Weekend teasing more fun than a caravan

By the time this column comes out, it is distinctly possible that it shall have been overtaken by events. And many of the things that are in it proven wrong. But that is always the risk that must be confronted each time by print journalists, the nature of whose job is to write a day ahead of the actual publication. Blessed are those who can report and comment live for theirs is the advantage of spontaneity and greater accuracy.

But the risk has to be taken, especially when events happen that are too compellingly interesting to pass up for the tender mercies of another day. Such happened over the weekend in Cebu. One after the other, and in no particular order, Bongbong Marcos, Sara Duterte, Lord Allan Velasco, Martin and Yedda Romualdez, and Imee Marcos, politicians all, descended on the island with the most number of voters in the Philippines.

They all had prepared reasons for coming. Bongbong to inaugurate his local campaign headquarters; Sara for the opening of a port in Liloan where her spokeswoman, Christina Frasco, is mayor, and to talk to her political cousins in Danao, the Duranos; Velasco came to join the birthday celebration of Yedda, as did Imee, and eventually all of the above.

There were also a lot of pocket meetings and handraisings, all involving some of the powers to reckon with in Cebu politics: Gwen Garcia, Mike Rama, Raymond Garcia, Samsam Gullas, Duke Frasco. Again, this column can quite possibly be overtaken by events. But one thing I am willing to bet my last pair of socks on is that all these personages were not in Cebu just to have a good meal and a few laughs.

Unfortunately, we can only speculate on what truly transpired outside what all of them were willing to concede happened. But that is what gives the favorite pastime of Filipinos its undeniable appeal. For now, all they were willing to give away were teasers: Sara arriving in a green hoodie with the words "Sara All 2022" and with running shoes on. Wearing a mostlypink (wink) dress in raising the hands of Gwen and Duke.

Imee came in a green shirt underneath a red jacket. Then there is Christina with Facebook posts accentuated with red and green icons. All of these plus many more all indicate that something is in the offing between Bongbong and Sara. If they come clean before this column is out, then this column is toast. But if no announcement is made, then on with the teasing. It's more fun than a caravan.

Let me go out on a limb now with a bold prediction, if I have not been overtaken by events yet. I think it will be a Bongbong-Sara tandem in 2022. All those teasers and more point to that eventuality. It cannot be Sara-Bongbong because Marcos Jr. is not going to wait until 2028. He will be 70 by then, which will make Vera Files livid and incredulous enough again to make another fact-check.

But while I believe it will be a Bongbong-Sara tandem, I do not think such a decision was made only over the weekend in Cebu. I do not think you can arrive at such a crucial decision while doing all the things they did in Cebu. I think the decision was made days earlier, perhaps before the filing deadline. That would explain the stunt of Bato dela Rosa. Do not ask how they did it or you grossly underestimate the power of politicians.

Everything that happened in Cebu was just psyops, to drive the enemy nuts. It was simple teasing to titillate the public. And it is a test at the same time. If nobody bites the tease, then poor Bato, he will be left spinning in the wind. But if it is as I believe it is, then we will have a rematch at a different weight division between BBM and Leni, with the odds as good as any. This time, though, there is Sara.

“Everything that happened in Cebu was just psy-ops, to drive the enemy nuts.”