to renew his commitment to integrity and rectitude in governance.
The genre, to quote sir Cheking, of Aguilar’s music definitely was an influence; he is a balladeer, not a rock or a punk star. But the bigger factor, I think, is the video’s target audience.
Rightly or wrongly, Labella’s campaign strategists are confident that he holds an edge over his opponent among those who care about platform and take the time to scrutinize the vision of each candidate for the city and their respective track record. But they feel that those who vote with their hearts may need more convincing. Labella cannot give sacks of rice to habal-habal drivers, deliver medicines to the sickly and distribute cash assistance to senior citizens, all using public money, because he is not the incumbent mayor. The video attempts to make up for this handicap.
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President Duterte will be in town tomorrow to campaign for his senatorial candidates. The local PDP-Laban has arranged for a huge rally at the Plaza Independencia with an estimated 80,000 expected attendance, according reelectionist Cebu City Councilor Raymund Garcia.
Because the President is unpredictable, many are wondering what else will he do here other than campaign for Bong Go, et al. Will he endorse any local candidate or will he continue to keep his hands off local politics?
Twice last year, Duterte severely scolded Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña when he visited us. Will he do it again this time? Is he still angry with Osmeña or has his attitude towards the city mayor changed upon the intervention of a Cebu-based Boholano businessman who is a common friend?
Note that even after Duterte said he would slap Osmeña if their paths should cross, the latter uncharacteristically kept quiet, even at one period, refusing to grant interviews to the media. His silence may have worked in his favor as Duterte had spared him from criticism since then. But until when? Some people must be on tenterhooks now, not knowing what to expect from the President.
Labella is not going to be one of them because he is assured of the President’s support even if he does not raise his hands. Some Labella supporters will, of course, be hoping that Duterte would publicly endorse their candidate but considering the infighting among many of the President’s local allies, I don’t think he will be in any mood to consent to being caught in the crossfire.