Bandwagon of Victory for Kristine, the Berberabes as latest addition

Kristine is endorsed by Vice Mayor Jun Berberabe

When would-be Mayor Kristine Balmes turned 41 last Sunday, April 24, I was thinking of writing about her coming of age - at such a young age, she will be our new Mayor, no doubt about it. 

But then I saw the picture of Vice Mayor Doc Jun Berberabe raising her hand which is a manifestation of his belated support, and I thought of changing my topic to "the coming to senses of Doc Jun."

I am not angry with Doc Jun. I do not personally know him, my interactions with him were limited to hi and hello, but I have always argued that he should have openly supported Kristine earlier on that is why my immediate comment was "huli man at magaling, pwede na rin."

But before jumping for joy because he is finally supporting our cause, let us first try to dissect his motives:

1. Ang pagsuporta kay KB ay mangangahulugan ng mas maraming boto para sa kanya. Hindi nya ito kailangan dahil sigurado na ang panalo nya maski isang boto lang dahil iisa syang kandidato sa pagka-vice mayor. Subalit ang maraming bilang ng boto ay magiging basehan para sa susunod na halalan, lalo na kung mas mataas na di hamak sa boto ni Kristine. 

2. Sa isang banda, dahil mabait daw naman talaga si Doc Jun, sabihin nating bukal sa loob ang kanyang pagsuporta. So be it, pero sa ganang akin, wag na rin natin syang bigyan ng maraming boto, tutal ay panalo na.

3. Sa lahat ng ito, si Danilo Berberabe o Danber ang makikinabang dahil ang suporta ng mga Berberabe kay KB ay magpapalambot sa mga hard core anti-dynasty. Sa totoo, marami akong nadidinig na mas lamang pa si Danber sa survey keysa kay Marvey Mariño. 

FB meme from Mikoy Abaya

This election will be the most expensive and most humiliating defeat for the Dimacuhas and Mariños. Sobra na ang paggastos at lantarang pamimili nila ng boto, na sinasamantala naman ng marami, subalit palihim silang nililibak dahil sa wakas "nakakaganti" na sila. Bumabaha ng pera at Mariño Privilege Cards sa lahat ng dako sa Batangas City pero ano pa at pabagsak naman ang survey rating nilang mag-asawa ni Beverly (BADM). Sa Sta. Rita nga, bumagsak pa sila sa ikaapat na pwesto. Kaya asahang ang tig-P300 ipit sa privilege card ay tataas pa.

Red Team

What is there with Kristine that she has become a rallying point against the 28-year rule of the Dimacuha dynasty? Palagay ko simple lang - unassailable ang character nya - wala kang maipupula. Matalino, magaling magsalita, may kakayahan, may paninindigan (at noon pa nya yan ipinapakita), may pangitain o vision para sa bayan, at higit sa lahat, may konek (charm) sa tao. 

If I were the Dimacuhas, I will take the belated graceful exit by withdrawing the candidacy of Beverly for Mayor. Si Mariño? Bahala na si batman, talo rin yan

Meet the congressional candidates of Batangas City

This is a continuation of my thoughts on the congressional race for the newly created lone district of Batangas City. While I do not intend to be judgemental  in my discourse, I desire to share to my readers the importance of choosing the right candidate.

 Danber - The wrong grammar in his personal ad might be an indicator of his lack of depth. No public service experience but only a family name to bank on. I heard of some nasty issues about his subdivision business where titles are being held for a long period of time.

He believes in FOREVER as only dynasts would do.

Bisa - He is definitely a newbie in national politics, but since he is a national labor or union leader, expect him to align with the progressive bloc in Congress if he wins. But if he listens to good advice, and some image work-out, he can initiate a fresh change in the way Batangas is represented in Congress.

Marvey Marino - This Dimacuha son-in-law has an impressive educational background but a pathetic political performance as a councilor and provincial board member. Clearly, his only purpose in public office is to have power. In that way, he can protect the Dimacuhas who will surely face a myriad of criminal cases as soon as they are out of city hall.

The nerve to run as congressman, along with wife Beverly for Mayor is really a blatant insult to the Batanguenos. What else can we think of but that they want total control?


                                                                 



Philip Baroja - former City Administrator and Executive Assistant to the Dimacuhas hails from Lipa City where he had a failed run for councilor decades ago. He found a good start with the Dmacuhas and really served them with utmost loyalty, to a fault. Unfortunately, people are suspicious of his real intention in running. Is he a pawn of one of  the power players inside the dynastic family?

Nani Perez - the most educationally qualified and experienced among the candidates. But he has his own baggage as a former national official - issues that haunt him and his family, including corruption, extortion, abuse of power and a tainted image along with his former "close friend" Gloria Arroyo.

Age has also coped up with him, and his "trapo" image is something he must reckon with. Some comments I heard - it would indeed be best for him to just grow more orchids. 

Consider his statement of withdrawal of his candidacy last year, only to surprise us all before Christmas that he is running after all.