What is the most effective way for candidates to win a Philippine election?

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: One has to have tons of money to win an election in the Philippines. Worthy candidates have tried but failed because they lacked the means.  

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I think, for a candidate to win the 2010 elections, he should have fresh ideas to improve the government, and be as intelligent and charismatic as Obama.  

A limitless supply of money

Val Cantara, Parañaque City :Money, what else. Period.  

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: JFK’s father said that there are three things you need to win an election. Money, money and more money. If you can’t beat them, buy them.  

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: One must first have a limitless supply of money.  

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas: There are no sure ways to win elections, but more money or raising funds, just like Obama did, to spend for campaign materials would be a big help.  

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: The most effective way to win a Philippine election is to have millions for the sole purpose of votebuying.  

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Cash  lots of it  can make even an unsavory character win, for as JDV says, everybody in our country is for sale.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Integrity and competence should be the paramount consideration, but popularity and having lots of money always do the trick.  

Marilou Tamayo, Batangas City: Giving doleouts, especially money, is the most effective way to win in an election in the Philippines. Registered voters are willing victims to unqualified candidates. At my age, I have never seen a sincere candidate who is willing to sacrifice his selfinterest for the benefit of the underprivileged masses.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Regretfully, but going through history, someone who has plenty of money to give and throw away has the best chance of being elected.  

Jimmy Donton, Palawan: Since we vote a President by popularity vote, the candidates should have billions of pesos to win the elections. Money is very important in running a presidential campaign. Do not expect miracles to happen if you’re not capable of paying community organizers, workers, lawyers, machinery, media, among others. Even though one is a very good and qualified candidate, if one has no money, one should then stop dreaming of becoming the next President. The reason why nobody accepts defeat here in the Philippines is because so much money is spent. To save face when they lose, they cry foul instead. I think it’s time to go back to the twoparty system, either Liberal Party or Nacionalista Party. This is the best way to choose the best candidates based on partisan politics imbued with political beliefs and principles.  

Name recall

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Under the present electoral system, there’s no way most winners in Philippine elections can depart from the now “traditional” method, which is one or a combination of the following: Votebuying, terrorism, fraud at the polls, tampering of electoral returns, bribing election officials, buying out the last winning candidates. There are so many, because in every election, new methods are invented. I know many of them. I consider my compadre’s method as the best because he is one politician who went through three terms undefeated. In politics, as in advertising, where product recall is important, a candidate must bombard the electorate’s subconscious with repeated appearances even in the most insignificant occasions long before the next elections  fiestas, sports festivals, wakes, birthday, fundraising activities like bingo games, where there are many people in attendance. In all these, the candidate may shell out small donations to enhance recall by voters on election day.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City :To have his name and face remembered, he should try being a TV newscaster or an actor before he tries his luck as a politician. If he does not have enough money to run his campaign, he should stay at home to tend to his garden.  

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: The most effective way is for the candidate to shake the hands of more people than his opponent does. For example, VP Diosdado Macapagal went around town shaking hands for four years and defeated incumbent Carlos Garcia in 1963.  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Months before the election, let the voting populace see, hear and feel you unjustly pilloried in media.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: How to Win RP Elections 101: From FM, fake your achievements, project yourself as the only hope for RP, get the best PR group, come up with a catchy slogan (“This nation can be great again), marry a pretty wife (like Meldy) and get an American actress backup (MM, Dovie Beams), and be on TV/papers as often as possible. From Erap and FPJ, make heroic biggerthanlife movies, marry a wholesome image wife, get actresses, starlets, spares, breed showbiz kids with political ambitions as much as possible to ensure political hierarchy. Or, you can be a worthy candidate like BF, Villar, Gordon and Noli.  

Join show business

Marlone Ramirez, Dubai :The most effectual way to win in a Philippine election is to join show business and gain popularity among the electorate. Most Filipinos idolize individuals on the silver screen and think they are authentic in daytoday political adventures. This is also the most inexpensive and pragmatic strategy to emerge as the indisputable winner in your political agenda.  

Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan: It is gold, goons or popularity. If you have none of these, marry a superstar. Look at Kiko Pangilinan. He couldn’t even win as councilor without Sharon.  

3G, and then some

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag Ci: It should be political platform, integrity and honesty of the candidate but at this juncture, it’s still guns, gold, goons and guts.  y

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: The same old rotten technique: He or she must know how to dance and sing, have the 3G, be halang ang bituka, have connections, and at least a high school graduate.  

Dave Velasco, Marinduque: With the kind of voters we have today, to win, candidates must, first and foremost, have intelligence and charisma plus the 4Gs.  

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Nationally, a good name is an ingredient to win an election. But locally, the 3Gs are employed to win.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: One must be rich to buy votes, popular like the coup plotters, and powerful enough to rig votes. These are the qualifications that spell victory in Philippine elections.  Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Under our lamented political setting, it’s still the 3Gs spiced with dagdagbawas and a call to Comelec commissioners. Having a political dynasty is an edge.  

Being the lesser evil

Digoy Coro, Batangas: Before, it was the 3G and whoever had connections in the Comelec. Come 2010, one must be able to convince voters that he or she is the lesser evil.  

Cheating is still the most effective

Leonard Villa, Batac City :By using the 3G and most importantly doing a “Hello, Garci?” you will surely win. No straight candidate can beat this formula.  

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Political candidates in the Philippines win elections for the wrong reasons: It’s usually not a person’s competence or willingness to serve but his popularity as a newscaster, movie star (even as the spouse of one) or shooting ability in the basketball court, among others. In many parts of the country, goons and guns help. But the most effective way so far is still dagdagbawas or vote shaving. Candidates pay millions to Comelec officials to manipulate election results. This could be the reason why nobody concedes to losing an election; candidates lose because they were cheated.  

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: The most effective way to win is to have a lot of money and cheat pag natatalo ka na.  

Rico Arrieta, San Juan City: If one wants to win, the most effective way is definitely to cheat. May the best cheater win!  

Robert Chan, Zamboanga: Aside from cheating, the candidate must present platforms that will benefit the majority of the people and speak through their heart.  City

Having the right connections

E. Linsangan, Isabela: Nobody can deny it that the most effective way to win in Philippine election is to be a friend of Garci or even Bedol. It was proven in the 2004 elections.  

Mass appeal

Geli Pulpulaan, Valenzuela: The candidate must prove to everybody that he or she is as poor as the majority of the Filipino population, literally. The people who belong to the base of the existing social pyramid would most likely vote for candidates who could genuinely understand what they are going through and not those who just pretend like they know what’s wrong.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Just be real. Magpakatotoo. It’s important that the candidate has masa appeal. Since most voters belong to the CD crowd, it’s important that they do not concentrate on giving temporary relief to the stomach like rice and noodles, but explain to them why he should be chosen and is qualified for the position. He must show his sincerity by enumerating all his achievements and track record of service to the community or his constituents. His background must be clear and clean. Among our local public officials, let me mention Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. His humble beginnings and his being true as a person made him reach his present stature in politics. Who would ever think that the poor boy from Tondo would be entrusted with heavy responsibilities by his constituents? It’s also advisable that they communicate with the masa using the native tongue. They must also know how to mingle with the poor.  

Offer a solution to problems

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: I think the most effective way is for them to offer winwin solutions to every problem and make sure that they walk their talk and that we won’t be disappointed with them.  

Rey Joaquin, Las Piñas City: A candidate who could make a sincere and attainable economic program and a very attractive slogan to support the program would be winnable.  

Mount a political dynasty

Rey Onate, Palayan City: The candidate should be the declared heir to the political stronghold of rich, large clans lording over the area as fiefs through wellorganized armed goons.  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: In my first experience as a voter sometime in the ’50s, I observed that the most effective way for candidates to win a Philippine election was to have guns, goons and gold; engage in backstabbing, somersaulting and jumping. This has been repeated again and again until the present. With the economic chaos, over 70 per cent of the total population below the poverty line will not care anymore if crackpots lead the country. This is the group of people politicians court in order to win. Why don’t we have new ideas? The reason is because today’s politicians are the sons and daughters or grandchildren of yesterday’s politicians who grew up with that kind of a system and whose objective is only to win without any platform for the national interest.  

Have media, religious groups on your side

Norberto Robles, Taguig :First have media and religious groups on your side, by whatever means necessary, to help create an image, then turn demagogue, focus on political naïfs to get the winning number of votes.  

Possess the right qualifications

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: Candidates with a strong political machinery almost always have a bigger chance of winning in our country’s elections, whether it be local or national. Financial availability is one part of the “machine” that cannot be dispensed with, and this should serve as the backbone of the contending parties. For a change, as a fair warning, candidates should not just content themselves with displaying their acting prowess, dancing abilities and resorting to unwanted antics in an effort to woo the people’s votes. They should avoid the possibility, in their onstage campaigns or sorties, of somebody from the audience shouting “Kumita na ‘yan!” Instead, candidates should unveil their academic credentials, qualifications and related backgrounds and whatever plans or programs they aim to achieve. These, ultimately, should win votes for them.  

Wanted: Better voters

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Filipinos are aware that the best way candidates can win an election in the country is through illegal and immoral means. They are also aware that before, it was money, guns and goons. Now we need educated voters who won’t sell their votes and souls to aspiring candidates.  

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: What I would really like to respond to is a query that assumes a credible operating environment. In such a case, I would say that a candidate’s integrity should afford him a good fighting chance in trying to win the right to represent the people. When amply sold to the public, the people will buy into the campaign for such a champion who they believe will truly represent them. The people of today are no longer fools because they have already been fooled long enough. But I also believe that such a scenario will only work if the majority of the voters are mature enough and possess enough absorptive capacity to rationally discern their chances for a better life from among the candidates. Sadly, the populations in most developing countries are not egalitarian enough to even understand selfdetermination, much more fight for it.  

One must be a good liar

Elpidio Que, Vigan: He or she should be able to lie through his teeth and present a face of sincerity, even if it’s false, to win the trust and feelings of the large unthinking, feeble and hungry electorate majority. Oh yes, he or she should also have not only goons for terrorsowing but generals like Garci. Anyway, even if he is not gifted with these, kay Mr. Palengke pa rin kami.  

The willingness to serve

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Simple. They just have to let the electorate feel their sincerity to serve the nation.  

June Deoferio, Cavite :They must be men or women of integrity and honesty; educated; and, most of all, not corrupt.  

Aldo Apostol, Metro Manila: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Matthew 20:2628.  

Humility must go before him

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: No matter what the outcome is, I always go for the one who is humble and free from scandals. He may not win, but the least I could do is to give myself peace of mind.  

Good argument for Chacha

Nato Bautista, Culiat, Quezon City: Philippine politics is tainted with different dirty tactics that is why I am for political change so that credible and qualified leaders will govern our country. These changes would only be attained by changing our system of government into a federal system with a unicameral legislative body.  Manny Canlas, Pampanga

Since the adoption of the multiparty system, a candidate has needed guns, goons and gold, and, of course, the Comelec on his side, plus popularity and good looks. Only in the Philippines.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s the three M’s: Money, and more money! Effective trimedia ads cost so much as does hiring popular entertainers as endorsers/campaigners. It’s vital to hire political wizards who’ll work to ensure bets’ proclamation as winners though they’ve lost in the voting and counting. The expertise of the likes of Garcillano and Bedol or even a military man like Esperon are a must. That’s a sure ticket to victory.  

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Filipinos are aware that the best way for candidates to win elections in the country is through illegal and immoral means. They are also aware that candidates with intellectual competence; good moral character; stable physical, mental and emotional condition; and a good rapport with his constituents with regular dialogue to discuss problems and solutions to the issues should win. Unfortunately, they are underdogs to those who use illegal and immoral means at present political conditions. So far, Gov. Padaca and Panlilio have hurdled that obstacle. Charter change should usher in clean and honest elections, where only competent candidates can be elected. Then, we can proudly say with honesty, ‘’Ang galing mo talaga, Pinoy!  

Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan: Before I answer your question, Charter change muna para maoverhaul natin ang ating political system.  

THE WAY I SEE IT

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: The Senate’s indefinite detention of people under their inquiry should be reexamined. Its power mustn’t desecrate a person’s Constitutional rights.  

Claro Ramirez, Quezon City: Whether it be 2008 or 2010, there will always be the fear that our sitting lawmakers are out to extend their term, hence we’ll never ever change the Charter.  

Ed Alawi, Davao City: Pacquiao being made into a DOJ confidential agent and an army master sergeant poses danger to his life. Some groups would be wary of his presence.  Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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