THE Commission on Elections has forbidden candidates from attending, and speaking at, graduation ceremonies and other similar activities designed to sway or woo voters.
It has issued resolutions and guidelines for candidates to observe including sizes of posters, tarpaulins and billboards and prescribed the sites where the advertisements must be placed. The latter is often circumvented and the candidates always find novel ways to put up their ads. It becomes the traditional mouse-and-cat game, a catch-me-if-you-can dare. Well...
We are given several choices for senators. The ones with name recall, particularly the reelectionists understandably lead the various surveys and they intend to keep their place in the rankings. How much must they spend for the nationwide campaign? I was informed that these amounts cover the nationwide sorties, television, radio and newspaper ads and social media posts. Whew!
Bayan Muna senatorial aspirant Neri Colmenares and his ilk are complaining about the unfair competition with the moneyed aspirants. Without a nationwide network funded by millions, nay, billions of pesos, their campaign sorties are bound to falter. And their woes keep mounting every day.
***
In the oath-taking ceremonies on Sunday, March 3, the officers and board of directors of the Fiesta Communities Mabalacat City Homeowners Association Inc., led by president Rozel Kaye Fernandez and vice president Rod Monis had for their speakers Mayor Crisostomo C. Garbo, former barangay captain and now councilor candidate Jerry D. Magsino, former barangay captain Rannie de Leon, now running for councilor and Ralph Lauren 'Basti' David, a former Dau kagawad and now aspiring city councilor.
In his speech, Mayor Garbo decried the unfair tactics of his detractors and opposition candidates and called on the attendees, residents of Fiesta Communities, to be wise and discreet in choosing who to vote for in the coming May elections.
Messrs. Magsino, de leon and David explained their visions and platforms for the city and spoke on their past service records and asked for the attendees' support.
***
Name recall and good, past service records of candidates contribute immensely to their winnability at the polls.