SO many things can still happen between now and 2028. Vice President Sara Duterte may even back out as a presidential candidate and be replaced by one of her siblings. Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez may make a major comeback once the flood control projects are forgotten. And then there’s former VP Leni Robredo—if she runs, it would be her second attempt.
Pinas’s electoral theme song should be “Que Sera, Sera”: “Que sera, sera/Whatever will be, will be/The future’s not ours to see/Que sera, sera/What will be, will be.”
Or should the lyrics be changed to “Kay sira, sira”… since only the craziest would dare run for office in Pinas?
As for the Duterte daughter, her fans might insist on “Kay Sara, Sara”…
A Duterte presidency would probably mean a return to drug suspects cowering in fear of Tokhang, much like the scenario during the term of the patriarch, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who, by the way, was the oldest to assume office at 71 years of age. He is now in The Hague, facing charges before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity—charges that have boggled the minds of his loyal supporters, who believe the country was more peaceful during his presidency: fewer drugs, more peace.
Fewer drugs also mean fewer side effects—and that’s true for maintenance and other medicines as well. That’s why prevention is key, and one way to achieve it is by using food as medicine.
Potential vice presidential candidates for 2028 include Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Robin Padilla, Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, and Sen. Risa Hontiveros. At least these senators would be following the advice to take “one step at a time, one day at a time” by moving up from senator to vice president instead of, say, from a former senator’s wife to president of the Philippines.
Pinas is not exactly fair to everyone, but it is a country where a government agency contractor can have a luxury car collection and even boast about it in a media interview without considering the consequences. Perhaps she somehow knew she could get away with it, thanks in large part to the powers that be, who allegedly benefited from commissions tied to the flood control projects.
2028 could be the most exciting presidential election ever—or not, depending on who ultimately runs for president. Imagine this pair: Robredo for president, PBBM as her vice president—just to make sure Duterte and her VP candidate lose.
A yellow-red team was unthinkable in 2022, when it was Robredo (from yellow to pink) versus BBM (red) for president. It would have been even more unthinkable in 1986, when it was Tita Cory Aquino (yellow) versus Ferdinand Marcos Sr., BBM’s father (red, white, and blue).
There’s a lot of history behind all that jazz. The long-running conflict between the Aquinos and the Marcoses was worsened by Ninoy’s assassination on August 21, 1983, which triggered anti-Marcos protest rallies that eventually escalated into the 1986 People Power Revolution, after Marcos was declared the winner in that year’s snap presidential election.
I wonder whose color will prevail if the Robredo-Marcos tandem becomes the team to aspire to in 2028: red, yellow, or pink?
