BBM's anointed 12 all from Luzon

When choosing senators, think of competence, integrity, and equal representation among the different regions in the country.

BBM has forgotten the Visayas, ignored Mindanao, and concentrated only in Luzon, especially Metro Manila. The voters should reject such a snub against regional inclusivity.

Reject dynasties and concentration of powers. Three Tulfos in the same Senate, with two Cayetanos, two Estradas/Ejercitos, and possibly two Villars, all from Luzon. Cebu, with five million people, has zero representation. San Juan, smaller than Cebu City's barangay Guadalupe, has two brothers in the Senate.

One of the weaknesses of the administration lineup is that it ignores the Visayas and Mindanao. BBM's bets, except for Manny Pacquiao, are all Tagalogs. Even Pacquiao is already a Manileño.

What does BBM think of the new Philippines he is envisioning? Is the Bagong Filipinas only a Republic of Luzon? PBBM advisers committed a crucial political "faux pas" by ignoring the Visayas and Mindanao regions in the choice of their slate.

This administration isn’t inclusive. It is too pro-Luzon and anti-Visayas and anti-Mindanao. Presidential sister, Imee Marcos, who has also been practically thrown out to the periphery by the Malacañang power-wielders, thanks to her favorite sister-in-law, has announced that she is standing alone. She will not join BBM's "dirty dozen". That was the most honorable thing for her to do. She has been supporting the Dutertes and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. And this didn’t sit well with the first lady. Ping Lacson is an independent candidate. On his own track record, credentials, and logistics, he can win unaided by BBM's bandwagon.

The party needs Ping more than Ping needs the party, if at all. But even if both Ping and Imee remain in the slate, both of them are from Luzon. They don’t represent the Visayas, much less Mindanao. Lacson, Revilla, and Tolentino are all from one province. Albeit vote-rich, it’s quite disproportionate considering that one province will have three senators while one half of the entire republic isn’t being represented. In fact, there are many cases of overrepresentation. The small city of Las Piñas will have a brother and a sister, the tiny city of Taguig will also have a brother and a sister. The microscopic city of San Juan currently has two half-brothers.

All these provide strength to the arguments that the membership of the Senate should be regionalized, at least two senators from each of the 18 regions or a total of 36. That was the system before when Don Vicente Rama was elected senator. That way, Visayas will have eight, Mindanao will have 12, and Luzon will have 16. In the US a small state like Hawaii and a big state like California, Texas, or New York each has two senators. They have 100 senators for the 50 states.

The BBM senatorial slate is a formula for disintegration. It is a slap to the face of both Visayas and Mindanao. It further fuels the argument that we are governed by Imperial Manila located in the Kingdom of Luzon, and that we Visayans are second-class citizens needed only to pay taxes and carry the burden but excluded in the highest policy-making body.

For that alone, I call for the rejection of the entire ticket, except Ping Lacson. If the 16 Visayas provinces and the 27 provinces in Mindanao can unite to make our united voice heard, most of the 24 shall bite the dust in 2025. Let us show the Luzon people that Filipinos from the south are also worthy of our national IDs, and they cannot stand without us.

But I also call for the rejection of Duterte's team who are all pro-China, pro-war on drugs even extrajudicially, and lack respect for human rights and social justice. Above all, I call for the rejection of all actors, boxers, TV hosts and all TV personalities who have no basic knowledge of the Constitution and of our laws. They do not deserve to be in the Senate. And please, do you want three Tulfos in one Senate? Two Villars? Two Estradas/Ejercitos? And two Cayetanos?

My God, I am asking myself a number of intriguing questions. Is this still the Philippines of Rizal and Bonifacio? Is this still the land of my birth, the home of my people? Is this the cradle of noble heroes, the Pearl of the Orient Seas? I'd rather migrate to Gaza or Ukraine or fly to the moon with Elon Musk.