Halo-halo pa more!

Netnet Camomot .

“KASAL” is the usual Pinoy movie—spread all over the place as it tackles a smorgasbord of subjects from complicated and broken relationships to the dirt in politics. Yup, halo-halo pa more, which must be the perfect recipe for summer.

A political strategy does also tend to be a halo-halo—of publicity ploys, that is, as long as it ignores the candidate’s mistakes. With the negative tidbits swept under the rug, and spin doctors alive and kicking on top of that rug, only the dumbest candidate will fail.

Delicadeza still does apply to a political wannabe. The decency not to kiss a baby in front of the paparazzi. The decency not to wear his campaign attire in a wake. The decency not to eat kamayan style a boodle fight set up by his campaign team in the remotest barangay in the city. In other words, the decency not to flaunt his scripted generosity. He’s better off giving away free T-shirts, towels and abaniko with his name emblazoned all over them—at least he’s being true to his goal to win, rather than make pa-cute through actions he would never do in his real world, the world that his spin doctors are trying so hard to hide.

There’s that one politician who has seemingly changed his lifestyle from a superiority complex to a humble servant, and people are curious: Nagbag-o na ba siya? Which is not exactly a good question. It’s asked because of two things. One, they didn’t like him before. Two, they’re convinced this is still his fake self. His friends were hopeful for a while, but now, they’re chanting this oft-quoted line: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

A potential voter reaches a point where he has had enough of fake people and will instead vote for the candidate who gives away T-shirts, towels and abaniko. In this age of fake news, reality is simply letting the world know what you want and need, and we, the madlang pehpohl, will help you get there.

Also, vote for the candidate who has remained loyal to his political party and has not hopped to the next which is the team that finally accepts him as he is, especially the multi-million funds he can contribute to make that party win.

The undecided Cagayanon has to drive around Cagayan de Oro and imagine before-and-after photos of his city before choosing a mayor next year. Vacant lot before; two-story school building after. Ill-equipped city hospital before; fully functioning city hospital after. No road before; paved road after. Scary Gaston Park before; hapsay Gaston Park after. Even the dumpsite has been transferred to a land far, far away.

If the traffic bothers you, focus instead on the “spaghetti wires” that will soon be outta there. If you’re craving for Tivoli’s yummy burgers, there are now many other burgers, one for each day of the week. If you miss the good old days, borrow “Deadpool 2” Cable’s time machine, go back to those bygone years and stay there. It’s time for the Cagayanon to accept his new reality and look forward to the rebuilding of the Amphitheater.

Still, there’s the Cagayanon who continues to complain despite Mayor Oscar Moreno’s achievements. What could be the motivation behind the complaints. Hmmm. Must be the weather-weather lang phenomenon which can be summed up with Basha’s makabagbag-damdamin line in “One More Chance”: “Kasi ang totoo umaasa pa rin ako na sabihin mo, sana ako pa rin. Ako na lang. Ako na lang ulit.”

Does popularity still ensure victory at the polls? Has orange morphed to violet? Is halo-halo yummiest with ube ice cream?

And here is where we move forward to… “Sadya bang swerte-swerte lang/‘Pag umuulan.”

Yes, this hhhhhot weather needs rain! 31 degrees Celsius at 1 am?! Was that a dream? Or a nightmare.

The higher the Celsius degrees, the higher the Cepalco bill. An air-conditioner has become a necessity otherwise health woes will appear in the form of heat strokes, dehydration and hypertension. Better cool than sorry. And, yes, halo-halo pa more.

But there’s that other kind of rain, the one that made the last barangay elections exciting. From P500 to P1,500. Allegedly, supposedly, reportedly. Which has inspired the Pinoy to ponder, Barangay pa gani na, unsa na lang kaha sa elections next year?