By Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau, Southern Luzon Bureau, Central Luzon Desk, Mindanao Bureau

MANILA, Philippines–While the enthusiasm generated by the national elections in May has died down, candidates for the Oct. 29 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections have been trying to perk up the electorate by using time-tested campaign gimmicks.

Some candidates have resorted to merrymaking — complete with Ati-Atihan dancers and motorcades of jeepneys, pedicabs and tricycles — to introduce themselves to voters.

Others opted to conduct an anti-rabies vaccination campaign and free measles immunization for children.

Still others capitalized on a popular television show for name recall while some youth candidates named their group after a Japanese cartoon character to attract young voters.

The same charges of vote-buying and fraud that hounded candidates in the May 14 national elections, however, have also cropped up in some provinces.

In Nueva Vizcaya, local officials and residents have expressed concern that the exercise has been marked with vote-buying and flying voters.

Parents and SK candidates in Barangay Poblacion North have allegedly engaged in registering SK voters who are not from the village, said Councilor Michael Tiongson of Solano town.

In Aritao town, residents said some local officials were virtually dictating the outcome of the village elections by handpicking those who were supposed to file their candidacies and forcing others to withdraw.

Candidates belonging to one slate in Don Mariano Perez village in Bayombong town have been conducting vaccination of pet dogs.

“I wish it is election period every day because our barangay and SK officials become hyperactive during these times. They are so nice, so hard working, so visible, always smiling and shaking hands left and right,” said Dexter Divad of the Solano police.

In Laoag City, former vice mayor Marlon Manuel said people voting in the village and SK elections were not vulnerable to vote-buying because they would likely vote for relatives in the running.

“There is no room for 3Gs (goons, guns, gold). When they go to the precincts, voters will think about whether the candidate has been a good neighbor, if he had helped him in some way or whether he is a relative,” he said.

But like any election, the SK and village polls are used as vehicles for families to either perpetuate or expand political dynasties.

In Laoag, those joining the polls include Chevylle Fariñas, wife of Mayor Michael Fariñas, who is running unopposed.

Ruben Ablan, a son of Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan Jr., is also running for barangay chairman.

Except for a shooting incident in Bolinao, Pangasinan on Friday night, which hurt two village leaders, one of whom was a village council candidate, the start of the campaign period was peaceful, police said.

For some village candidates in Benguet, it’s payback time.

Several village candidates have asked for financial help from provincial officials whom they helped get elected in the May elections.

Almost every candidate in Baguio City were discussing waste management in their campaign.

In Barangay San Vicente in Tarlac City, streamers by a candidate for village chair hope to convey the message that if he wins, his village would be as merry as the popular “Bahay ni Kuya” of ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Big Brother.”

A slate of village candidates in Barangay Sto. Cristo is trailed by a procession of placard-carrying supporters and children, in black body paint, dancing in an Ati-Atihan fashion.

In Barangay Matatalaib, a group of five candidates for councilor called themselves the “Voltes 5″ in streamers and placards.

Elections in Barangay San Vicente, though, is something to watch out for. The top position is being contested by former Tarlac City Vice Mayor Tess Cabal and former Councilor Roy Escalona.

In Pampanga, the second day of the campaign period took on a fiesta-like atmosphere Saturday when candidates held their respective motorcades.

The motorcades, at times tailed by honking tricycles and pedicabs, wound through the villages’ roads. Some candidates threw candies and campaign leaflets to spectators.

In the Mabalacat village of Marcos, Larry Lingay is the lone Aeta among six candidates for village. Nine Aeta men, however, are running for councilor in the village.

Also in Mabalacat, village chair candidate Jun Castro coined a catchy phrase for his candidacy. In posters, he projected himself as the “katulong sa barangay (your aide in the village).”

Siblings of politicians have joined the race. Atlas, the son of Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales, is running for village chief of Dau. His younger brother is eyeing the chairmanship of the SK.

In Nueva Ecija, none of the pomp and glitter of the past local elections have been observed in the campaign trail.

The candidates, either riding on tricycles, motorcycles and “kolong-kolong” (motorcycle-driven cart used to transport hogs), were seen going on a house-to-house campaign.

In Tabuating in San Leonardo town, an early substitution of candidates happened Friday when a candidate for council member, Numeriano Sapiandante, was shot dead while campaigning. His younger brother, Atanacio, took his place.

Candidates in Bataan have been knocking on doors of their village mates and residents to ask them what they can give in exchange for their votes.

In Bulacan, candidates in uniform colored shirts, vests and native woven hats went around the villages of Bulakan, Paombong, Hagonoy and Guiguinto to solicit votes.

At least 800 villages in southern Luzon are under police watch. Some of them are regarded as “areas of immediate concern” or those where there is intense political rivalry and presence of armed groups.

Less colorful and photo-copied campaign materials are posted on mini billboards at village entrances.

Candidates are seen conducting house-to-house visits to introduce themselves and distribute fliers.

“We are also going to be conducting a candidate’s forum so those who are running could introduce themselves and their platforms,” said a village resident in Daraga, Albay.

In Laguna, candidates attended Mass at the start of the campaign period to pray for victory.

In San Pablo City, candidates had themselves blessed by their parish priest after attending Mass as their way of ensuring that they win.

Palawan’s largest village in terms of land area and population, Barangay San Pedro, has more than 300 candidates vying for seven slots in the village council.

“Many are running for council member for the allowance. It is a measure of unemployment and the lack of livelihood in the place,” Ruel Caralipio, a radio station manager, said.

In many villages in Cebu City, candidates launched their campaign early Friday with motorcades for the well-funded and house-to-house visits for those with small campaign kitty.

In Leyte, a barangay captain in Tacloban City admitted that she would pay each voter as much as P500 in return for their support. She is facing four rivals for the post she has held for the past five years.

Lorenzo Castellano, who was village chief of Ortiz in Iloilo City for 12 years, said vote-buying was also happening in the village elections although these were supposedly a non-partisan exercise.

Castellano, who is running for barangay councilor, said candidates were spending larger amounts to win because the monthly honorarium for officials was significant, especially in big villages.

He said some candidates were spending from P50-P100 to buy votes.

While candidates are only allowed to spend P3 per voter, campaign materials have become expensive and sophisticated.

In the past, candidates used posters made from sacks, Manila paper or cartolina but some candidates had glossy pictures and slogans on tarpaulins, Castellano said.

Campaign handbills used to be handwritten but these have been photocopied or printed, he added.

In Cebu City, some candidates have their own headquarters blaring campaign jingles while others have to make do with handing out handbills or pasting campaign posters.

Still others showed their well-funded campaign machinery during the first day of the campaign period by holding a motorcade.

In Maguindanao, provincial administrator Norie Unas said 90 percent of elective posts in the province’s 234 villages would not be contested in the elections.

The situation is similar to what took place in the province during the May 14 elections, when most elective posts were dominated by politicians identified with Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan.

“Barangay candidates who were endorsed from the level of community caucuses will be unopposed. And there are still efforts in the consultation level to make it 100-percent unopposed, depending on the outcome of further consultation,” Unas said.

In Digos City in Davao del Sur, candidates wearing colorful t-shirts distributed leaflets with their superimposed photos and asking people to vote for them.

But in rebel-influenced areas, the mood is different. In at least five villages of Pikit in North Cotabato, security remains uncertain.

Mohali Salik, whose group petitioned the Comelec to move the voting from Rajamuda, Baguinged, Buliok Proper, Barongis and Kabasalan to Gli-Gli, said armed men had been warning residents against voting on Oct. 29.

In Parang, Sharif Kabunsuan, Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said he was seeking the help of Muslim religious leaders for the conduct of peaceful balloting.

The police said 199 of the region’s 2,475 villages were deemed risky for both voters and candidates because of the presence of armed groups.

In Pagadian City, the village elections have become an opportunity for at least seven local journalists to enter politics. One of them is running for village chair while six others are aspiring to be council members. Reports from Gabriel Cardinoza, Peter La. Julian, Melvin Gascon, Delmar Cariño, Cristina Arzadon, Vincent Cabreza and Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Russell Arador, Anselmo Roque, Tonette Orejas, Carmela Reyes and Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon; Ephraim Aguilar, Jaymee Gamil, Romulo Ponte, Gerald Gene Querubin, and Madonna Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Junex Napallacan, Nestor Burgos Jr., Carla Gomez, Joey Gabieta and Ven Labro, Inquirer Visayas; Nash Maulana, Edwin Fernandez, Allan Nawal, Aquiles Zonio, Charlie Señase and Dennis Santos, Inquirer Mindanao