Ang Kalatas November 2015 Issue | Page 8

08 THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 2 | NOVEMBER 2015 PHILIPPINES ELECTIONS 2016 Lull before the storm The race is on. The battle lines have now been drawn. At the close of the official filing of candidacies last month, the main contenders for the presidential and vice presidential elections have been narrowed down to just maybe four - maybe three - serious contenders. 130 That's the number of peo- ple who filed candidacies for president in next year's elections. The Comelec is now busy weeding out the nuisance candidates. Campaign period starts early next year. It is a little silent now on the political front else the candidates could be accused of electioneering or premature campaigning. Main contenders are Grace Poe with running mate Francis 'Chiz' Escudero; the 'anointed one' Mar Roxas with Leni Robredo of the Liberal Party; current VP Jojo Binay with running mate Gregorio Gringo Honasan of UNA. Potential darkhorse is Miriam Defensor Santiago with running mate Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. Chiz Escudero is currently the frontrunner in the VP race. And the survey* says ... Fun, celeb power, and a lot of circus National election time in the Philippines can be entertaining. There is an array of celebrities, actors, athletes, including wackos filing their candidacies for whatever position is at stake. The contest for Senate seats has its own surprises ... LOL before the storm GRACE POE 47% VP: Francis Escudero MAR ROXAS 39% VP: Leni Robredo Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is running for a Senate seat under Binay's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party. The congressman, who topped absentees, in the House last year. With Pacman in the same slate is actress Alma Moreno, a past city councilor. Well, it's a democracy. Other celebs eyeing senate seats are Edu Manzano, who ran for VP in 2010. Old names rule 35% 10% JEJOMAR BINAY MIRIAM D SANTIAGO VP: Gringo Honasan VP: Bongbong Marcos *Voters' preference poll, SWS Survey, September 2015. Sen. Miriam had not formally announced her candidacy at the time the survey was taken. More than 54million Filipinos are expected to vote in next year's elections. Familiar names of political families dominate the scene in the Senate elections. There are the reelectionists like Tito Sotto and comeback hopefuls Richard Gordon, Migs Zubiri and Ping Lacson, Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan and Ralph Recto among others It's a crowded race in the Senate. But only twelve names will be blessed to land a seat in the Upper House. Many are hoping though that new faces - and more intelligent candidates - land seats in the Senate. Serious agenda Many are hoping though that new faces - and more intelligent candidates - land seats in the Senate. The more serious names to watch in the Senate slate include newcomers or bankable candidates willing to give it another try. Riza Hontiveros, popular woman and rights activist is running for a senat R6VBv