Dirtier in the last two weeks

“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.”—John F. Kennedy

MORE dirty stories are expected to come out against some candidates in the last two weeks before the May 13, 2019 elections.

Either some of these stories have been exaggerated and doctored, or have been intentionally invented with a purpose of destroying the reputations of those leading in the surveys.

This where the ugliest and most lurid phase in the Philippine elections will play center stage. 

It is part of the last-minute blitzkrieg marshaled by propaganda experts whose job description is to condition the voters’ mind and sow confusion in favor of their client-candidates.

The squid tactic has been proven to be effective especially in the races for governor, mayor, congress where the rivalries are neck and neck.

 

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There will be “flash reports” about certain candidates who are “withdrawing from the race for personal reasons” or have been “rushed to the hospital in serious condition.”

Or candidates who “have been arrested for a pending case not related to the election”; and candidates who “have been disqualified”, etcetera.

These confusing and shocking reports are usually released in the eleventh hour in order to send shock waves to the rivals who may not have enough time to belie or counter the canard.

Although the black propaganda’s authenticity can be verified soon, its damage will be felt belatedly during the election day.

Let’s wait and see.

 

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Self-centeredness inhibits our love for others, and we are all afflicted by it to one degree or another. For true happiness to come about, we need a calm mind, and such peace of mind is brought about only by a compassionate attitude, according to How to develop compassion, The Compassionate Life…Millions of people today know of Nebuchadnezzar, and have never heard of Pericles, simply because Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned prominently in the Bible and Pericles, the father of Athens, is never mentioned at all…STRESS CAN DESTROY OUR SKIN. A continual menu of stress causes the skin to become sensitive and prone to breakouts. Regular exercise and mediation will help diffuse its effects. Lying on a bed with our head hanging down off the side is a super destresser…SMOKING makes us grow older. Early wrinkling occurs due to reduced levels of the oxygen needed to keep skin healthy. Smoking is the prime source of oxygen deprivation. If a smoker is in the process of quitting, he or she must drink lots of water.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)