An electoral protest?

When will the election-related violence end? When the votes are counted? Apparently not. Even when a winner has been proclaimed, electoral protests can still hound the victor. In Ilocos Norte, a different kind of electoral protest ended the political career of the incumbent mayor. While attending the Farmer’s Festival, Bacarra Mayor Philip Velasco was shot and killed right in auditorium where festivities were being held. Politics is the main angle the police is exploring as motive for the mayor’s murder. (Image from ABS-CBN Interactive)

It’s all about change

Counting of election results is ongoing. Two days ago, in precincts around the country, teachers began tallying ballots cast last Monday. Poll watchers closely scrutinized the teachers’ actions. Kibitzers at the back of the cramped classrooms or peeking through the jalousie slats gave their blow-by-blow accounts or provided running commentaries to whoever cared to listen.

PLAN Co REVOLT vs. MaS PARA SA KiDZ Mo

As far as mnemonics go, these two don’t really work. I tried naming the candidate according to the letter prompt and every time I would be stumped. A case in point: A in PLAN — Aquino? No, it’s Alan Cayetano! And when you have three As in the other acronym, wouldn’t you be confused and name somebody from the other party?

Because when you come down to it, there really is no difference between the two. They could actually show up in each other’s sortie and no one would really see any difference. Ok, except for some.

Which brings me to this point — which acronym has the more sinister connotation? As my three readers commented, it’s PLAN Co REVOLT that makes them look behind their shoulders. Indeed, the idea of one voting for candidates who “plan to revolt” is rather odd. Especially if those who advocate a “revolt” against corruption and poverty aren’t so squeaky-clean themselves. Which the other party capitalizes on in their new ad — telling viewers to leave behind a tumultuous past and to look forward to a future primed for progress. But that doesn’t make it less sinister, though. Especially if you think of that future painted by MaS PARA SA KiDZ Mo as the Emerald City that the yellow brick road leads to in The Wizard of Oz.