What inspired me to write another blog here in Circus is that the unfolding events leading to election 2010 is already heating up. We are all entering the end game. It's becoming a 3 way fight among the presidential leaders: Villar, Aquino, Teodoro, with Estrada coming in close 4th with familiar determination.
Villar has effectively employed the media strategy campaign. Just ask Baby James who mistakenly mentioned Villar's name during the Liberal Party sortie in Bacolod. The jingle, the ads, the image branding - Villar was likened to a household product synonymous with the ultimate politician. This is actually an effective way of campaigning. And this we have to give to the NP strategy of packaging Villar as such. But no amount of packaging can disregard all the scandals being dragged along with his name, the latest being the "Villarroyo" phenomenon, the suspicion that he is, in fact, the real candidate of this administration. If this is true, this will be the height of this election's scandals. All integrity for Villar will go out the window, and he will be a very dangerous president to win.
Aquino has his shares of ups and downs in this campaign. Generally the continuous strategy of branding his parents legacy has left a bad taste in most Filipino's mouths. We already know of the legacy of Ninoy and Cory. But what can YOU really do? Be that as it may, letting people know that he has a lot to lose if he follows a path of corruption leaves a sense of comfort to most. Everyone agrees that we have had enough of corrupt leaders. Maybe true for Noynoy, but probably not for the people around him. Despite their "against evil" campaign, a lot of "evil elements" remain in the Liberal Party itself. If he is not careful, the people around him can become his Waterloo.
Teodoro started confident about the strength of the Lakas party in the beginning of his campaign. But all of that has changed. His recent resignation as Lakas chair is enough indicator that the party has waned and is going down the drain, despite their claim on the contrary. Too bad for Gibo who has thrown his towel of loyalty to this administration, which is so corrupt, it is willing to burn its own candidate to ensure an escape over corruption charges after its term. It is no secret that Gibo is losing in the surveys. So the solution is go to someone winnable, in this case, Villar. Gibo's test of smarts is not when he, if he, becomes president. It's now, in handling this dilemma.
Estrada is showing his traditional determination. But we all know his chances of winning is only when these three candidates reach a total collapse in their campaign.
April has started. The local campaign has turned violent. The Comelec has begun concocting excuses if the automated election conks out. This only means the end game is here. And the end game is where the real action happens.
