If Sara really wants to become president

If the vice president really wants to repeat the saga of GMA, daughter of President Diosdado Macapagal, the destiny of PNoy, son of President Corazon Aquino, as well as the fate of BBM, son of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., she needs to do five things: First, have a ₱20-billion campaign kitty; second, prepare not being supported by BBM; third, have excellent performance in DepEd; fourth, already form her core strategists; and fifth, hide all skeletons in the closet.

₱20 billion is the smallest budget, assuming that her formidable opponents have a campaign arsenal twice that amount. BBM may be running for reelection if Cha-Cha succeeds in allowing two presidential terms, or he may support cousin Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who has billions in the bank. If BBM runs again, he will be supported by the wealthiest Filipino businessman, Manny Villar. Who will support Sara financially? With Papa Digong's influence, the Davao Group led by Carlos Dominguez. Without that minimum amount, Sara can kiss her dreams goodbye.

₱20 billion is hardly enough if the presidential bet has to give at the very least ₱50 million to every governor of the biggest provinces and at least ₱35 million for medium-sized provinces. Any serious candidate should allocate at least ₱30 million for all chartered and independent city mayors and between ₱10 million to ₱20 million for all component cities, and ₱10 million for every municipal mayor.

Sara shouldn’t assume BBM will support her in 2028. Blood is thicker than water. BBM will most probably endorse Romualdez, the perennial companion of the president in almost all his foreign and local trips. Of course, they will deny it to high heavens. They will never admit that from day one, it has been a done deal, and Romualdez is a viable successor. Sara should build her own organization in the Visayas and Luzon. If BBM runs again, or Romualdez is BBM's bet, then the Garcias, One Cebu, and other allies here will most probably not be on Sara's side. So she has to build her own group now. She should also get a vice president from the north, one with a lot of money, influence, and connections. If it’s money, it should be a Villar or a Gatchalian. On connections and influence, then it should be Raffy Tulfo.

If Sara wants the Palace, she should make giant waves in DepEd. So far, we are seeing small intermittent ripples, segmented, disjointed, even reactive. There’s nothing earth-shaking happening in our school system. There are thousands of school buildings damaged and no longer serviceable. Teachers are still unhappy, underpaid, and overworked. There are many career and non-career usecs, asecs, and directors whose performance and characters aren’t beyond reproach. There are murders through hazing, bullying, violence, and sexual harassment in schools. Fictitious loans and usurers operate like there is no tomorrow. If Sara cannot clean up DepEd, how can she claim readiness for Malacañang?

Sara should also scout for a brilliant strategist with a well-honed skill to create tactics, like Sun Tzu in "The Art of War". Politics is war and plans and strategies are crucial. She should have a hefty intelligence fund to spy on her enemies, gather dirty linen to be used against her opponents. And a super genius propaganda and marketing expert who can make her image so alluring to voters. Sara should never forget that her own dad has plenty of secrets which could ruin the Duterte name as a political brand. Remember how the FVR military tactics destroyed Miriam's almost formidable and inevitable win? Don’t forget how Manny Villar was ruined and how the dreams of Jojo Binay were pulverized by his political enemies.

Sara may prove to be another Miriam in the hands of BBM and his invincible political machine, money, and mastery of tactics and strategies. As early as now, Sara should be realistic enough to discern who are her true enemies and friends. If she wants to be president she should think like Sun Tzu and be tough, ruthless, and decisive in truth. But in her image before the gullible public, she should be packaged as a gracious, compassionate mother to the nation. Above all, she should know who is for her and against her.

Without all these, let Sara kiss the presidency dream goodbye. The road to Malacañang is like the road to Calvary. She must be tough like a dragon but appears gentle like a lamb, with the speed of an eagle and the boldness of a lion.