“VENOM: The Last Dance.” By its title alone, somehow you already know that it’s going to be the last dance, that the movie will have some dancing, and you may choose not to wait for the post-credit scenes because para que? It’s already the last dance. There’s no post-last dance, and perhaps no pre-last dance.
But you may choose to stay for the two post-credit scenes, with the second one appearing at the very last, just when you think there would be no more post-credit scenes.
And why wait for that if this is already the last dance? Because, like that popular bank tagline, Marvel will always find ways to include Venom in future movies, making all of Marvel’s post-credit scenes as essential as rice is to the Pinoy carbo-loader, as essential as bacon is to the carnivore, and as essential as bribes are to the Pinoy political candidate and the Pinoy voter during any Philippine election.
And bribes may remain as an essential in the Philippine elections now that a District 1 representative candidate has already predicted what would happen in Election 2025 since his opponent is “the incumbent congressman and has the resources and political machinery. Of course, we could not discount vote-buying as can be gleaned from the last election naa na gyod kana bisan asa nga dapit sa Pilipinas. Dehado man kita busa maningkamot lang gyod” (source: Gold Star Daily).
Oh. Look who’s talking. In case you, the Cagayanon, have already forgotten, please allow me to refresh your memory. During the barangay elections last year, there were allegations of bribery at a particular barangay in District 1, care of the two main rivals for barangay captain.
Those two were the current District 1 representative candidate, and the father of his current opponent, with the former allegedly giving P6,000 to each potential voter, and the latter giving about half of that amount. Allegedly, reportedly, supposedly.
There were witnesses, though, to the vote-buying but no one was willing to rock the boat especially after the more generous candidate won. Besides, some of the lucky recipients already used the bribe to pay off loans, pay bills, buy groceries, TV sets, and smartphones.
The bribe’s large amount even inspired the Cagayanon to say he would transfer to that District 1 barangay where the election became an early Christmas celebration.
Bribes have become standard operating procedure in the elections and in government transactions.
There were even rumors in the past that getting the barangay-captain position is the easiest because it can be easily bought—allegedly, reportedly, supposedly. And the “bought” there doesn’t refer to the bribe given to the potential voter. Hmmm. Esep-esep pud ‘pag may time.
So, where and how to buy that position then? A desperate candidate may need that info, in case it’s possible to buy all the other positions higher than that of the barangay captain especially if the higher position is his last chance to finally become relevant at city hall.
And once he will win, here’s hoping he won’t morph into a snake venom.
