THE period for the filing of certificate of candidacy for the 2010 local and national election has opened and candidates are given until December 1 to do it. Political parties are in a mad scramble to complete their line up, make alliances and arrangements with other groups and individuals. Those planning to run are now under tremendous pressure to make up their minds and decide what post to contest.

Various parties contesting the election have more or less settled in their choices while the transfer and pirating of candidates among them become intense. The die has been cast.

Ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD had finally found a suitable partner for its standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro in the person of entertainment personality Edu Manzano. The party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) hopes the choice of Manzano will resuscitate the dying candidacy of Gibo. Can Manzano inject life into Gibo’s phlegmatic national standing?

Senator Edgardo Angara bluntly said Edu Manzano had no add-on value to Gibo. As an actor, Manzano had no mass following comparable to that of big stars like Sharon Cuneta, Kris Aquino, or Dolphy. If Lakas-Kampi-CMD banks on Manzano’s showbiz appeal, they are in for a big disappointment. Manzano has no “masa” appeal and his political experience is scant. His sole political qualification is one-term vice mayor of Makati. He also lost when he ran for Makati’s mayor.

More alarming for Lakas-Kampi-CMD is the confession of its vice president for Mindanao and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri that their party is suffering from massive hemorrhage of members. According to Zubiri, as much as 30-40% of their members have left and transferred to either Liberal Party (LP) of Noynoy Aquino or Nacionalista Party (NP) of Manny Villar. The much vaunted political machinery of the administration is fast evaporating. Adding to the woes of the administration is the miserable rating of Teodoro in the surveys that remains statistically insignificant.

NP and LP had been the biggest beneficiaries on the sinking of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Both had been raiding the administration of its ranks and top leaders of both parties had been inducting Lakas-Kampi-CMD members into their fold left and right with LP having the edge.

The transfer of Batangas governor Vilma Santos and her husband former senator Ralph Recto were LP’s most significant catch this week. Vilma further bolstered LP’s arsenal of big showbiz personalities working for Noynoy’s candidacy. Top stars of rival Kapamilya and Kapuso networks are already on Noynoy wagon. Sharon Cuneta, Kris Aquino, Ai-Ai de las Alas among others joining forces with Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcacid, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera is a formidable force to reckon with. Add to this powerful group, the star for all season Vilma Santos and the combination becomes lethal.

Long time Lakas-Kampi-CMD member, its vice president for external affairs, Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte led groups of administration officials who defected to LP this week. Palawan Rep. Baham Mitra, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Caloocan Mayor Recom Echiverri were the latest batch of administration leaders who joined LP and junked Lakas-Kampi-CMD. They also brought with them their supporters and leaders.

Villar on the other hand recently inducted 600 officials from administration bailiwicks across the country. Among the NP’s haul were representatives Marc Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur and Erico Fabian of Zamboanga City. His biggest catch however was Senator Loren Legarda who finally agreed to be his running-mate ending Villar’s long quest for a partner. Legarda’s choice as vice president is a boost to Villar but whether this will restore his standing in the surveys is completely another matter.

Latest Pulse Asia survey conducted in the last week of October revealed Senator Noynoy Aquino received an overwhelming support of the respondents nationwide with 44%. A far second was Manny Villar with 19%, followed by Escudero, 13% and Estrada, 11%. Administration candidate Teodoro languishes at the bottom with a measly 2%.

Latest survey result is heartbreaking for Villar who prior to Noynoy’s entry was topping surveys. In the August Pulse Asia survey, Villar led the pack of presidentiables with 25% but now it dipped to 19%. Both SWS and Pulse Asia surveys on the other hand showed Noynoy consolidating his wide lead over his rivals despite all the attacks and barraged of criticisms from other candidates.

The political situation is still fluid and many changes are expected until December 1. Major casts in the 2010 election however are in and the election fever gripping the country will further intensify. Hopefully this time, Filipinos are wiser now and will choose leaders who can bring genuine change in the country.

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