It's party time, 1

I didn’t think it was possible anymore, but, indeed, the Ampatuan massacre has managed to increase the stakes in the 2010 elections. Now, it does seem like 2009 was all about building up to next year’s main event, as if it were prepping all of us for the opportunity to make a difference in the things we’ve spent too many years only complaining about. After all, this year’s events forced many of those who would bid to be our leaders into the limelight—in ways for which they could have never prepared, in situations where their true weight would be weighed and evaluated.

Off the top of my head, I can think of the death of former Pres. Corazon Aquino, which, in my opinion, more than propelling Sen. Noynoy Aquino to the top of the list of presidentiables, reminded the whole nation that working together for the common good was possible once and, more importantly, is possible again. So strong was the magic that we recaptured upon the icon of democracy’s passing that even Sen. Mar Roxas, who had already started his run for the highest position of the land, to step down. The same goes for Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

Then, there were the Ondoy and Parma twin tragedies, which put administration candidate for president and former Department of National Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro in the forefront of the government’s inability to respond during the flooding that affected many parts of Luzon, including the capital. Marikina, which is Bayani Fernando’s original turf, and Metro Manila, which is now Fernando’s turf, as far as development is concerned, were severely affected, which definitely showed that all was not well in the capital, despite the visibility of Fernando’s signature pink handiwork. Of course, Makati was inundated as well, which gave a new meaning to long-time Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay’s motto, “Ganito kami sa Makati.” And then there were the issues of relief goods supposedly bearing Sen. Manny Villar’s name (his party didn’t respond to this issue) and a volunteer blogging about Red Cross head Sen. Dick Gordon’s supposed no-show at a site, in which victims had to wait for hours (the blogger has since apologized).

And now, the Ampatuan massacre, which not only puts Teodoro again in the center of things, even as he has resigned his government post to run for president, but also cast the spotlight on how effectively the current administration has managed this country’s affairs.

All that being said, I am not endorsing any candidate, though I’d go as far as saying my top three, so far, are Aquino, Teodoro, and Villar—in alphabetical order. But, there are some showbiz personalities that have shown their, um, true colors where Philippine politics is concerned.

Team Yellow

Of course, the Mar-Noynoy tandem of the Liberal Party are awash in sunshiny yellow, led by Noynoy’s sister herself, Kris Aquino. You need only check out the tandem’s music video to see which among the stars are giving them their full support. There’s Boy Abunda, Sharon Cuneta, Ai-ai delas Alas, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Dantes, Marianne Rivera, Anne Curtis, PBA players led by James Yap, Bea Alonzo, and Mariel Rodriguez.  Recently, Vilma Santos, Richard Gomez, and Marjorie Barretto also joined the Liberal Party.

Count the superstars in that group and you’d probably conclude that, if this were a movie, Team Yellow would already be the winner. Of course, we have to consider: a stellar endorsement does not necessarily good governance make.

To be continued.

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