Danger signals for Mar Roxas, Chiz and Villar

In the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted during the period July-August, Mar Roxas placed fifth with 11 percent, 4 percentage points lower than Chiz and about 14 percentage points behind Nacionalista Party's standard bearer Manny Villar. What this suggest is that Roxas' ratings already plateaued and there's no room for Roxas anymore to maneuver to the top. This is the same case with Chiz Escudero, whose ratings continue to hover between 16-19%, while what's surprising is Villar's ratings continue to rise, yet, I believe that statistically, he has already attained his highest ratings. However, if Villar sustains his ratings of 25 to 27%, he may yet be the next president.

This survey also shows that despite the enormous efforts by Mar Roxas to improve his ratings through advertisement, he's not getting the high favorability ratings commensurate with the value that he's paying for those ads. Remember that Mar Roxas and Villar spend almost the same in terms of radio and TV ads. Villar is getting favorable reactions while Roxas does not.

Likewise, Roxas is not getting favorable ratings either from that highly publicized wedding with ABS-CBN broadcaster Korina Sanchez. In fact, his ratings got worst when he announced his engagement with Sanchez. Roxas ratings suffered a 2 percentage point cut despite his very aggressive propaganda campaign.

And don't count former president Joseph Estrada out. Estrada continues to sustain a very comfortable ratings. This is reminiscent of his ratings in 1998, when he registers a very high ratings in the third quarter of 1997 before finally getting the highest ever public approval ratings in the first quarter of 1998. Estrada's ratings validate info I am getting from grassroots organizers that the public is enthusiastically accepting Erap's candidacy if ever.

And look closely at the survey, Mar Roxas registers poorly in the National Capital Region and Mindanao, with just 8 percent and mind you, even in his natural constituency, the ABC class, he registered a mere 9 percent! That sends you a message that even intellectuals and the middle class don't seem to favor him as their president.

Worst, in the Visayas, his natural stronghold, he places third, with 16%---a far cry from the 30% of Villar and the 22% of Noli de Castro. Now, should Chiz runs, they'll be sharing or breaking the oppositionist class, the D socio-economic class, since they share the same 12% percentage points.

Mar Roxas' eight percent ratings in Mindanao validates earlier information that he enjoys little or no support from Muslim communities due to his warlike stance regarding the MOA-AD. I heard highly reliable info from grassroots organizers in Mindanao that they'll ensure that Mar gets zero votes in Mindanao.

Some suggestions for Mar Roxas

1. Please abandon the padyak theme. It's really not working for you.

2. Be different and rise above the rest by highlighting what you did for the poor and the middle class during his term.

3. Be different, otherwise, you'll lose.

On Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro

Despite his commercials and PR efforts, Gilbert Gibo Teodoro registered a poor 0.2percent rating, just 1 percent higher than relative unknown presidential candidate JC Delos Reyes. Imagine this delos Reyes does not even have television ads but he's just a tad lower than Teodoro's ratings.

This is a laughable situation. I think Gibo is just mishandled. He should change tack soon.