Blue Pencil Chronicles

Last Saturday I attended iBlog Mini: Blogging and the 2010 elections where it was discussed how the blogging community can effectively help in the reportage of the next Presidential election.

The next election (if it is to take place) is a pivotal point in Philippine history as it marks the end of the road for the tyranny of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. That is to say, however, if an election takes place. The threat of Charter Change still looms beneath the shadows of Mickey Mouse and his rodent allies, so be prepared for a No-El scenario.

Reading through the pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Wednesday, I chanced upon a two-page full-spread ad of the Nacionalista Party, sporting images of its viable elected officials juxtaposed with the images of Laurel, Quezon, Marcos and other members of the party who became President of this country. The message is a no-brainer as the ad even sported Manny Villiar’s ever-popular adage which has been used and abused since he ran for the Senate in 2001.

Weeks before, a new President to the Liberal Party was sworn in. With Drilon’s wing recognized as the legitimate party, GMA’s cohorts in LP lost their bid in landing a Presidential candidate. Mar Roxas takes the place of Drilon as Party President and erstwhile official Presidential candidate of LP in 2010.

Aside from the apparent blast-from-the-past battle brewing between NP and LP (considered the Republicans and Democrats of the Philippines), one can’t help but notice that the next elections is not only going to the dogs, it is also going to the fish.

The battleground is not anymore in the streets, but has shifted to–get this–the markets!

It will be remembered how the monicker “Mr. Palengke” sent Mar Roxas skyrocketing into a Senate seat, landing at No. 1 during the 2004 Elections. During the 2007 elections, Manny Villar used his background as a former market boy during his youth to attract more votes. This, according to reports, irked Roxas which made him release his own ad again, saying that he is the first (and should be the only) Mr. Palengke in this town.

But truth be told, Roxas may be the first Mr. Palengke but Villar is the real Mr. Palengke, since he went through that stage during his childhood.

In any case, the next election just got more interesting. I bet Gloria and her minions already have their knees shaking, so they chose to set their differences aside (what with GMA and JDV bickering over their proxy war in the ZTE deal, and Ramos getting irritated at GMA for pardoning ERAP) and forge their alliance. Can’t wait to see who the LAKAS/KAMPI alliance pits into this stinking battlefield.

Then again, the more interesting question is: Will Erap run again (even if he’s not allowed to, by rules of his pardon)? Or alternatively, will he pit someone of his own? For now, it’s all, as it has always been, wait and see.

*Villar photo from the Official Nacionalista Party website
*Roxas photo from the Official Liberal Party website