Bigo is the Pilipino word for frustrated, disappointed, failed. It is usually used in the context of a suitor whose love is unrequited by his love object. He is bigo sa pag-ibig—unsuccessful in love.
My hope is that Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay will not be bigo (unsuccessful) in his quest for the presidency as he seeks the love and support of his people. He offers them Bi-Hon (Binay-Honasan). Incumbent Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan is Binay’s vice presidential running mate. Hence, the terms Bi-Hon, for Binay and Honasan, or Bingo for Binay and Gringo, or Bigo for Binay and Gringo.
The former army-officer-turned-politician can come in handy with the feared massive cheating employing counting machines procured by the Comelec to boost the candidacy of third placer (in surveys) the Liberal Party’s Manuel Araneta “Mar” Roxas II.
It is believed Honasan could lead a military offensive against people who commit fraud in May 2016 to thwart the people’s will. In the 1998 presidential elections, Honasan served as consultant to candidate Joseph Estrada on security and anti-election fraud.
Barely eight months ago, in the March 1-7, 2015 survey of Pulse Asia, Binay, 70, was still unbeatable, with 29 percent of the vote, if elections were held at that time, more than twice the 14 percent of second place Senator Grace Poe, and far ahead of Rodrigo Duterte’s 12, Miriam Defensor Santiago’s 9 and Roxas’s 4 percent. In March, Binay led in all regions, except Mindanao, by wide margins, and all income classes, also by wide margins. The VP was, therefore, a cinch for the presidency.
Today, Jojo, my good friend and kababayan, is no longer sure to win. His son, Junjun Binay, has been removed as mayor and not allowed to seek election to any public office, forever, by the Ombudsman, for alleged corruption. With Junjun out of Makati City Hall and the Binays’ bank accounts all frozen, the spigots for endless flow of campaign donations are turned off, perhaps, for good.
In the Sept. 8-14, 2015 Pulse Asia survey, Poe bested Binay in the race for president, 26 percent vs.19 percent, a 7-point advantage equivalent to 3.5 million votes assuming 50 million vote on election day, May 9, 2016.
Binay was even outdistanced, by a hairline, by previously perennial cellar dweller, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas of the ruling Liberal Party who had 20 percent. Since the margin of error is 2 percent, a 1 percent edge indicates a tie for second place for both Binay and Roxas.
Poe dominated the Sept. 8-14 Pulse Asia survey, leading over Binay in the National Capital Region (26 percent vs. 22 percent), Balance of Luzon (31 percent vs. 21 percent), Visayas (20 percent vs. 16 percent), Mindanao (20 percent vs. 17 percent) and in all income classes—ABC (22 percent vs. 17 percent), D (26 percent vs. 19 percent), and E (25 percent vs. 20 percent). The poor—Binay’s once solid constituency—have shifted support to Poe.
Binay has lost a third of his voter support following 25 hearings in one year by the Senate anti-graft Blue Ribbon Committee that looked into alleged corruption by the Binay family in 29 years of rule in the premier business city of Makati.
The allegations are disturbing to the uninitiated—a grossly overpriced Makati parking building, an overpriced science high school building, overpriced birthday cakes for Makati’s senior citizens, a sprawling 350-hectare estate (3.5 times the size of Makati’s central business district) in Batangas designed ala Versailles and whose value cannot possibly be explained by Binay’s official earnings as a lawyer and Makati hizzoner. The veep opted not to belabor an explanation and a credible narrative of his wealth. He wants to bring his case to the ultimate court—the court of public opinion which decides in May 2016.
Filing his Certificate of Candidacy for President on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, Binay reiterated his desire to serve the people and address issues concerning the poor.
“It is a goal which guided me in my 29 years of public service to address the issues of the poor,” declared the vice president.
Clearly, Binay must recapture the broad support of the masa to remain in contention for the presidency that was once his to lose.
How does the veep do that? Well, by simply retailing endlessly his manual laborer-to-moneyed man story. He says:
“Like most of our countrymen, I was also born to a poor family. When my mother died and our house in Pasay was gutted by fire, I was lucky to have been adopted by my uncle, the brother of my father, thus, I had to transfer to Makati.
“I dreamed and I strived. I am well-adept in house chores including washing the laundry, ironing them afterwards, collect food for the pigs from our neighbors and feed them (pigs).
“Every morning I have to sweep the surroundings and bring out the fighting cocks of my uncle to their scratching pens before I attend to marketing. Only after then could I start studying my lessons for my classes at the University of the Philippines.
“Not are blessed with opportunities like me, and until now, many are still lurking deep down in the abyss of poverty even as they struggle to keep afloat.
And for the longest time, under the leadership of different administrations, one thing remains neglected: that is the effort to address the concerns of the poor.
“Progress is useless if it will not include everyone. This is what the government should focus on. This is what I’m going to focus on if I become president.
“With the help of God, the support of the people, and the unity of all, we will begin the journey toward real change that will uplift the lives of each and every Filipino.”
On Monday, Oct. 12, Binay was accompanied to the Commission on Elections by Honasan. Greg led a number of coup attempts against Binay’s boss, the late President Corazon Aquino.
The diminutive former Makati mayor earned the monicker Rambotito for the oversized camouflage combat uniform he wore while manning the ramparts of Malacañang, the riverside presidential palace, defending President Cory from the mutinous soldiers of Honasan.
Today, Binay’s biggest enemy is Cory’s son, President BS Aquino III. He wants Mar Roxas to win the presidency to ensure the President doesn’t send him to jail. Bingo for ingratitude.
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