Netizens poke fun at 2016 presidential bets

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential candidates have not escaped the creativity and humor of netizens, who generated memes depicting them as characters of popular television programs.

Following the ruling of a Commission on Elections division disqualifying Sen. Grace Poe, posts comparing the candidates to housemates of the reality game show Pinoy Big Brother have gone viral.

The posts said Poe had been “evicted” from the Big Brother house, leaving the “Big Four” – Vice President Jejomar Binay, former interior secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte – vying for the top spot.

Images of the four candidates with the slogans popularized by Pinoy Big Brother were also posted.

Duterte is “Boy Astig” from Davao; Roxas, “Mr. Palengke” of Capiz; Binay, “Bae-nay” of Makati and Santiago, “Daldal Sweetheart” of Iloilo.

“Who among the “Big Four” are you rooting for?” a netizen asked.

‘Game of Thrones’

Facebook user Ria Redulla Fernandez came up with a parallel description of the candidates as some of the characters in the American television series Game of Thrones, which is being aired on HBO.

An adaptation of the novel “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin, the story revolves around the dynastic war among different families in a bid to rule a kingdom called “Westeros.”

Fernandez said Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo is Catelyn Stark, one of the main characters, who is grieving the loss of her husband.

Sen. Francis Escudero, running mate of Poe, is Petyr Baelish, described as “the puppetmaster, kingmaker, kingbreaker, cannot be trusted, has no real loyalty.”

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is Balon Greyjoy, who “led some failed rebellion.”

Facebook page LionhearTV edited the photos of the Game of Thrones characters with the faces of the Filipino politicians.

The post has garnered more than 10,000 likes and shared over 21,000 times as of yesterday.