First off, let me say this to those who are still in denial: the UniTeam is dead.
Last week’s “meltdown” of sorts between the Marcos and the Duterte camps – ironically, as the Marcos administration officially launched its new slogan, “Bagong Pilipinas” – just confirmed what almost everybody except the diehard fans has suspected all along: the relationship between the two biggest political dynasties in the Philippines is now headed into the rocks.
By the way, whatever happened to that “too-good-to-be-true” pledge of P20-per-kilo rice?
Heck, you couldn’t even buy a decent meal from a carinderia for less than P50 anymore!
-o0o-
The breakup of UniTeam also confirmed what many well-meaning Filipinos have lamented: that the masses have, for the longest time, treated our politics like showbiz.
As far back as 2016, I had this to say on my social media page: public service is NOT a fan war. Hindi ito labanan ng Noranians vs. Vilmanians.
The trouble is that most of us would rather be entertained than to act to resolve the major ills that plague our society. Anong bigyang-solusyon ang problema natin? Hindi dapat mawala ang mga problema natin, baka mawalan tayo ng pagtsitsismisan sa kanto!
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It would not be farfetched for me to say that when it comes to choosing sides in the national front for the 2025 elections, most local politicians here in the province would probably side with Sara Duterte.
Not only has she “planted” personal and political relationships with many of our local politicos, there’s also the fact that the Vice President has that “masa” appeal that can (and does) attract voters.
Take, for instance, one event here in a city in Laguna province in which she was a guest of honor – well, more than a guest of honor for her office had supported a local organization led by the wife of the incumbent chief executive in that city.
OpinYon Laguna’s reporters related that the Vice President, apparently in breach of security protocols, personally went to the crowds attending to the event and even took selfies with them.
For Filipinos, who have long perceived traditional politicians as “untouchables” and “unapproachable,” that kind of personal, human-to-human contact can have a big impact on them.
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Meanwhile, here are a few fearless forecasts of my own for the 2025 elections here in Laguna province.
There is a big possibility that two couples who are major local political players will fight in a major city here in the province. Husbands for one position, wives in the other.
Wife will run to replace their husband in a major position here in the province, while a political dynasty that was badly beaten in 2022 will attempt to recoup its place in another city here in Laguna province.
#UnCommonSense #JamesVeloso #ChoosingSides #UniTeam #Marcos #Duterte #PBBM #BBM #BagongPilipinas #OpinYonColumn #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand