Supporters wait for their respective candidates during the filing of Certificates of Candidacy outside the Manila Hotel on October 8, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsQUEZON CITY – A veteran campaign strategist said the pomp and pageantry Filipinos witnessed during the filing of certificates of candidacy from October 1 to 8 was more for the candidates than the voters.   

Agents International Inc. President Alan German on Sunday said the fiesta-like atmosphere often seen during the COC filing period, which lasts until the elections, is a way for aspirants to "flex their muscles." 

"As a candidate you have to give the impression that even upon filing you are already a winner. So psychologically you're demonstrating to the voters, to the public, sometimes well oftentimes to your opponents, especially for local elections na panalo ka na," he said. 

German said the "bandwagon effect" often seen outside the political arena, also applies to the occasion of COC filing. 

A rush of wannabe candidates as filing period ends

According to Merriam-Webster, this refers to "the phenomenon by which the success of something attracts more widespread support or adoption as more people perceive and are influenced by its increasing popularity." 

"That's why they literally have bandwagon when they file. May mga banda banda, may mga dancers, there's pom poms and what not. You're trying to leverage on that bandwagon effect," German explained. 

"Number two, in the same way a boxer or any combatant in any field will you know flex, try to make himself appear large for psychological advantage. Yun din ang mga ginagawa ng kandidato para seryosohin at matakot at kabahan ang kanilang mga kalaban," the veteran campaign strategist added. 

The Commission on Elections has long been discouraging aspirants and their supporters from creating a spectacle of the COC filing period. 

However, not even the poll body nor the intermittent weather could stop them. 

Despite the fiesta-like atmosphere outside COC filing venues, the Comelec said the weeklong filing period was "generally peaceful." 

German pointed out that these political stunts do not always translate into votes. 

"Nakakaconvert ba talaga yang, yung pag nag file ka na may glitz, glamour and hoopla? The answer is very low. Actually, maliit ang conversion rate niyan. This is more done for the candidates, you know there's no better word for it, their own ego, para lumakas yung loob niya para sa hinaharap niyang laban," he said. 

Aspirants for House seats file COCs in 'historic' Comelec-NCR office

But German explained that those who have the grandeur gimmicks are those with the political machinery to back them up. 

Former Senator Bam Aquino greets supporters before filing his certificate of candidacy for the 2025  midterm elections at the Manila Hotel in Manila on October 7, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"It is a function of sino ba ang may kaya gumawa ng ganyang klaseng gimmick pag nag file? Siyempre yung may pera at yung may makinarya na mang hakot ng tao. So most of the time, because they are proportionate to each other, yung nakakapag handa ng malaking hoopla, fiesta, etc. upon their filing, yan din yung usually yung may pera at makinarya. So yes, usually sila din yung nananalo," he explained. 

Comelec earlier said gimmicks and stunts during COC filing is not prohibited since aspirants will only be treated as candidates in February for national positions and March for local post aspirants. 

For his part, German said what we saw during the COC filing period is a preview of what's to come in the actual campaign period. 

"Sky's the limit already, the campaign season is already in full swing in terms of pagpapakilala, putting your name out there," he said.

The veteran campaign strategist reminded voters to not be swayed by the gimmicks of aspirants. 

He reminded them to look for the four C's -- credentials, competency, character and cause -- when looking at the aspirants. 

"Think of their credentials, do they have any past experience that will prepare or have prepared them for this job? But there are some people even if they don't have past experience are naturally good or inclined at things," German said. 

"Tingnan mo yung competence ng kandidato, may competence ba yan gawin yung trabaho na inaaspire niya?.... Third one is character. Nainvolve na ba yan sa issue dati? And the last is cause. What is their reason for running?" he added. 

The poll body said a total of 183 senatorial bets and 155 party-list hopefuls formalized their bids for the midterm elections 

Over 18,000 positions are up for grabs in the 2025 national and local polls.

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