In the last couple of months, we've seen an incredible movement of figures in surveys. If these numbers were true, then it's a good sign. Let me tell you why.

Without being bias in my discussion, I'll give you some positive points about the movement of those numbers. I said positive because it's not only an indication of something positive for Manny Villar's fans and supporters (and perhaps a negative thing for Noynoy's following) but also an indication of what's really happening inside the people's mind.

Indeed, there's a good news for all of us.

I'd like to believe that Filipinos are very passionate and emotionally attached to someone or something—to a known personality to a certain telenovela to an event. Such emotional attachment means so much that it started the world's first bloodless revolt. It's so effective that it brought about a second people power and installed a new president. Perhaps because we can associate ourselves with local television series that's why the Philippines has become a country of actors and actresses—you and I are in the plot.

But Cory Aquino would die. Her son, who's little known in terms of his performance as a legislator, became an instant people's choice. It's an overnight success.

And so at the height of Cory's death, political figures started to see what they could work on to the point even of trying to see if they can fit in. Indeed, fitting in they managed well. Just like his late mother who was unprepared, Noynoy seems to try if the history really repeats itself.

It is yet to find out.

Yet in a matter of months, such emotional hype and attachment of Filipinos seemed to shift. As the election day comes closer, many public debates were conducted. Candidates had to be out in the open and share their piece of knowledge on how this country should be managed.

Presidential aspirants started the battle to win the mind of the people, not the heart. Debates work well on the intellect but never the heart. Events such as death work well on the heart, not the intellect.

If surveys were true that Villar is tied with Noynoy, then I think people start to think and rethink about their preference on the basis of their intellect and not emotion. With all the emotional attachment seemingly gone with the wind, the real deal reveals itself. Again, that is if surveys were true.

Nonetheless, it's called trending—mental conditioning for people to influence their preference. Those who got the highest rating would probably win in the end. Not that it is tied, who's going to win?

The game is still far from over. There are still a lot of things in the horizon. There are still millions of pesos to disburse. There are still many issues to be debated upon. There are still a lot of rooms for mistakes.

But the good news is people start to realize one thing: In order for us to move forward we need not only the heart of a leader, but his head and qualification. This is if we want to prevent the history from repeating itself.

Complete entry at http://www.lloydluna.com/?p=1173