MY TWO CENTS’ – Jumping to third shows what Manila politics is like

Mayor Rody’s on a roll, jumping in at third in the recent Pulse Asia Survey. While his possible presidential bid has been discussed often over the past year, it is only now that the mega Manila survey outfits have taken notice. Truly, a lot of noise has been made by Duterte supporters through signature campaigns and other efforts. This only shows a difficult reality in Philippine politics- that every speck of dust that falls in the Philippines needs to be noticed by Manila to be considered important. To have grown up politically outside of Manila’s political corridors requires that something extra special to deserve inclusion in a presidential preference survey.
Thus, those who want Duterte to win have to campaign doubly hard for every vote. His opponent will likely be a controversial notorious figure, or a showbiz-like personality familiar to a majority of voters especially in the concentrated Mega manila area between the cities of Dagupan and Lucena. Other opponents have the limelight in this region for even the most unimportant and innocuous things- with their only right to run for the presidency being their popularity in surveys, and their ability to hog and fight for their place in the limelight. This is what Manila politics is like. Manila politicos have summoned unto themselves the right to exclusively face the nations problems, yet are unable to cast the right stones to build their resolution. Under the watch of Manila, problems like insurgency, power shortages, environmental concerns, gender issues, all are fodder for press conferences, privilege speeches and committee hearings, yet little is actually done to work for their resolution. Manila politicos are often asked about their take on these things, and can only manage a good answer that seemingly satisfies the audience. For that is what we all are- an audience worth wowing and pleasing with the right soundbites, gestures and statements. “Magaling sumagot at magsalita,” (speaks well ) bears heavily, no matter what the substance or sense. Take a good look at the roster of other presidentiables under consideration in the surveys and you will see all except one Manila born and raised, and all others have pursued their political careers in mega Manila. Duterte is the exception.
So far, only Duterte has provided us a platform and program of government- a real advocacy that speaks to the chronic neglect of Filipinos at the peripheries, a federal form of government that may not create miracles in the first year, but will surely change the game in favor of the least, and perhaps give Mega Manila the breathing space it needs to decongest while other regions grow. The curious thing is that federalism is doable within the powers of government, an enabling environment for the country to thrive. Its no lofty promise of salvation, just a better way for us to do our thing for the benefit of a greater number.
We in Mindanao would like to believe that 2016 ought to be about electing a President with the right experience and capabilities that will help us resolve the festering problems that many Manila politicians will probably use a means to show face, but just don’t have the werewithal, the experience, or the guts to solve.