THE “Inday Sara Show” is done. So says its lead star, Davao City Mayor and Hugpong campaign manager, Sara Duterte.
But even as this “show” packs up, we will remember this show has defined the 2019 election.
We will remember the sound bites, of Mayor Sara calling the Otso Diretso a “dark, depressing, disorganized blackhole”, and Leni Robredo a fake vice president.
Most of all, we will remember that quote, that all candidates and politicians lie, and honesty should not be an election issue.
This show provided the entertainment and headlines. Following this show is almost like watching reality TV where the star drives the story with the dilemma of candidates shying away from debates or running away from reporters.
The only thing lacking in the show is a room and a big chair where Big Brother can talk to these candidates of their deepest dark secrets and fears. And we can put honesty in the spot here.
But then again, this show closing may be a good thing. For one, this show focuses so much on the campaign manager rather than the product. Which makes me wonder why our politics and even our journalism focuses on word wars, guffaws and gimmicks to drive the story of this elections.
It’s time to shift our focus from characters to what matters. Our agriculture and our farmers are hit with a double whammy of drought and rice importation. China loans and investments seem to create more jobless Filipinos. Meranaw and Manobo people are still living in evacuation centers with no signs of peace in their land. Traffic is hell. Taxes and prices are much more heller. Mon Tulfo calling Filipino workers lazy makes us think of sending him to hell.
This show’s exit should make us look at ourselves seriously, and honestly. What do we want in this election?
Somehow the elections have continued the divisions, distractions, enabled by disinformation. What the country needs now are serious solutions. I don’t know if selecting sound and sensible senators can be a step towards that. But it has to start with what we want.
And that’s my honest take on this election, this show and everything this media-political circus has offered.
Email me at tyvelez@gmail.com.