Paul Farol: Local politicians coloring themselves yellow

Dec. 25 2009 - 07:22 am View comments (0)

	0		politicians, Noynoy Aquino

I just learned that a bunch of local politicians in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque are going around campaigning wearing yellow shirts.  Of course, this means that these local politicians are campaigning under the banner of Noynoy Aquino.

I asked why these local politicians were supporting Noynoy Aquino for President and I learned that the local politicians were campaigning under the Noynoy Aquino banner because their political patron was supporting Noynoy Aquino. 

The political patron of the local politicians was supporting Noynoy Aquino because he figured that it would be better to side with the most likely winner of the electoral contest in 2010.  For some reasaon, the political patron thinks that he'll more easily get Internal Revenue Allotment (National Government funds apportioned to governors and mayors) as well as PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Funds or PDAF) when Noynoy Aquino wins, particularly because he campaigned for Noynoy Aquino.

Moreover, one of the local politicians explained his decision to support Noynoy Aquino this way: "Uso kasi siya eh." (He's the in thing.)  This particular local politician also said that by associating himself with a popular national candidate like Noynoy Aquino, it would enhance his image among voters in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.  Moreover, he pointed out that his parents actually went to EDSA and supported the leadership of Cory Aquino when the EDSA uprising installed her as President.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the real political culture of Filipinos -- it is TRANSACTIONAL, it is HYPE driven.