Why is Rama winning as mayor again?

There are a thousand and one reasons why Mike Rama is going to defeat Raymond Garcia, Yogi Filemon Ruiz, Nestor Archival Archival, and this guy Julieto Co. But I will focus on the most important ones. Mike's Team is solid, intact, and passionate. His enemies are divided, fragmented, and incoherent in messages. They are even hitting each other to Mike's delight and pleasant surprise.

First, the highly-questionable suspension and ultimate dismissal based on a flimsy and even whimsical ground, has made Rama the underdog, the victim of the BBM administration's bullying, and therefore, the darling of the masses who love underdogs and innocent victims of high-handed political bullying. His persecutors are going to eat the dust for the huge backlash that’s bound to inundate his rivals after the midterm polls.

Second, people know that Rama wasn’t suspended or dismissed based on plunder, corruption, much less betrayal of public trust. Mike wasn’t accused of stealing money from the government. He was persecuted because he merely signed the renewal of a non-permanent appointment of his wife's brother to a minor post.

Third, the people aren’t stupid. They’re aware that thousands of public officials are guilty of nepotism but aren’t touched. Suspensions and dismissals are now weapons of mass destruction against the genuine opposition. And this kind of injustice is most likely to produce political backlash that can only serve as a vindication.

Fourth, the unfair suspension and illegal dismissal imposed on Mike gave him time to campaign. He is freed from the daily routines of signing thousands of documents and attending official functions. The administration has committed a fatal "faux pas" in its capricious strategic and tactical moves. His ouster gave him and his team tremendous opportunities.

Fifth, they don’t have a solid punch against Mike. He is clean as a whistle. They cannot charge him with graft. All accusations are rumors, hearsay, unverified, and are completely unsupported by any proof. Mike's only fault is that he trusted too much and didn’t choose his vice mayor well in the last elections.

Sixth, Mike is the most simple, sincere, spontaneously approachable and easy to talk to mayor. He isn’t stiff, strict, structured, legalistic, bureaucratic, and too fixated on rituals and red tape inanities like the mayor now. Mike is an action man. He wants results, not reports. Mike wants to see outcomes, not procedures.

Seventh, Mike calls people by name, he can remember faces and can kneel down to tie the shoestrings of a poor man from the mountains. Mike enters the hovels of the squatters and eats meals with his bare hands and shares jokes and stories with them as if they know each other. His rivals are too pretentious as if they are the anointed sons of God.

Eighth, the masses love Mike Rama. The vendors, street sweepers, ordinary men and women, these are the people that Mike truly cares for. Mike isn’t the candidate of the moneyed elite unlike his rivals. Mike has friends among the taipans as parts of his functions as city mayor. But he truly enjoys rubbing elbows with the unwashed, singing folk songs with the masses, and listening to the woes of the hoi polloi.

Ninth, Mike has a very good official line-up. Donaldo Hontiveros is going to bury Joey Daluz by an overwhelming landslide and, with due respect, Tommy Osmeña, whose prime has already passed. Tomas is too good to have demoted himself for Archival, and he is too old and not too healthy anymore. He is really a good mayor but won’t make a good vice mayor. And Mike's councilors are terrific, especially Ernest Herrera in the north and Joy Pesquera, Philip Zafra, and Mikel Rama in the south.

Tenth, Mike's bets for Congress are going to win over their rivals. Edu Rama has commendable legislative accomplishments, unlike his rival who never made a mark in the House after too many terms. Franklyn Ong will beat all his opponents including the incumbent, and it’s a pity because Del Mar is really a nice person, like her late dad. But Mike has chosen a more deserving one.

The coming back of Mike will be a big slap to the faces of those persecuting him. It will be a strong kick to the backs of those who betrayed him. It will be a tremendous jubilation for those who remain loyal and true. Above all, it shall be a huge vindication for a truly honest, loving, and lovable human being. Mike is going to win this, never forget that.