With just 13 days to go before the May 9, 2022 national and local elections, the candidates are scrambling to marshal available resources for the crucial final push: the distribution of cash to ward leaders and voters in the barangays.
Woe to those who do not have enough left in their pockets, as the “oras de peligro” often decides whether one wins or loses.
By this time, candidates vying for just one post – congressman, governor, vice governor, mayor and vice mayor – often have a feel of how they stand vis-à-vis the voters.
The practical among them would be wise to hold back their hard-earned money if they believe that they have no chance of winning. They would rather lose badly, with enough resources left over for another foray into politics in three years.
Of course, those who believe in their hearts that they would win despite the odds can only hope the majority of voters choose them despite accepting money from their opponents. Such electoral miracles, however, have not occurred in one-on-one contests.
*****
Media companies are not exempt from stress during the same period.
They have less than two weeks to run after candidates to collect payments for advertisements and PR work.
If past elections would be the gauge, there will always be candidates who continue running even after the elections: running away from the media and other people trying to collect for goods and services they delivered.
At least one candidate for a provincial position will not get votes of majority of the media after he paid for advertising services with a check that subsequently bounced.
One media company finally got its payment two to three months after the 2019 polls.
The candidate’s handlers should take care of whatever is due to the media before the end of the campaign.
It would be bad practice to run away from the media when collection time comes. They would not be as receptive to the candidate when he tries to come back after three years.
*****
Last week, the Tribune received a request from a representative of a congressional candidate for the inclusion of his whole-page advertisement in this issue.
While the request was for the back page, the spot was already taken so there was an agreement for the page 3 ad. The candidate was apparently consulted on the matter and gave his nod.
I subsequently had the file sent on Friday morning to Manila for color separation, which cost about P2,000.
To our surprise, the candidate’s representative texted us at midnight of Saturday asking us to withhold publication of the ad, as somebody opposed the ad placement and payment could not be assured.
The Tribune is no longer expecting payment of the costs incurred, since the individual who cancelled the ad placement apparently controls the candidate’s funding.
At least one more candidate for the Congress seat owes the Tribune’s sister company a considerable amount for the printing of campaign materials.
I hope there would be no need to identify these two candidates and describe them as “balasubas” by May 10, 2022.
****
Trekkers up the mountain trail to the GMA and PLDT towers above Sto. Nino, Virac are wondering why one more power line is being built towards the PLDT tower when there is already an existing power line leading to the TV tower.
The twin lines of posts and wires present an ugly sight to whoever wanders up the trail.
Would FICELCO care to explain why a separate line has to be built when there is already an existing one leading to the same site?
*****
THE SCHOOL TEACHER. A school teacher was ticketed for running a stop light and told to appear in traffic court the next Monday.
She went to the court immediately and appealed to the judge to handle her case right then, explaining that she had to teach on Monday.
“A school teacher, eh?” the magistrate said. “Your presence in my courtroom fulfills a lifetime ambition of mine. I want you to sit down at this table and write 500 times, ‘I ran a red light.’”