Nearing the homestretch

“To be sure, it was not Easter Sunday but Holy Saturday, but, the more I reflect on it, the more this seems to be fitting for the nature of our human life:  we are still awaiting Easter; we are not yet standing in the full light but walking toward it full of trust.”  - Pope Benedict XVI

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After the holiest of weeks, we finally saw closure to the battle between Team Binignit and Team Biko which headlined social media the past days.  The thick fruity soup convincingly won over the sweet sticky rice, basing on FB and IG posts.

Then the rainbow battle resumes, with the combatants upping their respective antes.  Blue, red, green, pink and some splashes other colors sing, dance and do whatsoever to lead them to their desired positions in public office.  Of course, the campaign landscape won’t be complete without sports people running for office.

The highest position in the land has Manny Pacquiao gunning for it.  In his prime, the 8-division world boxing champion routinely annihilates opponents inside the square ring but in this fight he’s having, PacMan’s barely surviving the beating he’s getting from three other candidates ahead of him. Para kanino ang laban na ‘to, that’s the question.

Tito Sotto is running of the country’s second highest position.  The former national bowler wore our colors in the Bowling World Cup. He trails the current frontrunner for the VP seat.

64 candidates are vying for the 12 available seats in the senate and among them are Olympian and national taekwondo jin Monsour del Rosario.  He’s getting axe kicked in the surveys.  Incumbent senator Migs Zubiri is running for reelection. He currently chairs the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation and sits 7th in the recent senatorial surveys.

Among those running for the 253 congressional seats available are national fencer and head of the Philippine Fencing Association Richard Gomez for the 4th District of Leyte.  PBA and UAAP coach and former PBA player Franz Pumaren is setting his sights on the 3rd District of Quezon City.  Volleyball player Michelle Gumabao is a nominee for a party list group as well as Mikee Romero, NorthPort team owner and national polo player.  Cebu’s 5th District have triathletes battling for the seat in the person of Duke Fraco and Red Durano.

PBA great Vergel Meneses is running for reelection as mayor in Bulakan, Bulacan likewise Alvin Patrimonio for mayor in Cainta, Rizal.  Samsam Gullas, who manages the UV Lancers, Cebu’s winningest college basketball team is up for mayoral reelection in Talisay City.  Elmer Cabahug, another PBA great, is running for vice mayor in Mandaue City. 

The election is not about color preferences but on who we think can lead us to an improved way of life as we near the homestretch.  Our choices will dictate our fate in the next three years.