If you noticed that your quality of sleep has gone from worse to almost non-existent since Last Sunday, chances are, you’re being subjected to the annoying barrage of campaign jingles from local candidates whose paid minions shamelessly go around the barangays and villages with loudspeakers mounted on top of owner-type jeeps and even tricycles – even as early as 5 a.m.
Just imagine, you had a very late night drinking with friends you have not seen for decades and you get home at almost 4 a.m. And just when you are about to sleep and get some relief from the throbbing pain in your head, with your skull feeling like it has been skewered by Wolverine’s adamantium claws, along comes this shclepp loudly playing an incomprehensible rap about some so-so candidate’s accomplishments and whatever. And he does it every 30 minutes or so – to the point that you become so tempted to get up, wait for the moron to pass by your house again and put him (and yourself) out of a miserable existence.
Remember those jingles based on such last song syndrome-inducing mindless dance hits like Macarena and Dayang-Dayang? Well, they have been replaced by the likes of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” that could make anyone feel like wrecking someone’s face and heaven help us, Justine Bieber hits like “Lolly” or “Never Let You Go” being played over and over again, night and day.
We’re just so glad however that lately, we no longer hear the campaign jingle of senatorial candidate Migz Zubiri – the 2007-era “Boom Tarat-Tarat” song by Lito Camo. Sure, this might have helped Migz get elected in 2007 but it’s just so annoying hearing the meaningless song played over the radio, repeatedly going “Boom tarat-tarat, boom tarat-tarat, Zubiri, Zubiri, boom boom boom” and that last shouted portion “Masipag Magtrabaho!” Makes you wonder if the senator has run out of funds to commission someone else to create a new campaign jingle for this 2016.
Isn’t there supposed to be a law against pollution? Candidates should be made accountable when voters’ eardrums burst because of the endless bombardment coming from blaring sound systems about this or that candidate’s platform or agenda. And they should also be charged with the crime of littering because of their flyers that somehow always manages to land inside private homes despite the high walls. It’s just so sad that we don’t have laws against annoying political campaign ads, or that illegal possession of an unpleasant face and inflicting them on the electorate is not considered a crime.
Jeep ni Erap, Kotse ni Poe?
Still on the elections, a reader sent us a photo of this car whose presidential candidate is so obvious with its plate: POE 472. Grace Poe continues to be the undisputed frontrunner as shown in the recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations commissioned by TV5 with 35 percent followed by Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte at 26 percent. Vice president Jejomar Binay and Mar Roxas are statistically tied in last place, although Binay is ahead with 18 percent while Mar still continues to be firmly in last place with 17 percent.
Grace Poe supporters are also elated at the support thrown in by former president and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, whose solid support from his base (as seen in the victory of his wife and son in recent Senatorial races) of followers is beyond question. Grace Poe on the other hand is said to have the support of several of the country’s biggest business tycoons – which sort of gives her campaign a balance between the upper and lower rungs of society. So will the lady senator ride to victory with the Jeep ni Erap and—well, Kotse ni Poe? We will soon know.
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