MANY capable candidates for senator failed to make it because they couldn’t send their messages across to the voters. They could be among the best and the brightest but in a nationwide election, they could easily lose to reelectionists or well-known athletes or entertainers.

In 1998, a much-decorated soldier, Gen. Lisandro Abadia ran for senator in the same ticket with action star Ramon “Agimat” Revilla Sr. In one particular sortie, I noticed a man clapping enthusiastically when the name of Revilla was called. When I asked him if he’d vote for Revilla, he answered “yes.” I then asked him why.

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