4th day of COC filing turns into talent show

MANILA, Philippines - The fourth day of filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2013 midterm elections has evolved into a talent show, with bets singing, dancing and declaiming their way to the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s heart.

One of those who caught the attention of people yesterday at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila was 63-year-old Arsenio Dimaya of San Pedro, Laguna, who belted out his version of Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now or Never” with gusto. Dimaya wore pink pants and shades.

When asked about his platform of government, Dimaya mumbled incomprehensibly. He claimed to have also filed a COC for vice president in 2004.

Forty-one-year-old Leonardo Bula, a welder from Silangan, Samar, meanwhile, staged a declamation of his promises should he win a seat in the Senate.

“If I become a senator, if I am elected to the upper chamber of Congress, among my first bills would aim to quell indolence in our society,” he declaimed.

Bula also showed his vocal prowess by singing his own composition to the tune of “Bikining Itim” of Filipino rap artist Blakdyak.

‘Colorful’ candidates

But while many people see them as “nuisance” candidates, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez refused to call them that.

“I avoid calling them nuisance. It is a very harsh word. You are becoming judgmental. Everyone has a chance to defend himself. You make fun of them, you dismiss them while you are seeing them for what, only 15 minutes?” he said in a telephone interview.

Jimenez noted if other bets have their own gimmicks, candidates such as those who showed their various talents yesterday should also be respected if they believe it is their way to stand out.

He added that just like other aspirants for elective posts, these individuals would also go through a screening process of the Comelec to determine if they are indeed qualified to join the 2013 race.

For lack of a better word, Jimenez opted to call these aspirants “colorful.”