PUERTO

ELECTION ISSUE, 2007
Campaign posters and more...
PUERTO GALERA FORTNIGHTLY
THE CAMPAIGN period started on March 30 and
as early as 5 in the morning of that very day, the
campaign jingle of some of the candidates began
blaring in full volume making an otherwise normal
morning quite annoying to many.
From March 30 up to April 4, the candidates
went around all the 13 barangays, knocked on
doors and shook hands with the voters. April 5
And 6 saw the candidates honoring the holy
week celebrations with no one campaigning
openly. The 2-day respite gave the candidates,
time to assess their chances, come-up with strategies
and get the needed campaign materials.
Dr. Oscar Evangelista’s group and Dr.
Hubbert Dolor’s group were the most prepared
in terms of campaign paraphernalia including
posters, tarpaulin, flyers and campaign jingle. The
other candidates slowly caught up with thousands
of campaign materials added to the thousands
plastered everywhere.
The two brothers of the incumbent Mayor,
Teo Atienza, who are both running for Mayor,
both as Independent with no Vice Mayor or Councilor,
dressed up their respective headquarters
with huge tarpaulin billboards.
Kiko Atienza and Vic Atienza, remains undeterred
in their quest to succeed their older brother
Teo, who is running as the Vice Mayor of nephew
Dr. Dolor. Teo can no longer run for Mayor because
of a constitutional ban on a fourth consecutive
term.
A traveler to Calapan will surely notice the
difference in terms of the volume of campaign
materials splashed everywhere in Puerto Galera
compared to the more populated towns of Baco,
Calapan and Naujan. It appears that the candidates
here have more money to spend on propaganda
than there counterparts in other municipalities.
One comical remark from an observer:
Even the rats are having problems climbing coconut
trees with all the glossy posters and tarpaulins…
The third and fourth week of April saw the
candidates crisscrossing Puerto Galera with an
ever growing volume of campaign materials festooned
in every tree, every wall, every house and
in almost every vehicle in town.
Posters, banners, streamers, stickers whether
legal or not so legal are placed everywhere. Each
candidate has a different gimmick to get votes.
And some supporters are more passionate than
the candidate resulting in verbal altercations with
some ending in a police blotter.
One incident is between the supporters of Dr.
Dolor and Dr. Evangelista. The latter claiming
that the posters of their Mayor were defaced.
However, the supporters of the Dr. Evangelista
said that “their” posters are the ones being destroyed.
But accusations and allegations of dirty tricks
are also affecting other candidates and posters
and streamers appear and disappear as campaign
speeches become more contentious bordering on
the candidates personal lives to allegations of
corruption as the election draw near.
Pundits say that this election might even become
more dangerous than the 1998 election
where blood was spilled at the Municipal Hall.
As early as the first and second week into the
campaign, some candidates have already spent
millions of pesos and are ready to spend millions
more to ensure their victory. But at the end of the
day only one will be the Mayor, one will be the
Vice Mayor and 8 will be Councilors.
Some will accept defeat graciously while most
will say they were cheated.
“For the discriminating traveler, desiring
and deserving the very best...
at very reasonable prices.”
Puerto Galera’s only beach front
Italian-Spanish condominium and resort hotel.
Portofino is the Asia home of “Huevos Rancheros” –
Small La Laguna Beach, Sabang
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
5203 Philippines
Tel/Fax: +63 (43) 287-3227
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