MISMONG SI QUEZON City mayoral candidate Mike Defensor ang nagpatotoo kung gaano kahusay ang kanyang runningmate na si Aiko Melendez pagdating sa public speaking to the point na mas gusto niyang mauna sa pagbibigay ng talumpati kesa sa aktres-pulitiko.
Understandably, mas may bentahe raw si Aiko, thanks to her three terms in the council that have enriched her as far as public governance is concerned. Kaya ganu’n na lang din ang pagtataka ni Mike kung bakit kabilang sa mga ipinupuntos ng mga kalaban kay Aiko ay ang pagiging “bobo” raw nito.
“Sa mga rallies namin, ina-address ni Aiko ang isyung ‘yon. Kung bobo raw siya, bakit nakatatlong termino siya bilang konsehala? Which is true, how could she have gained the voters’ confidence kung wala siyang alam?” Pagtatanggol ng QC mayor wannabe.
Aiko, however, understands that politics can get really dirty. Ang mas ikinasasakit daw ng loob ng aktres-pulitiko is not about what a few say she is not as a public servant kundi ang pagiging hindi raw isang mabuting ina sa kanyang mga anak (Andrei by Jomari Yllana and Martheena by Martin Jikhain).
“Talagang napaiyak si Aiko sa rally. Okey na raw na sabihan siyang walang alam, pero huwag naman daw idamay ang mga anak niya. Sabihin na nating artista si Aiko, but I could feel her sincerity. Hindi acting ‘yung pag-iyak niya,” kuwento pa ni Secretary Mike.
Histrionics set aside, Aiko is slightly pulling away in terms of survey ratings. It’s the same group, ani Mike, subscribed to by their opponents. As of mid-week, nakauungos na rin si Mike against his closest rival by 9% in all four districts, salamat sa klarong paglalatag niya ng kanyang plataporma as well as addressing the real, current issues that must be prioritized.
Interestingly, mas bumilib pa kay Mike ang mga nakinig sa kanya in at least four public debates, one of which was televised in NBN. Sa apat na debateng ‘yon, ni isa roon ay hindi sinipot ng kanyang katunggali, even the one organized by the Rotary Club of Quezon City (kung saan pinuno pa man din ang kanyang rival ng Kamuning Chapter).
But the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, ‘ika nga, ay nu’ng hindi siputin ng kanyang kalaban ang inorganisa ng grupo ng mga pari. Sayang, it could have been Mike’s opponent’s chance to explain his leadership agenda, maging ang pagsagot sa mga patung-patong na kaso ng umano’y katiwalian. Mike’s rival owes it to the public na siyang nagluklok sa kanya noon sa puwesto, masisisi ba natin ang mga botanteng ‘yon kung “nagugutom” at “nauuuhaw” sila sa mga sagot sa kanilang katanungan?
In Mike’s case, he’s always prepared with answers even before questions are thrown his way. He always has a say on every issue, means to solve any problem.
Huwag na ang kanyang “killer looks” that automatically ensure women’s votes (isama na ang mga boto ng mga vakleshi), Mike’s clear-cut agenda speaks for itself.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
