Babe's Eye View article

Like basketball, a dream game between rivals like Ateneo and La Salle always puts together the best players from the past and present to create a “Dream Team” to make the game more exciting. But always, the main objective is to win.

In politics, it is a totally different ballgame. Every candidate dreams of being a winner, but more often than not, that dream turns into a nightmare especially when a candidate is not qualified or trails in the surveys. Eventually, he wakes up to the reality that he is not winnable, even coming up last in the game.

Joseph Estrada is one who truly believes in surveys, and his advice to potential candidates is to go around first to feel the pulse of the people and find out if he is winnable before joining the race. As a matter of fact, during the 2004 elections, many of those identified with him—like Tessie Oreta and Kit Tatad—decided to jump ship when Erap did not include them in the list of senatorial candidates because he felt they were not winnable based on surveys.

One “Dream Team” that everybody is talking about is the tandem of Mar Roxas-Noynoy Aquino or vice versa. The recent sympathy generated by the passing away of Mrs. Cory Aquino obviously made the situation within the Liberal Party very volatile, with differences in opinion on who should be the party standard bearer. LP chairman emeritus Jovy Salonga favors a Mar-Noynoy combination, while former TV host Eddie Ilarde and allies are inclined towards a Noynoy-Mar formula.

Mar Roxas, however, already had an early start with his radio and TV commercials targeting the masa. Naturally, his upcoming wedding with Korina Sanchez gives him additional media mileage. But in the end, the Liberal Party will have to find out from forthcoming surveys if it should be Mar-Noynoy or the other way around, although at this point, there’s no question a lot of people consider them to be the “Dream Team.”

Since we’re stuck with a multiparty system, there’s going to be at least four or five presidential candidates in 2010, and each one will need a good vice presidential candidate to help them get more votes. We certainly would like to see more “dream teams” to give people a wider field to choose from.

For the Nacionalista Party, if Manny Villar can get Vice President Noli de Castro, they could be another solid team with both men having a very strong following from OFWs and small-scale businessmen, combined with the classic masa appeal of De Castro.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition is choosing between Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda, with both having the support of the youth. But ultimately, the decision will be made based on surveys to decide which of the two should be the frontrunner.

One formidable tandem that would be extremely hard to beat would be Brother Mike Velarde and Joseph Estrada or vice versa. These two could cause a major headache even for the Supreme Court should constitutional questions arise, since both have a huge following from the masses which make up a majority of the voting population. Judging from the turnout at El Shaddai’s 25th anniversary last night and the phenomenal response for Erap’s Lakbay Pasasalamat sorties here and abroad, the combined following of both men is simply phenomenal. Both are formidable kingmakers and could be potential kings.

This is a “Dream Team” that can’t simply be dismissed, and if both agree to help each other, they will be virtually unbeatable. My sources tell me a proposition being bruited about in the inner circle of both camps to go around possible constitutional problems is for Brother Mike to run as president, after which he would step down for Erap to succeed him.

All these possible team-ups come from the opposition and none from the administration. Ever the wily politician and psy-war expert, FVR’s continued rejection of the chairman emeritus position offered by the Lakas-Kampi merger was a big blow to the administration—and “no amount of cognac or even a $20,000 dinner” could convince him to change his mind. It’s obvious he wants to keep the Lakas party, and as one businessman closely associated with FVR confided, the former president may even run himself. It will certainly be interesting to see FVR and Joseph Estrada pitted against each other in 2010.

As for Gilbert Teodoro and Bayani Fernando—these two continue to have low ratings and lag behind surveys. At this point, it seems highly unlikely for either one to slide down as vice presidentiable in case they are not chosen as standard bearer.

In the case of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and Brother Eddie Villanueva—both claim to have received signals from God that they should run. And certainly, they believe the “voice of God” is the “voice of the people.”

All these are possible scenarios, and anything could happen from now until the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy in November. According to sources, an undisclosed survey from Pulse Asia shows Joseph Estrada at number one, followed by Chiz Escudero with Manny Villar hanging on to third. Noli de Castro—who months ago lorded it over at the top spot—has slid down to 4th place, followed by Mar Roxas and Loren Legarda at the tail-end.

One must remember though that all these surveys are very volatile and results could change dramatically at the drop of a hat. In the end, what people need is a good choice of candidates who would possibly lead this country for the next six years—a “Dream Team” that would help Filipinos achieve their hopes and dreams for a better life.