During the long and winding campaign season, Facebook was barraged with the likes of politician-exalting pages and politician-bashing ones. As the last few ballots were cast on May 10, new pages and groups emerged including organized efforts to deliver what Filipinos want to the winning politicians and a headline grabbing "despedida."
It's not even a week old yet but it's arguably the hottest local Facebook group right now. With over 12,000 members (and counting), the group reminds Kris Aquino, controversial TV host and youngest sister of leading presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino, of her promise in March to leave the country if she wreaks havoc on Noynoy's possible presidency. In a Philippine Star article published on May 14, Kris said, "Bakit ako papatol sa mga talunan na bitter ngayon? If you review my interview, I had told Noy na kung makakabigat lang ako sa kanya sa presidency niya, then by all means I'd gladly take my kids abroad and not to be a burden…But Noy said itigil na raw ang ka-dramahan." Kris told PEP.ph that she is indeed leaving but only for a Disney vacation abroad after her hosting stints.
The group's description now states, "This page was created purely out of fun. I have nothing against Kris Aquino. Let's all move on shall we? This is just a page. Get over [it]."
Another Facebook group called "Piso Para Paliparin si Kris Aquino" is "dedicated to making sure the party does not go to waste." The description states, "Donate to the cause so money will be one less excuse. Let's aim for First Class so she can leave in high style!" Created about a day after "Kris Aquino's Despedida," it has over 600 members as of posting time.
More than 35,000 Facebook users have "liked" this page created in outrage over the fact that more than eight million Filipinos still voted for the convicted former Pres. Joseph "Erap" Estrada. Nabbed for plunder on September 2007, Estrada was pardoned by current outgoing Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about a month later. One of the wall posts states, "Erap having obtained over eight million votes is the funniest yet saddest Erap joke of all." A photo uploaded on the page album compares the fate of a shoplifter and a plunderer. One of the bullet points: A shoplifter can't leave prison without a "farewell beating," while a caught plunderer can take a vacation abroad or wait for amnesty and then run for public office.
whether pointless exercise or not, at least there is a forum where our comments can be heard or read.