Presidential endorsement

Any political endorsement by popular and prominent people is very important to a candidate, but this is not a guarantee for victory

Is political endorsement by prominent people and celebrities like the President or members of his official family very important to a candidate? I think so. Political endorsement is the action of publicity declaring one’s personal or group support of a candidate for elective office. Any political endorsement by popular and prominent people is very important to a candidate, but this is not a guarantee for victory. Many popular past presidents endorsed their prospective successors but they failed to convince voters to vote for their endorsed candidate.

In the 2016 elections. former president Noynoy Aquino endorsed Mar Roxas but the latter did not make it. Then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo endorsed former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro in the 2010 elections but he lost to Aquino. Former president Fidel Ramos endorsed Jose de Venecia in the 1998 elections but the latter lost to movie actor Joseph Estrada. So, strong endorsement and the administration political machinery are not guarantees of winning a presidential election.

There have been several local politicians who were endorsed by no less than the president and a member of the first family. Everybody wants to be endorsed. Just recently, during administration party rallies here in the city and province, respectively, no less than President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed his administration’s local bets: Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella for Cebu City’s mayoralty race and the entire Barug-PDP Laban slate and Third District Rep. Gwen Garcia and her runningmate Daphne Salimbangon for the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial race, respectively.

I can say that Labella and Garcia have the advantage but then again, it’s not a guarantee for victory. They still have to seriously campaign. Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio and her regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, also endorsed Labella and Garcia. But the problem is Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who is running for governor against Gwen, also claimed that Sara is also endorsing her. Magpale produced

posters showing Sara raising her hand, although she admitted the photo was taken several months ago during her visit to Davao City. But she said Sara gave her the clearance to produce the campaign poster. Kinsay genuine, kinsay dili? Each candidate has to explain to voters who has Sara’s genuine support so as not to confuse them. But the final decision rests on voters.

In product endorsements, the most effective advertisements are those supported by celebrities. Studies have shown that using celebrities in advertising increases the message’s persuasiveness which results in consumers having a better recall and recognition for the product.

Considering that Durterte still enjoys high popularity and trust ratings, many people might still prefer his endorsed candidates. Pero mao lagi na nga daghan pang mahitabo sa eleksiyon na gyud. Ang vote buying diay, dako man na og ikatabang.

I would like to call the attention of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Baltazar Tribunalo or maybe Gov. Hilario Davide III about this complaint from a victim involving one of the Capitol’s dump trucks assigned with the PDRRMO.

“Good day. This is Geera Goden, a resident of Punta Princesa, Cebu City. I had a motorbike accident last Monday, March 25, in San Remigio. The accident was caused by the truck owned by PDRRMO carrying big blue drums. We were driving in the opposite direction.

“I was driving back to Cebu City and the truck was heading for Daanbantayan. One of the drums suddenly fell from the truck because it was not tied well. The drum hit the front part of my bike then hit my face, which caused my crash.

“Good thing I was in full protective gear. That is why I don’t have major injuries. I am still confined at Chong Hua since Tuesday. I am paying for my own hospitalization now because the driver did not respond to my calls. I hope you can help me call the attention of the Capitol.”

Kay disgrasya man ni, wala man ni tuyua, hinaot nga matabangan sa Capitol ang biktima.

Ask forgiveness from Cebuanos for insulting their feelings and intelligence. GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE GWEN GARCIA’S ADVICE TO GOV. HILARIO DAVIDE III REGARDING HIS 20-STORY P1.3-BILLION RESOURCE CENTER PROJECT INSIDE THE CAPITOL COMPOUND