Marcos misinformation

This early in the election season, the publicity machines of the presidential candidates are going into overdrive. And if the Marcos Jr. campaign is any indication, then those wheels are seriously spinning --in regards to the more gullible segment of our voter population, winning.

Take this anecdote shared by a photographer friend. In his zeal to convert the heathens unto pink territory, he spoke to his Transportify driver, and attempted to preach to him about the merits of Leni Robredo, his preferred candidate. Unfortunately for my friend, he drew as his challenge for the day a Marcos loyalist, who steadfastly resisted any incursion attempts, and instead, counter-punched with his own stout beliefs.

The gist of the tall tale was that Marcos Sr., confirmed no-show during World War II, had billions in gold from the Yamashita treasures stashed away in a bank somewhere, and safely locked in a vault for 50 years in a “time deposit”. After half a century, those funds would be unlocked, and then enjoyed by the Filipino people through the beneficence of Marcos the son.

Enough reason for him to vote for Marcos the losing vice presidential candidate as his president --on the apparently safe assumption he would share in the largesse when those funds would be released from the time deposit. Such faith in a man who hasn’t yet acknowledged those funds were stolen --so what was the guarantee they would ever be given back?

Needless to say, that sent my friend reeling into the gobsmacked corner.

Another zinger of a humdinger was recounted by a former colleague in SyCip law. The lady is now a successful housing contractor and spa-clinic owner (go figure). She has gone through her many staff members, polling as to their preferences. The consistent answer was Marcos!

Of course she was curious. Why would they even consider the spawn of the kleptocrat? Apparently, their reason for this choice was primarily how the Marcos family has suffered through 30 years of the rule of Cory Aquino as well as the oligarchs. Throughout those three decades, the Marcoses have been steadily pilloried, and their name dragged through the mud. Hence, the appeal to the common folk to help restore their injured family’s good name.

What a sob story --but apparently effective, as this has gained them sympathy voters from those pissed off at the billionaires a la typical telenovela drama, where the rich oppress the poor, and the poor somehow get back against the rich in the oh-so-satisfying end.

When my friend relayed the information that Marcos stole from the Filipino people, the response to her was this: Ferdinand Marcos has a last will and testament that stipulates that if Marcos Jr. wins the presidential elections, then all the stolen money would be returned.

Obviously, for the believers of that twisted fantastical fiction, aside from having no concept of how last wills work, they also seem to have disregarded logic. And yet, logical holes notwithstanding, the fiction has spread.

One challenge for the Leni Robredo campaign is how to craft stories and narratives that disengage the gullible from these attractive narratives spun by the most devious of storytellers. Simple stories that marry facts with common sense, and can counter the tall tales without doing violence to the believers’ core identity as Filipinos.

Enough with the lofty principles, and deep philosophical discourses. This is a battle for the souls and minds of an easily-misled flock. Coupling this challenge with this generation’s short attention spans, and the more pressing concerns of a pandemic, stultifying, alienating lectures will definitely not work. What is needed is counter-propaganda that has the right educational morsels in it. Catchy, with the right hook for the target voters, and yet, uplifting.

Even pointing out that Bongbong Marcos could not have won Milo Little Olympics at the age of 44, as he claimed in his website, might not work. Tiktok vids in English by elite-sounding prep boys might not be the best strategy.