As the start of the campaign period nears
Politicians running for national positions are now all agog trying to win the hearts and of course the votes of people they are visiting. Even prior to the said period, aspirants are visiting provinces, cities and municipalities making themselves popular and visible in the guise of doing some consultation meetings or distribution of goods and doing some acts of benevol ence.
On February 8, it will be the official start of the campaign period for nationally-elected positions. This time, the hopefuls can now insert the word “vote” in their tarpaulins and posters. This signifies their intentions to run for such positions while motivating voters to vote for them. It’s a part of the marketing efforts to woo vot es.
Now expect heavy traffic as motorcades and caravans shall fill our roads and highways as the candidates would “show force” through the number of their vehicles and supporters during the “opening salvo”. Aside from irate motorists, this kind of campaigning generates attention from the public that would expectedly result in votes.
Showboats meanwhile shall now start filling the air with campaign jingles of candidates played loud to attract the attention of people along their ways. These jingles are made up of lively songs that would tend to invite those who can hear them to dance. Psychologically speaking, it’s a part of gently conditioning the minds of the people until Election Day. It is dubbed as the “name recall” strategy.
Television and radio networks shall now earn their profits from politicians through political ads that cost millions and millions of pesos. Airtimes and block times are getting more expensive these days when political candidates need exposure and popularity mileage over other contenders. Prior to the official campaign period, there were some political ads that were aired.
If politicians were busy prior to February 8, they will be busier now until May 9, the Election Day. If only they can, they shall join every political rally, conventions, seminars, gatherings, casual personal celebrations and every other activity that draws a crowd. The more people in attendance, the better for them.
It’s like adding the chances to get elected.
All of these are the ingredients of having an election in the Philippines. Every election year, the atmosphere in most places is transformed into a more festive, more loud and more busy environment. It’s like having a fiesta celebration, so to speak.
This National Election is quite different. We are to experience it the pandemic way and we expect that there will be more restrictions and protocols for candidates as well as the electorates aside from those being implemented by the Commission on Elections. We expect that there will be more “do’s and don’ts” as part of the efforts of the government against the virus. ***
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