November 2024 is still three months away from the designated official period of election campaigning for the 2025 national elections. But the trapos do not care a damn if people call them shameless as they have already dared to show their greed for political and economic power. Along the byways of cities and towns, they have posted their faces on electric posts and trees, smilingly greeting people riding in cars, buses and tricycles, as well as bystanders and walkers.
The dynastic politicians are quite adept at this "game" come the election season. The Revillas in the province of Cavite, for example, and other LGU local political personalities, have already plastered their faces for people to notice, and be remembered in 2025. In fact, Imee Marcos’ face in a tarpaulin can also be seen in that place.
“EPALS,” so the late Sen. Mirriam Defensor branded politicians who painted their names in concrete walls, fences and waiting sheds, to keep their visibility intact for people to remember them especially during election periods.
Delicadeza and Kapalmuks
For those trapos, dynastic politicians, fearing they will easily be forgotten, and given their loads of cash for spending, they make sure, as early as late October or early November, that they are also shown on TV by the hour daily. So, people are bombarded today on TV with the likes of Christopher "Bong" Go, Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, and Abby Binay, displayed alongside with what they assume as their "trademark" accomplishments.
With the Christmas Season practically celebrated by Filipinos even as early as the first week of November, trapos/dynasts easily give in to cheerily greet their constituents, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” prominently splashed on billboards and tarpaulins.
It’s indeed an open season for "seasoned" trapos/dynasts to shed off any "delicadeza" in the face of Comelec’s defective guidelines on campaigning.
For many years now, sadly, the "kapalmuks" (as termed in social media) in the Senate and House of Representatives, including the so-called guardian of the ballot box, Comelec, have not made any legislative initiative to correct any deficiencies in the guidelines on campaigning by candidates.
Money, Money, Money
Thus, the merry-making with "epals" by the trapos/dynasts will still go on, at the expense of the honest and un-moneyed candidates for public office. And more so, at the expense of the Filipino people, who have longed for a fair, transparent, credible election exercise.
It looks like “money money money” is the name of the game come election time, that is, as long as the dynasts like the Marcoses and Dutertes, and their rabid dynastic allies are in power.
The question is: When will this "epaling" situation end, and fair credible elections will result in deserving servant-leader public officials for a just, peaceful and progressive Philippines?
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