In Visayas races, ‘Bulldog,’ ‘Rambo’ are bets

ILOILO CITY—Would you vote for someone named “Bulldog?” Or “Kurokokok?” Or “Tagabak?” Or “Rambo?” Or “Boy Sunog?”

According to election officials in many Visayas areas, you may.

In Altavas, Aklan, election officials allowed candidates to adopt nicknames that could increase their chances of getting written on the ballot on the basis of mere name recall.

So when a voter writes Bulldog on the ballot, he or she is casting a vote for the incumbent mayor of the town, Denny Refol, who adopted the nickname for name recall, though it was not clear whether it is because he looked like one or had the temerity associated with the dog breed.

Bird bet

In Negros Occidental, one candidate adopted the nickname Kurokokok, a local bird species.

In Sapi-an, Capiz, a candidate for town councilor adopted the nickname Tagabak, which is more popular in the town as salted dried fish.

Election rules allow candidates to register a nickname, or “stage name,” by which he or she is generally or popularly known.

The practice is common, even among national candidates. Ramon Bautista did not win as senator until he filed a certificate of candidacy as Ramon Revilla. Being known as “Erap” helped greatly in the election victories of Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the country’s first President convicted of plunder but pardoned.

30 characters

Dennis Ausan, director of the Commission on Elections in Western Visayas, said nicknames play an important role because they make it easier for voters to fill out ballots.

He said, however, that candidates may adopt nicknames, or monickers, of not more than 30 characters.

In the Visayas, many candidates preferred to adopt nicknames close to their first or last names.

Among the common ones are terms of endearment like “Inday,” “Toto,” “Nonoy,” “Boy” and “Neneng.”

Many other nicknames, however, sound too different from the candidates’ real names.

A reelectionist mayor in Calinog, Iloilo, Alex Centena, carries the nickname “Bigote” for the simple reason that he has a mustache. A candidate for councilor in Banate, Iloilo, Peter Lijoe, is known as “Rambo” after the fictional movie character played by Sylvester Stallone in his “Rambo” movie series.

A candidate for mayor in Isabela, Negros Occidental, is known as “Cowboy,” though the town is hardly anything but a place for cows and cowboys.

‘Tambok’

Other candidates chose to be known by their physical traits, like “Morena” because the candidate is tanned. Or “Hapon” because the candidate looks like a Japanese. Or “Kalbo” because the candidate is bald. Or “Tambok” because the candidate is fat. Or “Gamay” because the candidate is small.

One candidate in Leon, Iloilo, doesn’t mind being called “Boy Sunog.” A candidate for councilor in Carles, Iloilo, who is fond of jokes is known as “Kengkoy,” after a Filipino comics character.

A candidate for councilor of Pototan, Iloilo, prefers to be called “Suave” or smooth.

Three former radio broadcasters running for public office attached the word “Bombo” to their names in reference to the radio network that they had been connected with.

Short names

Other candidates, like one running for councilor in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, known as “4K,” prefer shorter nicknames. One candidate in Makato, Aklan, wants to be known as “Boy Magic.”

A candidate for mayor in Sebaste, Antique, wants to be known as “Bantog” or popular. A candidate for councilor of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, wants to be known as “My Love,” though it is not clear how endeared he is to the people of the town.