‘Vilma Santos for VP’—will she or won’t she?

Despite Vilma Santos’ consistent insistence for a long time now that she isn’t interested in running for national office, we have been occasionally writing pieces that suggest or “divine” the contrary.

No, we don’t know Ate Vi’s thoughts and convictions better than she does, it’s just that we know from past personal and “national” experience that events sometimes conspire to take the country’s political future away from the purview of even the personages involved. This happened in Cory Aquino’s case, and again in P-Noy’s own “unprogrammed” decision to run for the presidency—and it can happen again!

The situation is less dramatically volatile now, but it’s becoming all too clear that careful political plans may end up again being overtaken and drastically revised by events.

For one thing, in P-Noy’s own political scenario, it was clear that his successor would be Mar Roxas. But, Roxas hasn’t figured strongly in presidentiable surveys to date, so will the Liberal Party just take a deep breath and go with its favored bet—or, will it go on “Plan B or C” mode and look for a stronger bet, to make doubly sure that P-Noy’s reforms will see fuller fruition in the next administration?

It looks like, while Roxas is still the preferred one, moves are also being made in that other direction, just to “play safe”—and this is where Vilma’s own involvement factors in. First, even if Roxas is still “the one,” he needs a strong VP bet to bolster his chances.

Grace Poe was the strongest option in this regard, but it looks like she could be thinking of running for president herself, because the gap between her and frontrunner Jojo Binay has drastically narrowed. —Which means that he’s now within “vanquishing” distance. So, if Grace opts to pursue her presidentiable destiny, to belatedly “verify” her late father FPJ’s own coopted victory, Roxas needs another strong VP bet—and Vilma is “it.”

Despite Ate Vi’s modest demurrals, she’s a prized national bet, because she’s famous and respected all over the country, has “trained” for years as city mayor and provincial governor—and is perceived to be “clean”—a combination of pluses that few other bets can lay claim to!

Indeed, “Vilma for VP” is such a viable clarion call that other presidentiables are also vying for her favor, like Binay and Rodrigo Duterte. How popular can a comely comer be—?! Whoever among her political “suitors” she gives her assent to would be a very lucky man!

—So, Ate Vi, the candidates await your “matamis na oo” —with bated breath!

Jumping the gun on that decision even more impudently— and perhaps imprudently—pardon me if I rashly predict that you will opt to run for VP.

—With whom? Uh, with developments in such a state of flux, this Nestordamus will have to (temporarily) plead—Beethoven’s Fifth?!