Muscling Up for Presidency

Bayani Fernando is all over Metro Manila, thanks to his posters that are displayed everywhere. “Kaayusan, kahirapan ay maiibsan” his posters, which were obviously funded by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), announced.

The posters are Bayani’s solution to his unpopularity that stemmed from his being a strict disciplinarian. He is perceived by many as anti-poor with his policy of removing street vendors, street urchins, and “ugly” things that is thriving in the Metro. In his term as its chairman, MMDA became an aggressive agency that is not afraid to the dirty works that will antagonize hundreds of urban poor and sometimes stirred a fight against mayors of Metro Manila cities.

Many of Fernando’s accomplishments as a chairman are commendable like clearing up the highways of the cities and disciplining motorists and pedestrians (though I hate his Pink Fences that herd people like cows and causes many vehicular accidents). MMDA is not free from criticisms and one of these is Bayani Fernando’s posters. It is fine if Fernando’s posters were funded privately. Unfortunately, public funds were used for its printing and installation. Since the people’s money was used for those posters, then the people should benefit from them. What’s the use of his posters? Would the mere sight of Bayani’s posters make motorists think twice before committing traffic violations? I don’t think so. His posters are eyesore like billboard and advertising posters that he detests.

The posters are for Bayani Fernando’s benefit alone. His posters try to associate Bayani with “kaayusan” (orderliness) and blot out the “anti-poor” sentiments against him and somehow remedy his unpopularity before the 2010 presidential election comes.

 

 

 

 

Please read Hunger [Will] Strike that talks about my stand on the looming rice crisis in the Philippines.