The latest SWS survey just came out. Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party is still ahead of Nacionalista standard bearer Manny Villar despite being outclassed in the ads and air war. Aquino's lead is widening, while Villar's numbers are on the downside, probably affected by the latest campaigns by former president Joseph Estrada who continues to garner percentage points. Estrada is now third, narrowing the gap between him and Villar's. Villar's ranking fell by six points while Estrada gained four percentage points, an indication that Villar is the one losing territories with the renewed Estrada campaign.
Like what I wrote here previously, Estrada's campaign is hurting and will hurt Villar's in the coming weeks. Estrada is regaining his lost territories which were "hijacked" by the Nacionalista. Now, will it help that Villar is gaining allies from the administration party? Will this improve his standing notwithstanding? Let's just see in the next survey because these April surveys will show if really local executive support impacts on the way people perceive national candidates.
And it seems that the trend is following a very distinct pattern:
While Estrada regains his old territories hijacked by the Nacionalista, Villar loses considerable areas of support. However, while some areas covered by Estrada went back to him, most areas shift to Noynoy. Hence, the more Estrada campaigns, the more Noynoy benefits and Villar suffers. If this trend continues, Villar will be at the losing end of the game. In the end game however, it will be a very close fight among Noynoy Aquino, Villar and Estrada. The likelihood of a candidate gaining just 5-7% lead over his closest rival exists.
The ABC class is a revelation---Villar lost 16 percentage points which Aquino actually benefitted by gaining 15%. This means that the ABC class has now shifted their loyalties. It is in this class where support for Villar is weakening.
And what is highly significant is the fact that Estrada is gaining NEW territories, a fact which must not escape notice from the Liberal party. Aquino's base of support seemed to be at a standstill--between 35% to 40%--good, but not entirely. It just shows that Aquino's support base is not eating up those of Villar's and even of Estrada's.
There is about 5-6 million people who remains undecided. Critical for Aquino, Villar and Estrada to gain a slice of this huge number. Whoever exploits this will gain a slight advantage in the end. Villar lost considerable support in the "D" Class, about six percentage points, which benefitted Estrada who gained four and Richard Gordon who got two percentage points. In the "E" class, Villar lost four percentage points, while Aquino and Eddie Villanueva got two percentage points each, an indication that the masses are shifting their loyalties.
Let me tell you a story of a great man.
When darkness was slowly enveloping this nation, a young man by the name of Eddie Villanueva stood up and preached the light of Socialism. " You have nothing to lose but your chains", Eddie shouted. People believed that young Bulakeno, because his words spoke of the misery of their situation, one of oppression, hunger and poverty. Socialism, for Bro. Eddie, was the answer. Revolution, says Bro. Eddie, is the key towards true liberation.
Bro. Eddie was still a student when he successfully managed to break the tight grip of a land syndicate in Bulacan. Eddie Villanueva fought them thru the strength of his Marxist reason and they all landed in jail.
Twice did the security agencies of this country imprisoned him and they tried to break his will. Yet, they did not succeed. It was only through the intercession of the Holy Spirit thru Christ that Eddie realized the futility of his struggle.
" It was Christ that arrested me", says Eddie before a group of Pinoy Bloggers last Saturday. " ...And I was not the same again."
Eddie realized that human liberation, for it to be complete, must involved the liberation of the soul. Liberation from wants is temporal. Freedom of the soul is everlasting.
From preaching Socialist revolution to break the chains of human bondage, to the revolution preached by Christ which centered on breaking the chains of spiritual bondage, that completes the man, Bro. Eddie Villanueva.
People listened to him and thru his Jesus is Lord Ministry, thousands, even millions of people were liberated from their bondages. Now, JIL is a worldwide ministry with over 47 chapters around the world.
Now, the Holy Spirit has stirred Bro. Eddie Villanueva's spirit once again. Through the proddings of his fellow believers composed of those in the Bangon Pilipinas Movement, Eddie Villanueva is running for president, for the second time.
And people say, that's a wrong decision. Why? Because many people thought that religion and the affairs of the state are two totally different and conflicting concepts.
But, as a Christian, you are taught to love your fellow human being, you are taught to help the widows in their affliction, the orphans in their solitary and the poor in their misery, how would you do just that?
As a Christian, God wants you to fight for freedom of your fellow man, of justice for those who have none and democracy for those oppressed. Jesus Christ did that in so many instances in the Bible. And as a Christian, one must emulate the workings of Christ when he was still on this earth.
No, says Bro. Eddie Villanueva. A Christian must do the will of God which is not only preach or convert people to the true path but also try to illuminate them of their situation and unite them to fight against those who oppress the land.
That's the reason why Bro. Eddie Villanueva is running for the presidency, because he believes that if he wins, he will be used by God as an instrument for change.
If Eddie wins the presidency, he will change things.
He will smash the syndicates that rule this land. He will use the enormous powers of the Office of the President to arrest and incarcerate those who steal the monies of the Filipino People.
He will implement a no-nonsense peace and order drive. He will make peace possible by bringing together all insurgent groups for a dialogue.
He will break the syndicate inside the Department of Education so that they will not eat up the budget given to the department. He will prioritize education.
Bro. Eddie Villanueva will re-launch the moral recovery program and see to it that the bureaucracy improves.
Bro. Eddie Villanueva will marshall all reform-minded Filipinos and unite them under the banner of True Filipino Pagbabago.
The question is---is the Filipino People really ready for such a change? With a republican mindset, Filipinos will find it hard to accept real change.
And Bro. Eddie Villanueva represents that true Filipino concept of change.
