AFTER a long respite amid the pandemic, I am back at my laptop. I may have paused from writing but not from observing the different colors that are on display in our surroundings now that the election season has started heating up.
Recently was the deadline in the filing of the certificates of candidacy of those aspiring for political positions from the national to the municipal level. The filing can be considered as the formal and official declaration of candidates for the election this May 2022. There shall be another process, however, that is the weeding out of nuisance candidates.
At this stage of the election season, there are still those practices that describe politics in the country such as the negotiations and the trading of horses, premature campaigning, exchange of tirades, the existence of political butterflies and the changing of colors of candidates.
Elections in the country are literally colorful as candidates “adopt” their team colors. Having such is part of the “branding” of candidates that they belong to one team. The hues of candidates' clothing, vehicles, tarpaulin posters and a variety of campaign paraphernalia determine the political parties where they belong.
Speaking of colors, these easily fade or change. Some politicians still have their party loyalty and stick to their teams. There are, on the other hand, those who are like chameleons who change their colors depending sometimes on the result of negotiations made. Our current Vice President Leni Robredo used to wear yellow, the standard color of the Liberal Party. She now wears pink, as she aspires for the position of the President of the country.
Netizens are quick to react to the color change of Robredo. For her loyalists, she is compared to salted eggs that are red or pink on the outside but yellow on the inside. For her detractors meanwhile, they compare her to a butterfly who flaps her wings and lands on different flowers.
Meanwhile, Senator Manny Pacquiao is shedding his color particularly on his capacity to lead the country. As he runs for the presidency, his mere skill in speaking the English language is put to test. Although not a requirement to become the highest leader of the land, we can again be made a laughing stock, not in boxing but English speaking proficiency. He has many fans but has more critics though.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who is also aspiring for the presidency has not shed much of his color as he remains the street smart guy who still speaks his language with his words such as “tolongges”, “yorme” and many others.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos remains with the red color, the one his father used during his long-time service as the President of the country although it’s not that much as compared to those Marcos loyalists who literally paint the town red.
If politicians who are running for national positions are adopting colors, the same is true with local candidates who are tagging themselves with colors for branding and perhaps to easily identify themselves with their supporters. Color-coding is even used in politics. In the end, it’s not the outside color of politicians that will bring genuine service to the public. It’s not the color brand that will deliver good governance to the people.
People should vote on the track record, capacity to lead, the integrity of candidates and not merely on the color they wear. After all, campaigning is different from the actual delivery of service to the people.
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