THE circus is on!
Candidates are striking up the marching band, leading parades, and unfurling banners and streamers announcing their eagerness to be “of service” to the people.
But they are causing inconvenience for the rest of us who have to run faster and faster just to stay economically in place just like the hamster inside a playwheel.
It is okay if they hold their activities in plazas, squares, and other open spaces which can accommodate crowds.
But when these politicians do their thing along busy streets and avenues, they slow down the conduct of commerce and lead to the loss of business or income to people who have far more important things to do than listen to the same political rhetoric and campaign pledges which are more honored in breach than in fulfillment.
There ought to be reasonable limits to these kinds of activities.
Aside from regulations on the acceptable campaign events, the Commission on Elections should also keep a tight watch against the use of government properties in strictly personal political activities of incumbents seeking re-election or another elective office when they have finished out their allowable terms.
In one town in Cavite yesterday, traffic on the main road leading to Metro Manila slowed and eventually screeched to a halt when the incumbent mayor led a parade towards the town hall where he presumably held a rally to announce his candidacy for congressman and his wife as candidate for mayor.
Outgoing Bacoor mayor Jessie B. Castillo led his supporters and followers as they marched towards the town hall accompanied by a uniformed marching band with leggy majorettes and musicians in uniform.
Castillo smiled, pressed flesh, and waved at passers-by and people looking out their windows to see what the racket was all about.
Behind them were some SUVs, jeepneys, and tricycles whose drivers were instructing motorists to make way for the convoy.
We would not have raised a hoot if all of these vehicles were privately owned.
But some, in fact, many of them were government vehicles as shown by their red plates.
Is this permitted by law?
Just be compliant, Jessie.
"Ang lakas ng loob mong mangdikit ng malalaki mong litrato (akala mo iniisip mo ang gwapo mo), pero paano pa kaya kung mukha mo ang dikitan, ano kaya ang maiisip mo?"
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