LET’S talk political guessing game this time.
As we know, anybody can run, especially those who think and believe that they are winnable. Of course, those with money, and are willing and able to spend, are easy shoo-ins.
Kadtong hinambog ray sulod sa bulsa, labi na tong nagsalig lang sa “donation” para sa ilang kampanya can also run.
The very reason why election time is also called panahon sa kabuang or ting-buang.
Let’s talk blind.
There was a time when a successful businessman ran, and lost, in the congressional race in the district.
He was running against a powerful incumbent.
But he was greatly and deeply inspired, and thoroughly influenced, by a mananagna or fortune-teller.
The mananagna told him he would win in that election by a wide margin. Not just win, he was told, but win by a wide margin over the strongest contender.
For a savvy businessman, that would have amounted to a budol-budol game. Because for one thing, the mananagna did not explain how he came up with the idea, no scientific explanation either.
It just came into his mind and he was sure of it. One hundred one percent sure.
And by some stroke of fate, the businessman fell for it, headlong and without second thoughts.
At that time, the businessman was also a kagawad. So if we talk about political experience or background, the businessman was also infused with the political virus, not anymore a novice
The businessman was so convinced of the prediction of the mananagna that he thought of doing away with the usual campaign activities.
While ang ubang mga kandidato na-busy og pangampanya, siya pirmi rang nag-relax. In fact, nag-practice na siya sa gitawag og congressman-look.
Pa-porma na siya sigi and his smile was also scripted to look like a congressman-smile, with all his teeth out and visible.
He even changed his specs to make sure that he looked kagalang-galang on it.
And the best part, he started spending money like there was no tomorrow, gasto left and right. Of course, the mananagna got the lion’s share of the goodies. The mananagna became an instant millionaire.
To sustain his spending spree, and his congressman-to-be spiel, he started selling his capital assets, after diluting his savings.
Over the vehement objection of his wife, and members of his family, who started to doubt the sanity of their candidate, the businessman went on with his business disposal.
Left and right ang pagbaligya sa mga properties, apil ang pinaka-dakong building sa ilang negosyo
When time for canvassing came, the businessman trailed by a wide margin over the strongest contender.
He lost, yes, he lost miserably.
At first he could not believe it, layo kaayo siya og biya.
Mora siya og wati nga gibiyaan sa ok-ok.
But the figures were there for all his big eyes to see. He lost and he lost big.
When he confronted the mananagna thru the phone, kay misibat man lang og kalit and di na man niya makit-an, the explanation was reasonable enough.
Panagna lang to, kay mao may ako nakita sa akong hunahuna. Wala magpasabot nga mao gyod na ang mahitabo kay tagna-tagna ra baya tong ako.
Asa man ka ron, kay makigkita ko nimo, insisted the businessman.
Duna pa koy byahe, manawag lang ko nimo pohon-pohon kon makabisita na pod ko nimo, was the hurried reply followed by the turning off sound.
The realization dawned on him that he was duped, and duped big.
But too late the hero.
He lost, he lost his businesses and he lost the trust of his family.
Minus the political virus, other mortals would have been traumatized with the election fever.
Not this guy.
He ran again as a kagawad on the next election, thinking all the while that he would regain the trust and confidence of his constituents.
But his constituents have had enough of him and his nerdy ways.
He was rejected by the electorates the second time around, perhaps on the belief that a savvy businessman who got duped by a mananagna was not worthy of trust.
Bitter pill to swallow but the businessman could not do anything about it.
Now, he’s into agriculture.
Good for him.
One popular shoo-in for the congressional race is former City Mayor Baba Yap. And for good reason.
He already has Tagbilaran votes safely tucked. His wife is the incumbent Mayor and both of them have gained popular trust.
Mayor Baba finished his 3-terms with silver trimmings. His outstanding performance was visibly appreciated by the electorates.
He was not combative. While his detractors threw big stones, he opted to just smile and ignore them.
His record of having built a lot of roads, waterwork and other infra projects, and his friendly street-ways did not go unnoticed. He was also a friend of the youth, especially the sports-minded. He never refused their requests for uniforms and other support needs.
And of course, his handsome and tisoy ways was an easy come-on to the young and not so young girls, to the consternation of his wife. He was a constant target for selfies or groupies from his adoring fans.
And that is his built-in ammo, something that the other candidates should consider very seriously if going into an electoral war against him entered their minds.
Of course, it helps that he enjoys a very deep political pocket.
His family has money and has shown willingness to spend and spend big. Anybody who thinks of running against him should consider this.
The youth vote in the district is big. And he can easily claim a big slice of that as his popularity in the city is spreading and cascading to neighboring towns.
He is very visible these days in the different towns of the district. And the number of adoring fans is increasing too.
And to top it all, he has never been enmeshed in graft and corruption, in all his mayoral years in the city.
He remains Mr. Clean to his constituents and this could also be the reason that they remain loyal to him.
Again, this is something that those planning to run against him should consider.
In our next episode, we will continue with our guessing game.
