‘If we have to eat fire, we’ll do it’

If candidates have to eat fire, they will.

This was the reaction of former Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. to the lament of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. that candidates in the May elections are still using the traditional methods of campaigning.

"Kung puede nga kaming kumain ng apoy para maaliw ang mga tao, siguro gagawin namin (If it’s possible for us to eat fire to entertain people, we will probably do it)," Villar said.

Pimentel had bewailed the fact that candidates have to bring along some movie actors and actresses in the campaign, or dance or do some entertaining in front of the crowd attending their campaign sorties.

Villar, a senatorial candidate of the ruling People Power Coalition, told reporters that a poll aspirant cannot avoid to be a dancer or an entertainer on stage to attract voters’ attention.

"Hindi puedeng seryoso ka palagi. Kailangan talaga, kapag gusto ng tao, sumayaw ka o mag-entertain ka. Kung hindi aalis sila o aantukin sila (You cannot be serious always. You have to dance or entertain the crowd if they ask you to. Otherwise, they leave or they fall asleep)," he said.

He said in principle, he agrees with the Senate head on the need to bring the election campaign to a higher plane.

Villar pointed out that the easiest part to do in a rally is to discuss issues since every candidate is prepared for such a task.

"Pero kung hindi nakikinig ang mga tao o umaalis sila (But if the people are not listening or are leaving), you have to be flexible and creative. You probably have to entertain them. That is the difficult part, but you have to do it," he said.

He stressed that some candidates may not admit it, "but this is the reality of our politics."

Villar also said in the campaign sorties the ruling coalition has so far done in the provinces, candidates have noticed that support for ousted President Joseph Estrada "is now waning."

"Bago pa kasi ang administrasyon ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (This is because the Arroyo administration is still new). Give it two more months, and in the homestretch of the campaign, support for the ousted government will be insignificant, while support for the new leadership will have broadened," he said.

He added that he was confident that the ruling coalition will dominate the May elections.

It was under Villar’s leadership that the House of Representatives impeached then President Estrada on Nov. 13, paving the way for the ousted leader’s Senate trial.