PHILIPPINE political exercises, past and present, have always been characterized by guns, gold and goons. Or as Mindanew?s Carolyn Arguillas is now paraphrasing it – wealth, weapons and wheels (http://pcij.org/stories/the-poor-get-poorer-ampatuans-get-richer-as-ira-billions-pour-in/).
Of course, there are areas where not all three elements are necessary in order to win. A combination of two of them would be good enough.
Which brings us to the ?what and where? states of Filipino world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao?s bid to win a seat in the Philippine Congress via the province of Sarangani.
Manny has repeatedly said he learned his lessons very well ? albeit costly ? when he first ran but resoundingly lost to Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio in 2007 in nearby General Santos.
It is said that the Antoninos made elections in General Santos City very expensive political exercises.
No one can match the Antoninos? wealth in the city without losing their shirt in an election. In fact, many have already lost theirs. Just ask a former lady mayor of General Santos.
The only times the Antoninos lost an election in General Santos were when Lualhati Antonino, wife of Adelbert, ran for mayor against Nu?ez in 1988 and in 1995 when then incumbent mayor Adelbert?s complacency allowed Nu?ez to score an upset. Since then, the Antoninos have reigned virtually unchallenged. Many have opted to join the Antoninos instead of launching a campaign of futility against them.
The Riveras, through scion Ryan, tried but lost miserably despite spending more than P20 million. Manny himself reportedly was P140 million poorer by the time he realized the futility of running into the brick wall that the Antoninos are.
This year, Manny has chosen to try his luck in another place – in Sarangani – where another well-entrenched political clan will surely keep the election a battle of who has the bigger war chest and who knows how to spend them wisely.
Like the Antoninos are not from General Santos (they are from Kiamba town in Sarangani), Pacquiao is not from Sarangani. His wife Jinky is.
Pacquiao believes he needs more than the P140 million he threw away against the Antoninos to have an even chance against the Chiongbians who have been a fixture in politics in the province and even before it was created in 1992.
A gaming man himself, Manny knows that he will have to go all in against the Chiongbians and hopes they will fold. Otherwise, Manny will again walk away from his bank crying. If the Chiongbians will call, they would have to match Manny?s stack on the table chips for chips.
Wealth for wealth, the Chiongbians have more than double what Manny had already earned throughout his boxing career and plenty to spare. But these are tied in businesses and assets ? fixed and real state. Additionally, they are tied up in family-owned corporations. Any decision to unload some of them against Manny will have to be with the consent of all family members.
It is a wide knowledge inside the camp of Manny that the boxing champion had already spent at least P60 million, some say it is already in the nine-figure level by the time he left to train for the Clottey fight, while building up his ?machinery? in the run up to the campaign.
It is easy to make a mental calculation of how much Manny had already spent.
Here are some figures one might be interested. Each of the seven mayoralty candidates under Manny?s ticket where reportedly ?issued? either SUVs or pick-up trucks, excluding his candidates for governor and vice governor. Some favored candidates were reportedly already released up to eight figures in cash to build Manny?s machinery.
He has set up his own printing press and bought at least P1.2 million radio time.
A mobile stage was rented by his camp reportedly to the tune of P9 million for the duration of the campaign.
He has enlisted the ?services? of several local media personalities to help in his campaign.
And the campaign is barely on its first week.
Talk about being once a poor kid.
Manny is putting all the stops to win this time.
Will the Chiongbians call or fold?
