Mar should dissociate himself from the PNoy curse

There once was this thing in Philippine politics called “Cory Magic.” 

That thing referred to the power of endorsement displayed by the late former President Cory Aquino.

That thing may have been real. It made for the election of her preferred successor in 1992 – former President Fidel V. Ramos who bagged the post following a narrow margin in the polls over Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who led in most of the surveys prior to voting day.

That thing may have helped several young, emerging politicians win gubernatorial posts in the first local elections following Cory’s ascension to power.

That thing may have been the sole factor that made for the erstwhile Rep. Noynoy Aquino’s win in the senatorial race of 2007. It will be recalled that the late Cory pleaded on television for the people to vote for her son who quietly sat beside his mommy as the latter made her pitch.

It may have been the one and only consideration adopted by the electorate in 2010, as many of them voted for then-Sen. Noynoy Aquino to the highest office of the land. It will be recalled that, at Cory’s funeral, the then-senator’s famous youngest sister loudly hinted to the nation that his mother had made a deathbed wish for him to make a run for the presidency.

There was a Cory magic. It appears that, unlike vast parcels of hacienda land, a mother’s magic cannot be made part of an estate that can be inherited.

There is no PNoy magic.

The miserable performance of Palace presidential bet Mar Roxas appears to prove that view.

Despite the open endorsement by PNoy, Roxas continues to languish in the fourth spot in the surveys, occasionally making it to third place, if the other aspirants happen to be tied on either first or second place.

This is happening despite the fact that Roxas may be one of the best qualified to be the country’s chief executive. He beats other aspirants in terms of education. He won’t be biting the dust either when it comes to performance in both elective and appointive positions.

Roxas also appears to have the best breeding – the nobility of his lineage shows in his deportment and language. He has character and both his distinguished grandfather and father must be proud of him.

All these appear to have lost their innate value when associated with PNoy’s “Matuwid na Daan” propaganda. Not only does Pnoy have no magic – he appears to be the curse to Roxas’s presidential bid.

Also, in the survey conducted by Pulse Asia and commissioned by a giant broadcasting network, Sen. Bongbong Marcos further upped his ratings and now enjoys a statistical tie with erstwhile frontrunner Sen. Chiz Escudero.

That tie was due to Marcos’s upward surge and Escudero’s downward plunge.

What is alarming is that the survey period covered the dates of the last Edsa celebration where PNoy berated and vilified the Marcoses.

It appears that, in response to the presidential rant, the people cemented their preference for the nemeses of the Aquinos.

Many observers have said time and again that if Roxas were serious with his candidacy, he should dissociate himself from the PNoy curse. He should define himself and stand on his own merit – of which he is not wanting.

It appears he has not heeded the advice, thanks to the advertising gurus who continue to peddle the view that the only way Roxas could win is to represent the continuity of PNoy’s “Matuwid na Daan.”

It may be too late in the game to depart from that failed communication strategy.

It appears, however, that the sycophants around Roxas continue to believe he can win the elections despite his poor showing.

Campaign insiders say the gang already has plans on how to divide the spoils of war. One of them, a very familiar face of the Pnoy administration, has already reportedly gotten Roxas’s commitment that he shall be named secretary of foreign affairs.

This is going on even as it becomes obvious that there is no PNoy magic to bank on.

There must be some other form of magic these guys have in their arsenal.