officially begins. The armies are readying their weapons, their causes, their soldiers, and in Baguio, the first big warzone is likely to be the flower festival.
While the treaties prevent any direct engagement (with the populace) to court votes during Panagbenga, anyone even the slightest bit familiar with Philippine politics knows that the pre-war battles have been going on in the background, eliciting various levels of reaction.
Little things, like the “Congratulations!” (sic) tarpaulins with politicos’ faces on them for every minor milestone, the preemptive billboards that are just tangentially not political enough to be illegal but prominent enough to keep each personality fresh in the public consciousness.
Baguio has been pushing for an “anti-epal” ordinance as of the past year, which would prohibit such practices in the city—a counterpart to an earlier national proposal that predictably languished and disappeared. Who would agree to rock the boat when its course helps them stay there?
In Baguio itself, the said ordinance has not passed. While the locals will claim if you asked them —us—that they or we do not get affected by such tricks, it is still good to keep in mind a healthy skepticism and awareness.
For instance, earlier this week, we had some opening pre-war salvos when incumbent mayor Magalong, among other things, accused Speaker Romualdez and some congressmen (no names) of taking ayuda money and distributing it under their own names, essentially hijacking government aid for electoral pull.
A well-meaning gesture, of course, of exposing corruption, but the timing? The week prior to the opening of the electoral war? It leads one to wonder…
And that attitude is something that’s best to keep close to heart here.
Election season in the Philippines is gritty and often underhanded, with less scrupulous candidates, regardless of political affiliation, employing every legal (and sometimes not) trick and tactic in every book to get your vote.
Coming at a time when it is easier than ever to be misled by malicious actors and falsehood, fake news, outright lies—we have to remember that our decisions must be in our best interests as a people, based on truths, facts and reason, and made in good faith.
We have faith in you all—let’s see each other on the other side.
