THERE’S a reason some political candidates bring along their spouses and children to campaign sorties and even political debates. So, they can introduce them to you.
Because in the next barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan, midterm, and presidential elections, those spouses and children will be the ones running, not necessarily as president—they have to start somewhere, as SK chairman, barangay captain, city councilor, etc.
In other words, politicians or political candidates are not selfish? Do they want their political “business” to be handed down from generation to generation? This generosity must be the same as that of a wait staff who, when we asked him if they serve coffee, pointed at the café right across from the new resto where he works.
Talk of wealth and power, which a politician presumably has, there was that Friday morning when the village had to duck its head as a chopper was flying low overhead. And the first thing that came to mind was, who among the VIPs who live here is aboard that chopper? At least one backyard here has a helipad, and that backyard is not even owned by a politician.
The presumption is that a politician is wealthy and powerful, complete with chopper perks. Thus, when a politician ends up poor after he retires from political life, he’s considered as, hmmm, not wise enough. Not dumb, though, if he was doing great financially while still in power.
One day, isang araw, many years ago, I saw a former Cagayan de Oro City mayor at a mall. He looked so fragile, a far cry from the powerful man he used to be.
Politicians who eventually lose in the elections will usually want to make a major comeback for as long as they can. But will their fans continue to support them? That’s the question. So many things can happen in three years or six years, in between the midterm or the presidential elections.
It’s a reality-bites moment when former politicians try so hard to remain relevant. At least the former actor-turned-politician can now go back to showbiz after losing in the recent election. But for those who became famous only when they joined politics, can they switch to showbiz now? Oh, there’s vlogging—even showbiz celebrities use that to boost their career. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” as the saying goes.
Marian Rivera’s TikTok dance videos, for example, have gone viral.
And Small Laude went from a socialite to a product endorser, thanks to her YouTube channel which has two million subscribers now. But I’ve not watched her videos since the economy began to reopen—she seems so out of touch with reality.
Laude and the game app Oil Painting were some of my sources of entertainment during the pandemic lockdowns. They were fun when there were only a few sources of fun.
Now, the foodie can try all the new restos and cafes, the bar-hopper can hop from one bar to another, and the traveler can fly from one place to the next. And the barangay’s political candidates can shake the hands of potential voters and kiss babies as they campaign from door to door.
