It’s all about money

By Al S. Mendoza

WHO can run and who cannot?

That is the most common question asked during election time.

Usually, the most common answer you get is, the one with the money can run.

The one without the money cannot run?

Not really.

It’s just that if you don’t have the money to finance your candidacy – your campaign to be specific – you cannot run.  Meaning, you cannot sustain your campaign without enough money in your campaign kitty.

In any election, you need money if you run for office.

You need money to print your flyers, posters, calendars, even simple stickers.

You need money to buy coffee and drink for the voters, and candies for kids attending your rallies.

Most important, you need money to finance your organization – organization being composed of people who will help you run your campaign.

In short, you cannot run without enough money, otherwise you will be severely beaten.

Sometimes, even if you have the money, you will lose because your opponent has more money than you.

In other words, election in this country is all about money.  Alas, the issues are but secondary.

In our beloved province of Pangasinan, who has the most money among our hopefuls for governor?

Almost all of them.

The frontrunners, of course, are the governor’s wife, the beauteous doktora, and Rep. Espino “Espines” for the simple reason that they are currently well into the mainstream of politics.

Espines is an incumbent congressman of our second district and, therefore, his campaign chest is bulging with cash.

The doktora, being the wife of the incumbent governor, has likewise the money machine to finance a protracted battle against anyone coveting her husband’s throne.

 

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Of the other pretenders, Vice Governor Lambino appears the least moneyed.  But then, if he gets the official blessing of Ate Glue’s administration party, Oskee will also become a force to reckon with.

And then there’s Art Lomibao, whose threat to run though remains just that – a threat. His No. 1 drawback is his being a rookie and if he runs, his fortune might not be enough to turn the tide on the established political animals.

Oscar ‘OO” Orbos is also one of the political animals, whose stake on Princess  Urduja will be as formidable as ever  considering that he was once a governor.  Popular as ever, his charisma has never waned one bit.

What about Bebot Villar?

Oh, well, Bebot has always been known as the hurricane, tsunami if you will, in Pangasinan politics.  Once he finally decides to make a go of it, all his foes will shake like a leaf.

Bebot’s power and influence (a.k.a. money and organization) transcend the usual political formula in that his name alone is enough to cause havoc on the opposition.

 

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It will be a slam bang affair if there will be more than two candidates for governor in Pangasinan. In such a scenario, the doktora might have the edge. 

However, how she’ll parlay that into victory is the so-called $64 question.

A woman has yet to win as governor of Pangasinan. Leticia Shahani had a go of it and lost, remember?  And to think that when she ran, she is the sister of the then sitting Philippine president, Fidel V. Ramos.

Thus, the doktora of Vic has a tough task ahead of her in justifying her claim to the post to be vacated by her graduating governor-hubby in May.

So, back to the question: Who can run and who cannot?

Anybody can run. 

Even my maid can.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/)

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