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Netnet Camomot . 

THE Catriona Gray hangover is still alive and kicking in Pinas, with the Pinoy trying to learn the “lava” walk as he hops from one Christmas party to another. Will red—like Gray’s Mount-Mayon-magma gown—become Pinas’ color for 2019? That can be a challenge to one who now prefers black or navy.

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Pia Wurtzbach won as Miss Universe in December 2015, a few months before the start of the Election 2016 campaign, but political candidates could not use her as their campaign muse since she was then living in New York and had Miss-Universe commitments. Same thing will happen to Gray, and we can all heave a deep sigh of relief for that.

But why was former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson with Gray upon her arrival in Manila? Here’s a multiple choice for that: 1) He’s a Miss Universe sponsor; 2) His daughter Richelle was one of the judges in the recent Miss Universe contest; 3) He loves providing moral support—he does the same for Senator Manny Pacquiao for the latter’s fights. Which do you think is the correct answer?

With no Miss Universe in their campaign teams, candidates can still rely on showbiz celebrities and the Pinoy has to be careful he’s not blinded by these stars as he chooses the most worthy to lead the country.

There’s this video where a mayoral candidate for Cagayan de Oro (CDO) is singing and playing the piano, and the first thought that came to my mind was, Oh, no, please don’t sing. Because incumbent Mayor Oscar Moreno already has his “What a Wonderful World” and it works for him. There was this Facebook Live coverage of his radio show and I requested for him to sing my favorite, “The Nearness of You,” and he did. Sigh.

Other CDO mayoral candidates have to think of some other talent aside from singing if they want to win the Cagayanon heart. And mudslinging aimed at Moreno won’t work, too, since he has been there, done that in facing so many cases.

If there’s one thing a mayoral candidate should do, it’s to learn how the Cagayanon votes and that candidate may start by learning what he prefers for his food, shopping and entertainment.

The Cagayanon is known to flock to any new store or resto and lucky are those whom he will continue to be a fan of long after their soft opening. Fat Monk and the newly opened Fat Chef may last for many more years, though, because of that word: fat. Well, puera buyag. Becoming fat is not necessarily the consequence of dining in these two restos but their food is so yummy, makes you forget about diets. Besides, it’s Christmas—how to diet amidst the parties? That’s the question.

While watching the live coverage of Miss Universe 2018 and its slim contestants, there was that wish again to slim down to the ideal weight since at least that’s doable, unlike the wish to be a beautiful and statuesque Miss Universe. Yes, reality bites and we have accepted the fact that it bites.

Food is the most practical Christmas gift—it’s yummy, it’s always much appreciated, and it doesn’t end up occupying precious space for many months or years. Receive and savor it with glee. Yay!

The wise political candidate knows that the shortest distance to a voter’s heart is through his stomach, and for Christmas that should be ham. Giving a whole lechon to each potential voter may make the latter wonder where all that money came from. So, ham is the wise choice. Or rice.

On Election Day, the voter will remember that time when he and his family had nothing and only this particular candidate saved them from more doom. He won’t remember the singing but he will remember the food on the table and his children’s happy faces.

A campaign done through social media may work for the national elections, but for the local ones, a sincere door-to-door meet-and-greet is more effective. The voter will have your warm smile and firm handshake in his memory, and the hope that they evoked in his heart.

That’s all the voter has during the campaign period—hope for a better tomorrow. Which Gray probably has in her heart, too, as she looks forward to all the wonderful possibilities that will embrace her now that she’s Miss Universe.

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