Election season is finally here. You can feel it on the air, you can even see it on TV. With many of the politicians aligning themselves on the inter-political constellations like stars in the heavens, the Grand Regodon begins, signaling the start of the dirtiest and most chaotic season on the Philippine calendar. And days before the start of the filing of the CoC begins, many of the power players already consulted their horoscope and have placed themselves at the forefront of the political trip to Jerusalem. Starting with Chiz Escudero, who left his Nationalist People’s Coalition Party for 11 years in a formal announcement last October 28, 2009. His reason? He doesn’t want to be attached with any Party that will dictate his decision in governing the country. But political analysts believed otherwise and said that the lack of financial support from Danding Cojuangco (NPC’s Founder) may have caused Chiz to go on solo. This is actually a commendable act that every politician should emulate. But Philippine History have spoken that not a single Philippine President won with out the help of a Political party. If Chiz can pull this off, he would be the first in history. But if he still lags in the survey till February next year, then History will be him. The first Presidential Standard bearer of a major political party who wants to go solo.

Following this surprise announcement was an equally shocking proclamation of Gibo’s Vice presidential pick last November 13, 2009 in the person of Edu Manzano. Actor and game show host Manzano who was an OMB Chair before he resigned from office was eying for the Senatorial seat but later decided to run the race for the second highest position in the land after much prodding from Lakas-CMD-Kampi talkathons. Manzano has been in the administration side ever since. Now the real test is in the surveys. Will he or will he not register on the polls?

And then came a not-so shocking, but actually expected announcement from Villar that his would-be political partner for the VP slot is no other than Loren Legarda herself. Loren Legarda was known for selling her principles in exchange for political alliances. In 2001, Legarda was among the senators who voted in favor of opening the envelope of then President Joseph Estrada during the impeachment proceedings. After 3 years, because of her political ambition for a higher office, Legarda ran as the VP of Fernando Poe Jr., the best friend of the deposed President and very much identified with the Estrada camp. Many were surprised with her decision, even columnist Rina Jimenez-David wrote an article in Inquirer and begged her not to take the offer of running with FPJ. Then just this year, she was one of the senators who encouraged the investigation of Sen. Manny Villar’s C-5 insertion scam initiated by Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Sen. Ping Lacson. At the height of the 3rd quarter political awakening of the Filipinos after the death of Cory Aquino, Noynoy Aquino came into the picture and the rest was history. Rumors surfaced that both Chiz Escudero and Legarda are being courted by Manny Villar as a possible running mate, but both senators vehemently denied the rumors and said it is very unlikely for them to run with the scandal-tainted Villar. Few months later, on November 16, 2009, the nation found out that only Chiz was the only one between the two of them who was true to his word… Sen. Jamby Madrigal summed up Legarda’s decision: Political prostitution.

Maybe the most unexpected of all this Regodon is the defection of power couple Ralph Recto and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos from ruling Lakas to the Liberal party last November 16, 2009. Noynoy supporters were not affected when Vilma Santos chose to defect to the LP since her record as a Batangas exec is as clean as her mascara in her face and she’ll be an added shine power to the already star-studded LP camp, with the Megastar, Multimedia Star and now the Star for all seasons. But what is undeniably eyebrow raising is that of Ralph Recto’s inclusion to the Senatorial slate who admitted in an interview that he was supposed to jump on the wagon of Villar but later decided to go with the Aquino camp. It’s like Recto was just buying a vinegar on a sari sari store but later decided he would run as a senator under the LP Banner. Understandably, as former Senatorial loser Prospero Pichay puts it… where the husband goes, the wife goes. Correct? But in this Recto style Regodon, most analyst doesn’t see Vilma as the problem, but blames Recto for putting ripples on the calm Lake LP because of his past legislative and political decisions that bears the name of Gloria Arroyo all over it like a sauce to a spaghetti. As a result, Sergio Osmenia III made a bold decision.

Just recently, Osmena Joined the LP leaving behind Chiz Escudero as the latter’s Political Adviser to join his long time ally Noynoy Aquino in the Senatorial Slate. But just as fast as he could say “Present”, he was also quick to say “Goodbye” to the Party. The reason? It’s all because of Ralph Recto. Osmena cannot swallow that a former Gloria ally was accepted in the LP Senatorial slate in the Person of Mr. VAT. Osmena then bolted out of the LP on November 18, 2009 just days after he was officially included in the bandwagon. The Lp’s stance to allow Ralph Recto to join the senatorial list was not a pick between him and Osmena, but between Vilma and the veteran Senator. Vilma Santos is a power house cast. Comparing Serge’s popularity to Vilma Santos is like counting the movie sales of Eskapo against In My Life. Get the drift? But what is puzzling is that, Osmena bolted out from LP because of a person identified with “evil” (Neri said “she’s Evil”), yet he chose to be under the umbrella of the malefactor counterpart of that same Evil… Osmena is now running under Erap… so much for anti-corruption principle I guess…

And lastly, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte (An Aquino Family Friend just like Alfredo Lim), Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, and (soon) Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad will also join the LP Bandwagon. No explanation needed since these three are very well identified with the Aquino’s so it is only Natural for them to jump fences. But…

What is really the deal when someone hops from border to border? Is it really because of the Party’s Platform? Is it really because they believe in the same principle of the Party? Is it really because of existing friendship, relationship and past histories? Is it really because of Financial support? or is it because of the popularity of the Standard bearer? No one knows. The only thing we need to do is to stay vigilant, watch on the ringside and judge each and every candidate according to past records, credibilities, achievements, consistency of decision and their placement on the right side of Philippine History. Other than that, its all pure prancing, hopping and sauntering… the Grand Regodon… That’s Entertainment!