ILIGAN City ― “I’m wondering why you haven’t left like the others,” the speaker said to the last man standing in the audience.

“How could I when I' m the one in charge of the petromax that light the stage!” Was the reply.

This is an old joke that is retold even during these times…

I heard it on the radio being retold in the aftermath of that lackluster forum at the city public plaza Monday afternoon April 25

I counted the participants on stage; there were 14 only out of the 49 who filed for the position of city councilors ― but the official report later said there were 13, so I “over-counted!”

It was a letdown really of a forum as the majority of the candidates snubbed it…

The team who called themselves “Solid 15” was not around; the administration team called RVU 15 - O was not around too. Only the independents were there and a smattering of the other teams was there with the exception of the team of Atty. Leo Zaragoza who was all present all accounted for Although the team has only 6 candidates for councilors. Even lawyer Zaragoza was there in the audience below the stage

Most of the audience, by the way, were supporters of those who were on stage. So you could really picture what a letdown it was.

Meaning the majority of the voters here in the coming elections were not interested in what the candidates had to say.

Most of those who answered and were timed by someone from the DepEd did well. Especially from those of the Zaragoza team who all were in uniform in their multi-color tee shirts with a white background! And each time an answer was made by some interviewee on stage, the supporters in the audience would clap hands vigorously.

Many supporters were in uniform too, so ― ah well…

But for me, one independent candidate was kilometers away from the question; he was asked about ELCAC ― Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict but the answer was about the mayor’s Executive Order 17 which is the latest EO on vaccinations and which is largely ignored by the people here.

Still, the supporters clapped.

Am now wondering whether another such forum of a letdown kind would be organized.