Catriona Gray's Endorsement Of The Pinklawan Tandem Proves Presidential Elections Are Like Beauty Pageants

I would like to say that this isn't a personal attack on Catriona Eloisa Magnayon Gray or her endorsement of Vice President Leni Loud Robredo and Senator Kikoman Pangilinan. Though Catriona might be making the wrong choice (if ever) she's linked to Gagabriela alongside her fellow Kapamilya star Liza Soberano. I still want to make fun of the fact that Liza looks like Senator Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and they could be mistaken for mother and daughter. I feel like the Pinklawans are now cheering on former Miss Universe Catriona (or call her Catwoman) in her endorsement.

What really disturbs me is how celebrity endorsement tends to be the gauge of who to vote. I was even wondering if Neri Colmenares even had his much younger aunt, Angel Locsin Colmenares-Arce (since her parents are old enough to be father and daughter), because she's, well, attractive? I feel the celebrity endorsement for Leni Loud seems to be nothing more than a desperate move. People tend to vote because of popularity over credibility. Just think of how Joseph "Erap" Estrada (along with other popular athletes and actors) won the elections because they're POPULAR. Now, I feel like Catriona is being used as an endorser to Leni Loud and Pangilinan. 

The big issue of presidential elections is that they're just like BEAUTY PAGEANTS. A bit of a review of past elections will tell you why in the world did Erap win, did Robert Jaworski win, did Manny Pacquiao win, and why we keep getting popularity votes. Why are people voting for Leni Loud? It's because of her well-loved husband, the late Jesse Robredo. Robredo was a man of honor who I feel was a victim of foul play. Why did Bum Aquino even get voted? It was because of the Aquino surname. Now the Aquinos are losing popularity. I think the issue is that if ever we get a Leni Loud and Sara Duterte-Carpio tandem - it's again because of popularity. Bobong Marcos won the legislative seat several times, again, due to popularity. Even President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the late Noynoy Aquino both won the elections due to their popularity!

Presidential elections tend to be nothing more than popularity contests. Are you telling me that's how democracy works? Let's redefine democracy. Democracy is a government OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, and FOR THE PEOPLE. Democracy means that both majorities and minorities have a voice. Unfortunately, presidential systems are pretty much winner takes everything. Okay, this isn't to condone the spoiled brat behavior of Bobong in regards to Leni Loud. Maybe, one can say that Alan Peter Cayetano was a good sport in saying Leni Loud won fair and square. However, the big problem of the presidential system is that there's no real minority to have a voice.

However, such is NOT a problem with the parliamentary system. People vote by parties and not by candidates. In short, Leni Loud's candidacy represents the whole Liberal Party. Let's just imagine of Sara ran under PDP-Laban. Leni Loud and Sara will have to show their performance as politicians not just during campaigns but during their current terms. Let's think about it if Mar Roxas led the Opposition while Duterte led the Government. Let's say Leni Loud became the deputy opposition leader and showed she could lead. Mar, rather than lead a second term, decides to let Leni Loud be their new candidate for prime minister, so he could focus on other ministerial duties. Sara becomes the new candidate for prime minister because her father is in his late 70s. Elections for both platforms will focus on one thing - competency. Leni Loud can be the prime minister while Sara can be the opposition leader. Sara can be the prime minister and Leni Loud can be the opposition leader. 

The Internet, right now, is a ground for people, even nobodies can voice out as long as they don't use it to defame someone. Though, I'm still in favor of amending the cybercrime law since excessive libel laws can be detrimental to democracy. Catriona has the right to vote for Leni Loud and Pangilinan. However, I really laugh at how her not-so-surprising endorsement really shows that presidential systems are indeed like beauty pageants.