Half a year to go and what can we anticipate? Surveys are bandied about, used to disseminate whatever trend or thrust each and every candidate wishes to promulgate (or gripe about). It’s all a matter of "spin," but some inescapable conjectures continue to stare us in our faces. If Raul Roco does make it to the Palace, will all state dinners be themed "luau"? With his sartorial success seeming to hinge on how attractive the Lito Atienza School of Fashion travels beyond the confines of Manila, it seems these two politicians have misplaced their candidacies. It’s oh so many nautical miles East, and it’s the state of Hawaii that really caught their eyes.
With the one-dimensional floral motifs of their wardrobe closets, it’s a safe bet to presume that the best upkeep for their closets is to just make "dilig" and add fertilizer every week. What is it with the bright floral prints of reds, yellows and greens? Are their formal barongs also similarly designed eye-poppers? Someone must have advised them that one had to stand out and make an impression from the dais, and they’ve taken that to heart and "soil."
In the case of FPJ, if it’s not the standard "politician as urban cowboy" look, can we expect a contemporary version of his Panday garb? For now, it seems his version of making a fashion statement is not to make any sort of statement at all! He’s taken the adjective of "hindi masalita" to a whole new dimension, uttering prepared statements and not much else. He may have come from the world of cinema, but does it have to be the silent movie era? From the Clint Eastwood Acting Academy, it’s Dirty Hari ng Action Cinema. In the meantime, much as we may gripe about his taciturn nature, the simple truth is it’s reaping dividends in the polls. The less one says, the less the chances of uttering mistakes can make sense in this country where pundits are ready to pounce on any utterance.
As for Ping, going by his liquor advertisements, plaid is the order of the day when in casual mode. Monching Mitra had that motif all cornered in his heyday, and as it keeps the politicians moving to the Ralph Lauren counters when seeking apparel, can we safely presume that all their women will be heading Burberry way to match their men plaid for plaid? Even down to their handbags, and God forbid the men then follow suit with plaid clutch bags!
President Gloria? I can only hope we’ve seen the last of her in wet suit, surfing in five feet deep water. That did not really strike me as presidential, it was more like reality Disney, Finding GMA-o and the less said about posing as the Men in Black the better. A coup for the magazine, but didn’t say much for her advisors and PR people. Love to see someone pitch that to Mahathir, when he was Head of State, and get beheaded for even suggesting it. Go costume, and ape a Hollywood movie at that? Bye-bye national identity, and all in the name of fun? By whose definition?
As if all the above wasn’t enough to assault our visual senses, this early on, I can predict what kind of battering our auditory organs will be subjected to. Endless rewording of Ocho-Ocho, Mr. Suave and Sexbomb songs for political jingles, no other tune will be as catchy or find immediate recognition. Unfortunately for us, it’s not just the Spaghetti that’s going "pababa" in this country of ours.
At the Makati Sports Club today (the 14th), and at the Tektite on the 17th to the 19th; don’t be surprised to find people like Angel Aquino, Daphne Oseña, Pia Hontiveros, Vina Morales and Patty Betita enticing you with their wares and gift items. On the culinary side, Claude Tayag has taken time out from his furniture making and column writing to offer you his Kapampangan delicacies. Joyce Aragon’s dulong swimming in olive oil and pastries are also available. Other food stalls include Baguio and Tacloban specialties.
I know of some retailers who gripe about this "bazaar" lovefest that grips the public come November and December. It’s bargain hunting in extremis, and when one is looking for a wide swath of gifts to give, you can’t go wrong. My father is a perfect example. He hates crowds and loathes shopping at malls and department stores; unless they’ll put one up right on the golf course, a Putt and Shop! But several friends who rent stalls at bazaars have made comment about his skulking around while they’re still setting up their stalls, selecting and wanting to pay before they’ve even officially opened. Yup, avoiding parking headaches and the crowds, he’s a bazaar-rat in his own inimitable fashion. And it’s the unexpected shoppers like him that exemplify just how attractive these bazaars have become over the years. What would the Yuletide season in the Philippines now be without the banners and streamers announcing weekend bazaars?
(E-mail me at peopleasia@qinet.net)