Senatoriables’ visit

This early, candidates try to make a mark and woo the public. But there are lessons here on how candidates should act in events without their intention backfiring

Three senatoriables in the 2019 elections came to Davao City recently. Although the election campaign will be on next year yet, senatorial aspirants can make their way to places to get an initial feel and talk with locals on their candidacies.

Two of these senatoriables are from the administration slate and they arrived at a national gathering of 200 youth leaders hosted by the government’s National Youth Commission. What was notable were the reactions of the young students and their leaders.

They narrated on their Facebook accounts how uncomfortable they felt upon the arrival of the candidates. Their session was interrupted by the loud blare of one candidate’s jingle and they were forced to join a photo-op with the signature raising of the Duterte fist.

The reactions did not end there. The group passed a resolution that condemned “the unwarranted and unwelcomed electioneering of two senatorial aspirants.”

This early, candidates actually try to make a mark and woo the public. But there are lessons here on how candidates should act in events without their intention backfiring.

Meanwhile, the third candidate, lawyer Neri Colmenares, formerly of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, quietly made his way into the city. Colmenares was a Bayan Muna representative for three terms and ran for the Senate in the 2016 elections and lost.

He attended back-to-back forums, one with the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines in an activity held in Ateneo de Davao where he was a resource person on federalism, and another with allies of the Makabayan bloc in a forum that discussed prospects of the progressive movement’s new politics in 2019.

In this forum, which I attended, Colmenares tackled many issues but zeroed in on how the new politics’ agenda is met by the ambitions of traditional politics.

Dynasties have made the party-list system the option B to extend their political careers. Then there’s the charter change mode pushed by former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that might derail elections as it proposes no term limits and suits the interests of political dynasties.

Where then does new politics fit in? Colmenares is confident that the Makabayan will draw the same support from the public as in the past elections. The Makabayan bloc in Congress, despite all the black propaganda, has passed laws and bills batting for meaningful reforms--from raising salaries of teachers and health workers to economic reforms, and from land reform to national industrialization.

Colmenares said it is imperative that people should vote for candidates with platforms of government and with agenda for change. He said this is more so for the Senate, which needs people who would complement the Makabayan bloc’s agenda, and serve as checks and balance to the executive branch.

This early, senatorial aspirants come uninvited or come with warm welcome. As voters, who do we invite to the Senate in 2019?--from SunStar Davao