The Trapo’s “Poor Boy” image
I can judge the character of the candidate the way his campaign slogan is made and directed. When a candidate says he is for the poor, that he came from a poor family, that he loves the poor, that the poor is neglected etc., right away I will scratch that candidate from my list.
These kind of candidates are just taking advantage of the poor’s misery. They are appealing to the emotions of the poor by promising them everything. They know that majority of our voters are the poor so it is just natural for them to woo them, sweet talked them and pampered them to get their nods. But this kind of extraordinary attention to the poor is good only during election time.
Many presidential candidates in the past have used this kind campaign strategy but once they are in power, the forgot everything about the poor. Once in power, they accumulate wealth in a frenzied fashion, while the poor remained poor. Erap Estrada and Gloria Arroyo are the shining examples of this crooked kind of politicians. They capitalized on the poors helplessness although I believe that Erap was the lesser evil of the two.
On the other hand, while they are parading themselves as champions of the poor, politicians are flocking to their camps like ants knowing that the said candidates are financially well endowed. This is another ironic situation where a candidate who says he is poor is also at the same time awashed with campaign money to dangle with the politicians for them to join his fold.
Now in the 2010 election, I have seen two candidates in this mold, Erap is one of them and the other is someone who vainly advertises himself vigorously as the new champion of the poor.
The problem with this other candidate is that he has the money to spend for propaganda and this proved to be very effective. With his money, he can hire the best publicists and advertisers. He can pay the best minds in the business. And it paid off. Survey after survey he leads. But when Noynoy enter into the picture, slide down to a far second. That is when this erstwhile “silent” candidate is now talking. He said,
” The man to beat need not be the best competitor. The man to beat is the most popular, not necessarily the best.”
Funny but this candidate, before Noynoy’s entry, is not necessarily the best also. This candidate, who was erstwhile leading the surveys, is just striving to be the most popular also hoping that this will be sustained until election time. How ironic?
Another problem is that how could this candidate recoup his expense in trying to make himself fragrant to the poor? After winning the election, these kind of candidates will be busy paying back their benefactors. And thats where governance will fail again. Thats where we are going back to square one.
Helping the poor get out of their rut is not as simple as it is portrayed to be. It involves policy decisions that affect them. That is why a candidate that is beholden to a privilege few can not be expected to accomodate the needs of the poor. He has to pay back to his financiers, and a term for the Presidency is not even enough to pay for it. That is why politicians who promised and spends so much “for the poor” during campaign surely fail in their promise.
In the end, the electorate should learn the lessons of the past. Those who are trying to represent them and identify with them always fail them. Its time for people to elect someone who does not promised much but will do his part silently but effectively addressed and eventually remedy their misery.
Obviously this trapo’s poor image you are talking about has an excellent achievements compare to other Presidentiables. It’s funny how the other “one” control some people through swaying their emotions when choosing our next president. Took advantage of what happened in the most popular democratic icon of all times which saddened the entire nation and ta-dah he now decided to run as a President… Also his infomercials is like joining the upcoming Film Festival 2009 (and maybe those endorsers is just afraid of his sister’s power to uber-biased channel) … not like the other one.. he is truly dedicating his service to those who are unfortunate one and be the voice of those who cannot speak from themselves.
A man of his words and in action.
This poor boy’s image have achievements are solidly his own – not attributable to a famous last name or a legacy from great parents. Again, it was He, himself who worked hard for many years – earning himself the trust of the business community, and his colleagues in Congress and the Senate, who elected him House Speaker and Senate President.
—The self-made billionaire from Tondo declared that he was qualified to be the next president because of his 20 years experience as a public servant and 30 years in the private sector building his real state empire from scratch. – inquirer.net
and the other one? well- I guess just a bunch of celebrity endorsers, superstar sister asking for donations for the campaign and someone who needs a “kodigo” for next presidential forum. Thanks to ANC presidential forum!
Did this other candidate volunteered himself to be the presidential bet? Did he force himself in his party?
No, he is a reluctant president because his eyes was not moisting on that seat as early as 12 years ago.
On the other hand, the “poor boy” candidate use the Old Party as his vehicle to self proclaim himself as the standard bearer. There was no consensus building, there was no convention. The “poor boy” candidate just assume the leadership and voila he is now the party leader.
Well, the mother of this other candidate died and people adored her and spilled over to his children. Are we going to fault her family if the Filipino people poured their hearts out in sympathy? I tell you, thats how people naturally will react if you are a public servant with good and sincere track record. That cannot be bought. That cannot be faked.
By the way, yes, the other candidate had celebrity endorsers. So what? They volunteered. Whats wrong with that?
This “poor boy” candidate also had his celebrity endorser, the “lover boy.”
This celebrity endorsement is a non issue. Everybody has his own celebrity.
Who’s the real trapo masquerading as a “poor boy”? That would be Noynoy Aquino. Who’s behind Noy? The biggest trapo of them all: Danding Cojuangco. Noy can’t even act decisively on the plight of the poor farmers at Hacienda Luisita which the Cojuangcos own. These farmers have never been able to realize the promises of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. How can this haciendero Noy conscience the way his family has been treating the farmers there? Ninoy would be so disappointed. Blood had been spilled at the Hacienda.
How can Noy actively solicit for funds from the masses to enable him to mount a campaign? Do you know how rich Danding is? Do you know how rich the Aquinos are? And they do not have to spend for publicity because ABS-CBN gives it to them for free, for the Lopezes owe the Aquinos a debt of gratitude for letting them regain control of the network giant. How many times has Kris mentioned or alluded to his brother? How many celebrities has she actively recruited in the campaign? Have you ever seen the show, years ago, when Kris proudly boasted that his jewelry is “katas ng Luisita”? The goodness of Ninoy and Cory does not run in her veins. Kris is a model of excess. How can you reconcile that with Noy asking for your donation?
Again, Noy doesn’t need to spend (although he and his siblings have so much money) because everything comes FREE.
Sen. Villar is being treated unfairly for trying to level the playing field. So what if he spends for his ads? You know where his money comes from. He has every right to spend it as he sees fit. He worked hard for it. If you have a good product, do you not want to advertise it? He is already unfairly treated on TV.
If you think about it really hard and thoroughly, the poor boy image is being wrongly used by the man who wants you to donate to his campaign, and the man who said he was Mr. Palengke. They have gazilions of money — money they didn’t earn themselves but was handed down to them by their ancestors.
Villar is truly from the poor. He worked hard to get to where he is now, and has a solid background of achievements to back it up. I want someone proven to be the next president, not someone who can’t even stand up to his sister — or his uncle.
I do not vote for someone who owes so much to so many people. Unseen strings make a puppet president.
We have been ruled by a trapo and corrupt President. We shall not allow another pretender to assume the Presidency.
The “Poor Boy” is saddled with corruption issue. He has jacked up the prices of his properties by diverting the road so that it will pass through his property. He snubbed the Senate investigation. Like Gloria Arroyo, the “Poor Boy” mocked the power of the Senate.
If the “Poor Boy” can do that to the Senate while he is still a Senator, how much more if he will become the President.
Yes, the “Poor Boy” helped the poor but he plastered his face on water bottles, noodles and the dump trucks. The “Poor Boy” didnt have a delicadeza in abstaining his campaigning at the height of the misery of the poor.