In various marine tales of yore, the albatross referred to the largest web-footed sea eagle, a frigate bird of the pelican family, having slender wings spanning some 12 feet for excellent gliding with hardly any wing motion.
Legend had it that the bird followed ships at long distances. Perhaps with "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, emerged the superstition that killing the bird brought bad luck. Ancient mariners believed that the albatross hindered their voyage of any accomplishment causing persistent anxiety. Hence, the belief that it symbolized ill-fortune or bad luck. If it were a trinket, the albatross could be a necklace around the neck as a taut choker. Or an invisible curse hovering over an anxious head.
Now, to the present frenzied campaign milieu… Why is Gibo Teodoro lagging behind in low double digit, very far behind Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar up there in various SWS and Pulse-Asia poll surveys? Is it because of lack of exposure concomitant to lack of funding?
On personality, EQ and IQ, and innate intellect and astuteness, Gibo suffers no comparison to other candidates. His tall stature exudes confidence, handsome, young at 45 as an ideal presidential timber, articulate and fluent facility of language, brilliant and Bar topnotcher, expert plane pilot, erstwhile capable congressman and able defense secretary of late, and with noted pedigree.
Even based on the hands-down top showing in the series of candid "public forums", Gibo is a class above the rest, even better than the acerbic Richard Gordon. In fact, in Cebu's "Choices and Voices for 2010" forum, the spontaneous accolade of the public over his talent and capability was translated into more than 400 votes, with Noynoy a very far second, by the audience.
From media reports and opinions of political pundits, or those who watch the boob-tube, or the apolitical and the still "undecided", and the students and the youth, even perhaps among the "fanatics" of rival candidates, the consensus is that Gibo is "It". And yet, in most poll surveys, he lags behind Manny Villar and Noynoy Aquino who are battling at the top.
Some issues may have caused his not perking in poll surveys, despite excellent performance as confirmed in succeeding "public forums" that followed on the La Salle campus, at UST, then at UP, at the FOCAP session, or before the Makati corporate tycoons. Where lies his "drag" then?
Firstly, could it be because his "kingmaker" uncle Danding Cojuangco's family, especially the latter's wife Gretchen, have been very vocal in coming out publicly that they pose no objection to any other presidentiable, except Gibo? Incidentally, what had caused the rift?
Secondly, the Gibo Teodoro-Edu Manzano combo is seldom seen together as if lacking teamwork. Also, Edu has lately carped of no support from Lakas-Kampi, translated as no campaign party funds.
And thirdly, what bedevils Gibo is his perceived "connection" to President Gloria M. Arroyo. In the Cebu public forum, Gibo was in a bind when asked what he would do, if elected President, about GMA's wrong-doings. He stammered that he is his own person and, it's his conviction not to assail GMA, just to ride along her unpopularity to boost himself; and, should he defend GMA, it would be self-serving to make him popular.
Indeed, it's to his credit that so far Gibo has not been heard or reported to lambast even his presidential rivals. While Villar and Aquino are lambasting each other in campaign sorties, Gibo has not been tempted to resort to washing dirty linen against his opponents.
Given the slow grind in his candidacy despite glowing tributes on his capabilities, would Gibo Teodoro and his handlers make a somersault, that is, opt to "divorce" from GMA's umbilical cord? Significantly the electorate especially among the ABC types, might be apprehensive that should Gibo win and, GMA also becomes the House Speaker, the latter might manipulate him to dance to her music.
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Email: lparadiangjr@yahoo.com