Roxas on Duterte: #AsaPaMore

IF politicians spoke using hashtags, how would they describe and diss each other?

Using popular hashtags, Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II described people and places during a light-hearted game by the end of the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum on Wednesday.

READ: Aquino on Grace Poe: #SaTamangPanahon

A hashtag is defined as a word or phrase preceded by the hash (#) symbol that categorizes accompanying text, such as posts on social media sites like Twitter.

“#AsaPaMore” or “you wish” was Roxas’ response when the name of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is also eyeing the presidency, was mentioned.

It was similar to his chosen hashtag — “#PushPaMore” or “try harder” — for political rival Vice President Jejomar Binay. Binay used to top the electoral poll surveys but had slid lower due to the corruption allegations against him.

As for Senator Grace Poe, who seems to be his closest rival in terms of electoral surveys, Roxas said “#SecondChance” suited her. He did not explain his answer but seemed to imply a second electoral run in case she loses to him.

Roxas had only good words for those close to him, including his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who he described as “#Blessed.”

His wife, former broadcaster Korina Sanchez, he dedicated the phrase “#lovelovelove” before mumbling “Makakauwi ako mamaya (I’ll be able to go home later).”

Meanwhile, he said he considered President Benigno Aquino III as his “#BFF” or best friend forever.

“Ang tanong eh yun din ba ang tingin nya sa akin (The question is if he also sees me that way),” Roxas told an amused crowd.

It was revealed during the forum that he and Sanchez have a Labrador named “Goya” who he described as “#FantasticBaby.”

With commuters still complaining about crowded trains that often suffer technical glitches, Roxas assigned the hashtag “#AchievePaMore” to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

Asked about the Wharton School of Economics in the University of Pennsylvania, where he took up an economics degree, Roxas admitted that it was a “HumbleBrag.”

As for the old Fiesta Carnival, which was an old fixture in Cubao, “#FirstLove” was Roxas’ pick.

He said his memories there involved eating cotton candy and popcorn and riding a ferris wheel.

Of course when his own name was mentioned, he was quick to answer “#VotePH.”