Big oil price hike vs. campaign spending

With the single biggest increase in oil pump prices this week in Philippine history, beer is now much cheaper than gasoline or diesel and car owners call gas stations as one of the most expensive places in the metro.

Beleaguered Filipinos get pro forma lip service from government agencies with no immediate action. Any trumpeted band-aid measure stand to benefit a few dozen chosen members of different sectors, just enough for the sound bytes of media stories.

Brace for the increase in prices of all basic commodities – even public utility vehicles using electric motors will charge higher fares – as well as utility bills, but increase in salaries will take months due to protracted deliberations, characterized mostly by objections from employers’ groups.

What’s puzzling – while vast majority suffers – the candidates running around the country are oblivious; spending millions every single day for their campaign sorties. They spend paying for the hakot crowd, the cheap merchandise, hired vehicles, air fare of the party’s complete lineup, venue, sound system, etc.

The disparity is huge and impossible to ignore. And BBM-Sara supporters keep accusing the Catholic Church of political interference. Everyone should be angry at the runaway oil price hikes – including the church.

Surprisingly, no one’s blaming Malacanang for the oil crisis. We understand it’s the Russian invasion of Ukraine that’s causing the problem.

This is the same scenario if the Russia-Ukraine crisis degenerates into World War III when any leader of the nuclear states fires just one missile. Just one is enough to trigger retaliation and counter-retaliation until all missiles are launched and all major cities are vaporized off the planet.

The Philippines is on the other side of the globe from Europe – you might say. The fall-out from just one nuclear blast will take just a few weeks to reach the entire planet. Within months from the first nuclear blast, vegetation in our farms and forest will wither because sunlight will be blocked, water will be contaminated, even if we’re more than 10,000 miles away from ground zero.

Those world leaders who launched those missiles will be sitting comfy deep inside their underground bunkers, fully stuffed with all the conveniences of modern living.

Will Filipinos be saved by BBM or Ping or Isko or Manny, not even Leni.

BTW, during this Women’s Month, mud thrown by BBM supporters against Leni backfired because those attacks presupposes Leni is weak due to her gender.

One positive aspect coming out of the campaign is the quality of the discussion, focusing on national issues. It’s the supporters who keep throwing personal attacks. “Leni taking off her shoes after a debate is a cheap publicity stunt.”

In the coming Comelec-sponsored presidential debate, expect BBM to back out – tight schedule is the standard excuse – because discussions may turn serious. Bongbong only has a limited script and beyond that will expose his mental character.

Bongbong has to instruct his supporters, including his paid trolls, to stop maligning Leni because it goes against his campaign mantra – unify the nation. The mudslinging is deepening the rift.

Has there been any incident of Leni supporters initiating a fight when they meet BBM supporters on the street? BBM supporters will not fight for the ideals of BBM because they are simply there for the money.