If only the presidentiables had a gameshow lifeline like Ask The Netizens, they might be able to give that million-dollar answer that voters are looking for.
The best watch party for any televised election-related event is the internet, where virtual companions can react live to developments as they happen.
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Experts, actual and self-proclaimed, are able to answer in real-time to the same questions thrown at presidential bets.
This is exactly what happened during Panata sa Bayan: The KBP Presidential Candidates Forum.
Through the trending hashtags #KBPForum and #PanataSaBayan, audience members posted their personal entries to the tough questions raised by panelists Roby Alampay, Dan Andrew Cura, Bombo Elmar, and Ed Lingao.
The results range from impressive to downright hilarious.
Here are the internet’s best reactions that may not win the presidency but have already won our hearts.
Who wants to be a president?
Social media users of different academic and professional backgrounds lent their insights to the presidential discourse.
Statistician and population researcher Sanny Afable commented on Leody de Guzman’s platform, agreeing that land reform would benefit the Philippines as it preceded development in East Asia and allowed our regional neighbors to modernize their economies.
In response to a question addressed to De Guzman, climate justice organizer Beatrice Tulagan similarly explained that imposing a wealth tax would not adversely affect micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME).
National Anti-Poverty Commission consultant James Miraflor also expounded on criticism of Manny Pacquiao’s “non-tax revenue” statement, clarifying that the amount at the Department of Budget and Management’s disposal from the sum of borrowings and non-tax revenues is almost half of taxes already.
Family phew
Others didn’t take the forum as seriously. While tuning in to the presidentiables, these viewers found laughing matter in an otherwise formal event.
Netizens also poked fun at Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the only leading presidential aspirant who declined to participate in the February 4 forum. It was later confirmed that the “conflict of schedule” behind his absence was an interview for Korina Sanchez’s Upuan ng Katotohanan, which goes “into their personal lives and into what makes them all human like us.”
“To be clear: When we invited BBM it was his team who chose the time and date. We had no choice,” the verified page of Rated Korina posted.
Jeopardy
Meanwhile, the forum received its fair share of criticism regarding its format, all-male panel, and failure to raise relevant issues such as the West Philippine Sea.
The program, however, was also praised for providing another platform for voters to learn about 2022 presidentiables, as well as being strict when it comes to controversial but verifiable facts.
Banner Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash
