Bad romance

Monday, the 13th of May, is the day that is likely to be on every candidate’s mind every day — even today, when hearts and flowers will make mush of many people.

But these political wannabes will definitely have a harder time saying sweet nothings to us, Filipino voters, who have been burned one time too many.

Except it really hasn’t been just one time that we have heard them promising us the moon and stars, only to be sadly disappointed.

It has happened so many times that we have gotten cynical, callous and cold. We’ve simply lost that lovin’ feelin’, haven’t we? That loving feeling that put stars in our eyes also put so much pain in our necks.

We know this because we have seen how the most unlikely candidate turned out to be the change we needed all along.

That person who didn’t fit the mold was the one who shook our world, so to speak, putting to light so many things we took for granted.

And so with eyes open, viewers took to the television and watched as 21 candidates took center stage as GMA News and Public Affairs mounted Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off on 9 February. The campaign had begun.

“These political wannabes will definitely have a harder time saying sweet nothings to us, Filipino voters, who have been burned one time too many.

“Facing the music were Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, former Interior Secretary Raffy Alunan, lawyer Ernesto Arellano, Melchor Chavez, former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, labor leader Leody de Guzman, former PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Sen. JV Ejercito, indigenous peoples rights advocate Agnes Escudero, lawyer Larry Gadon, Muslim rights advocate Samira Gutoc, lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Maguindanao Rep.

Dong Mangudadatu, former broadcaster Jiggy Manicad, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, physician Willie Ong, former TESDA deputy director general Diosdado Padilla, Sen. Koko Pimentel, former Rep. Erin Tañada and former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino,” goes the introduction to the network’s replay video.

Just in case you don’t know all of them, it is good to review the list of candidates who risked sounding irrelevant, inane or idiotic by sitting in a debate. It is a sign of courage, we could say.

But if some did sound pitiful, then viewers may consider this as either a mark of even bigger stupidity (to have even entered a debate at all), or ingeniousness (for their bravery, you know).

You just never know what would make a voter shade that circle beside your name.

Even the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded broadcast stations organizing debates “to invite all senatorial candidates in the May polls or risk violating election rules.”

In a report on ABS-CBN online, it was described as “a logistical challenge” to invite all hopefuls. No matter, the Comelec said. The candidates can accept or refuse the offer, but a media outlet organizing these debates must give them a fair chance.

While a debate is indeed a “voter education event,” as Comelec spokesman James Jimenez calls it, it can be off-putting to those who have reached the limits of their patience for trapo styles and dubious promises.

One thing is certain: many candidates — career politicians they are — speak with great conviction. They can give non-answers but make these sound credible using issue-oriented words or phrases and star-struck listeners would simply nod along.

They can parry a potentially controversial question with such expertise one would wonder what happened to the question at all.

They can answer even the most pointed questions with a cool smile and know when to make a distraction. An inexperienced interviewer and the unsuspecting crowd melt in the face of such smoothness.

The lesson is clear: Take your time, choose well.

Either we stop the addiction to blind “love,” which in this case is likely idolatry, or the unhealthy cycle starts over again — a romance with all the ugly, with all the revenge, the drama, horror and lust. A convoluted disaster.