Breathtaking Marinduque circus

Marinduque circus props

The filing of certificates of candidacies in the next five days will most probably give us an idea of how the conduct of the local election campaign will be carried out. But with certainty, it is another one that will morph into an unforgettable carnival. In this island, black propaganda and lies are oftentimes embraced by supporters of candidates who manufacture the lies to deceive the people more effectively.

Marinduque might be uniquely regarded as a political microcosm of the Philippines especially during the election period. Here, one would be amazed to know how facts and truth are accepted, at a certain point, as alien concepts. Validation of facts is never necessary for, the bigger the lie the more it would find believers in the poor, gullible populace. So let’s get ready for another time in local history when the greatest number of the biggest lies will be spread in the six corners of the island for the consumption of just a little over a hundred thousand voters.

Another thing that should no longer come as a surprise is to see how huge stacks of election money could suddenly make instant friends out of long-time political enemies. Then there’s the case of perennial candidates who, of course, are never serious in running but have the capacity to generate more blatant lies that will find support in many believers anyway. This type of candidates for an elective position is, in fact, encouraged and paid for by the professional manipulators to divide the votes in bailiwick areas. No matter, even if they are regarded as dakilang pambasag, with a new instant breed joining in, they all seem to take pride in the number of supporters amassed and prouder still for the money that’s already in the sacks.

In this election circus, an old circus line holds so true: A sucker is born every minute. 

There's always hope, yes, that the electorate will stand their ground. 

But it should interest mainstream media-practitioners to be in such a small, almost paradisical island where all the circus carnival elements just loom before your eyes without any effort, leaving you gasping for breath in their magnitude and insanity.