A lesson in local political history

The presidentiable public forums are getting passé and monotonous, instead of becoming more interesting and the questions more tricky and keenly subtle, and more wide-ranging. Necessarily the respondents' answers ought to have become more revealing of their capabilities - or lack of potentials - for the Palace, as they grapple spontaneously with the issues.

In the foreign media correspondents' (FOCAP) turn to grill the presidential candidates. Erap did not attend as he had previously announced that he would no longer honor similar grilling sessions, obviously after the Cebu sad experience of his being a dud between the ears, despite his aborted stint at Malacañang. In the latest Ateneo de Davao sked, Erap, Manny Villar, and Noynoy Aquino were "no show" which angered the organizers.

The other relative "lightweights" such as, Nicanor Perlas, John Carlos delos Reyes, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and Senator Jamby Madrigal have often made their presence, for exposure obviously. Their individual performance is of the run-of-the-mill ho-hum, nothing spectacular and nothing new. On the other hand, the relative "heavyweights" are also the better respondents, especially Gibo T and Dick G, but surprisingly they lag behind in the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, whereas Erap who now shuns these public fora, appears gaining strength.

Meantime in Cebu, the UP-Cebu had also a congressional candidates forum for the Cebu City North district to present their respective platforms. The candidates in attendance were Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos, former NBI-7 Director Florencio Villarin, and Lt. Ashley Acedillo.

Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan lady bet Rachel Marguerite "Cutie" del Mar who ambitions to take over her father's vacated seat, was noted for her absence. Cutie had however communicated that much as she had wanted to take part, the BOPK rules prevented her from doing so. This has also been confirmed by BOPK big boss Mayor Tommy Osmeña, that such public forum would only highlight the unknown candidates who have nothing as yet to show the electorate in terms of capabilities. Tommy prefers to conduct barangay "pulong-pulongs" which he and his group have been doing as campaign strategy.

Retracing about a score of years ago… A third generation Osmeña came to Cebu and had his epiphany of sorts after hibernating in USA during the martial law regime. Unlike his father Serging who had come back earlier with a bang as a "messiah" on the heels of the 1949 infamous elections and, "to restore democracy", Tomas R. Osmeña's return was then muted like a whimper.

Backed by some loyal "Sergingistas", Tommy tried his hand at politics by running against then incumbent City Mayor Boy Cuenco. Incidentally, the latter was then making good as the first and only Cebu City Mayor who had the guts and political will to clean and put orderliness to the Augean stable that was then the Carbon Market. Besides, Mayor Boy Cuenco also earned the respect and admiration of the City Hall personnel.

However, following the candid debate over the airlanes between Boy Cuenco and still virtual unknown Tommy Osmeña who was then still struggling with the Cebuano tongue, Tommy emerged the informal winner. And, whether it was also due to the "Bisa'g unsaon, Osmeña gihapon" slogan, Tommy has thereafter changed the political annals and geography of Cebu City.

Thus, Tommy hasn't forgotten that phase of political history, that is, in any public forum featuring rival candidates, the still untested neophytes may prove at advantage over the incumbents who may have many issues to explain or justify. He, himself, had been benefited by the public exposure concomitant to political debates or public forum discussions.

No wonder that Tommy's BOPK now has come up with the political stratagem of denying opportunities to the opposite camp whose candidates are still untested and unproven of their worth.

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