AGAIN, the saga of teacher Tony will be set aside for the meantime until after the midterm elections.
Majority of the column readers, mostly private and public school teachers in Baguio City and nearby provinces, wanted to read something about how the local candidates speak of teachers concerns and interest. There are so many ways by which one will campaign for any elected position.
Basically, if you are an amateur candidate, you will probably write something about yourself and distribute it in a leaflet format, create a jingle and drive around while playing your sound in the stereo or yet go around the neighborhood and shake hands with probable voters.
If you want to speak of with larger audiences, you can have a caucus or rally. And recently, if you are the computer or internet savvy candidate, you can campaign through the social media like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
All those campaign styles and strategies are lawful and may work well depending on how the candidate deals with it. Other styles, which, time tested were proven effective, yet frowned upon for being against the norm.
Like say, if you have half a million, you already have a thousand votes, if five hundred pesos will be handed directly to each voter. No talking, no handshakes, no platforms to explain, just hand that yellow or violet paper plain and simple. Just make it sure that you have a trusted henchman to collect it back in case the voter will become insincere.
And if you want your campaign as close as possible to the doorway of victory, increase your budget to several millions and start dealing with organizations for their favorable endorsement, religious organizations or not. Like that one starting in letter “A” and the two Letter “I”. I’m not referring to the letter “C” or the Catholics, for their priest and bishops are not as influential as the rest. Gone were the so called catholic votes.
For the non-religious organizations, you need to look at the vendors, veterans, seniors or retirees, and even larger clans or tribes. But I think, you need not look at the youths for I’m sure they are in the computer shops or phones shouting some mindless profanities. And so gone are the so called young generation votes.
Just like the rest of the voters, serious consideration must be given as well to contractors and the gamblers. Their contributions in millions will mean a lot.
All was said, if you are that honest candidate, take a little peek at the small yet dedicated public school teachers who will serve the election precincts which if you know that little Math, you can count on their numbers. And if you are reading this column you can say something about how to make their life better.
You don’t need millions to sway their votes. Just give them ten best convincing sentences on what you will do to the public school teachers in case you are at the city or provincial hall. You can e-mail your answers to chacapnclayton@yahoo.com.
One rule here is certain, I will not endorse any candidate even if you give me billions. Candidate Leandro Yangot has made rounds already on how to improve public school teachers’ involvement in sports.
For retired general Magalong, he has yet to give good statements after unwarily shaking hands with me in my little farm at Irisan. And when I say “good”, it refers to statements beneficial to public or private school teachers like the legislated social benefits – long been forgotten.
To be continued...