Travelling in Circles

This is more of personal opinion. I have little knowledge about how Philippine politics really works 'by the book', i.e. according to the Constitution (or whatever book of law politics is supported). The media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet) has been a huge source of information. Information may be incoherent; that's inevitable.

Months past since COMELEC announced officially the start of the campaign. Candidates filing up for COCs (Certificate of Candidacy) and switching parties are just a few. They are yet to plan the provinces/cities they would go, support groups to tap, manpower to organize as campaign crew, etc. Things coming in free (like food) are prolific. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Tomorrow will be the Election period, and the omega of all campaign efforts. Candidates can now sit back and relax, and wait for the results to come in. At last, they have to cease their 'sick' (yes, I'm tired of hearing/seeing them) campaign jingles (hearing these send shivers down my spine, I tell you), posters/panaflexes (some are obviously against the election code) rhetorical speeches (come on, we want the talk to walk), and survey winnings (X winning here, Y winning there, Z winning nowhere LOL). Oh, and the smiles, the handshakes, the hugs, the kisses (?), sure you need to account that too. After all, having to stretch more than 17 muscles would require days of spa, and supplies of alcohol too.

While candidates are lowering their momentum, it's the people's turn now to make the effort. Some (since I don't want to generalize; what applies to some does not apply to all) people are likely susceptible to the 'highest bidder', just to provide them with a day's meal.

Then after the counting, 'some' candidates running short of votes would gradually come to court and ask for a recount. In Philippine politics, there are only two resolves between opposing forces: the other winning, and the other conned. Seldom you will find candidates 'willingly', 'wholeheartedly' accepting their defeat. Most of them refuse to do so. I'm sure one can already think of an obvious reason (I'll leave that to everyone).

After a while we will come back to the Philippine status quo. While winning candidates are snuggling their newfound seats and the 'losers' (rather, the 'conned' or 'cheated' ones) biting their fingers, they seem to ignore the clutter that they have left. Their support group, the campaign crew, the meals, and the smiles (etc.) are nowhere (highly unlikely rather) to be seen. No wonder that the COMELEC or some volunteer groups do the cleaning of posters, and at times there's no free meal. One can only sigh at the sight.

And after three years another campaign period is to set in. I would wonder not if we traverse along the same circle again.