Old names, new game?

Are we witnessing the slow formation of a coalition built on unlikely friendships, rehashed loyalties, and the shared thrill of second acts?

The sudden demand by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for courtesy resignations from his entire Cabinet may have been a house-cleaning exercise, or the opening salvo of a grander political strategy.

Now that the dust is settling, whispers swirl about a few familiar names possibly returning to power — names once branded yellow, now bathed in the pink glow of reinvention, and maybe even a touch of red.

A yellow movement?

The last time we saw former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas was in October 2023, unusually close to the President during a smuggled rice distribution event in Capiz. They called it a reunion.

Marcos called him a "long-time friend," even chuckled about their days as New York bachelors. Old ties, it seems, are hard to cut. And with the President publicly acknowledging their enduring friendship despite political differences, the question now is not if but when Mar will walk back into the halls of power.

After all, hasn’t Roxas “handled everything already,” as Marcos quipped?

Former Executive Secretary of the late President Noynoy Aquino, and notably, law partner of no less than First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Paquito Ochoa Jr was rumored to get a juicy post at the Palace.

That’s not just a fun footnote, it’s about a connective tissue.

With the First Lady’s influence never in doubt, the idea of Ochoa returning to the palace, possibly in an advisory role or something even more substantial, isn’t outlandish. It’s strategic. He’s seasoned, unflappable, and most importantly, trusted by those who matter.

Taberna in the Palace?

Now enter Anthony Taberna, the broadcaster who has become one of Marcos’ most visible 'media allies'.

In a twist that raised more than a few eyebrows, Taberna was the very first guest to interview Marcos in the debut episode of the “BBM Podcast.” If messaging is the battlefield, Taberna may already be inside the war room.

And now, whispers are growing louder: could Ka Tunying be tapped to lead the Presidential Communications Office? His name is making the rounds in coffee shops, group chats, and newsroom backchannels. Co-host Gerry Baja even joked about it live on their radio show — but as they say, behind every joke is a kernel of truth.

The broadcaster himself isn’t denying anything. In fact, he announced an upcoming leave starting 23 June, teasing something bigger on the horizon. His coy refusal to address the swirling speculation has only fanned the flames.

The 2028 tease

All of this speculation swirls in one direction: 2028. A UniPink/Dilawan coalition? A reunion tour of the Aquino-era core reshaped to fit a new narrative under Marcos? The symbolism would be unmistakable: former adversaries turned allies.

Roxas, Ochoa, Taberna — a trifecta of experience, connection, and public engagement — forming the backbone of a unity slate?

Stranger things have happened. And in Philippine politics, comebacks are never accidental — they're choreographed.

The question is: will the public buy the performance this time? Or is this ensemble just tuning up for another false start?

One thing’s certain: in this administration, loyalty may be rewarded, but longevity belongs to those who can reinvent.