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The Philippine current election season promises to be fun with some weird personalities that range from the comical to the inane and ridiculous running for president along with well-known political figures.
Some 130 candidates are running for the post to be vacated next year by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
There are now 19 aspirants for vice president and 172 for senators including world boxing legend Manny Pacquiao who is running under the opposition party, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Presidential contenders for the May 9, 2016 polls include a farmer who wants to create "a divine government," a self-proclaimed informer who pledged to wipe out poverty in the Philippines, a businessman who wants to lead a "spiritual-based" leadership in the country, and an aviation technician who claimed to have ties with Osama bin Laden.
Danilo Lihay-Lihay, who described himself as a "crime buster" and an "informer" of the Supreme Court on the ill-gotten wealth cases against the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos promised to pay all the country's debts.
He said that he would use the supposed monetary rewards that he earned amounting to 17 trillion pesos (0.37 trillion U.S. dollars) to eradicate poverty in the country.
Earl Christian Ansan, the 19-year-old aviation technician who styled himself as "Captain Robotron" appeared at the Commission on Election (Comelec) in a superman outfit. He was the last to file his certificate of candidacy.
Romeo John Ygonia, 51, a missionary from Benguet province, north of Manila, said he was sent by his "master" to run in next year's elections. When asked who his master is, he replied: "He dwells in my heart."
Juanito Luna, a 62-year-old businessman from Cebu who is also aspiring for the presidency, said he would lead a "spiritual-based leadership" in a "demon-crazy" society.
Alfredo Tindugan, a 75-year-old farmer from the province of Catanduanes, south of Manila, said that if elected president, he would establish a "divine government" in the Philippines.
Leonardo Dumlao, a retired accountant and newspaper vendor, promised that if elected president, he would make all Filipinos millionaires within five years.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista has said that those who filed their certificates of candidacy are not yet considered official candidates. He said that "nuisance" candidates or those who are not members of legitimate political parties or cannot wage a nationwide campaign would be stricken out from the list.
Bautista said that official list of candidates will be released by Comelec on Dec. 10.
The official list of candidates for president would certainly include Vice President Jejomar Binay of UNA, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of the ruling Liberal Party, Sen. Grace Poe, an independent candidate, and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Malacanang Palace, the seat of the Philippine government, welcomed the big number of presidential aspirants or dreamers saying it attested to the "dynamism of our democracy."
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda stressed the "importance of choosing leaders who put country before self."
"Such a selfless attitude is necessary to continue the work of the past five years, to further build on the positive developments begun under this administration," Lacierda said.
Under the Philippine Constitution, anybody can file her or his candidacy for any position but it is the Comelec that has the final say on whether the aspirant would be allowed to run.
At stake in next year's elections are 18,000 positions that include that for president, vice president, senators, congressmen and local officials.
While it is fun and amusing to see several candidates, including those with creepy personalities, seeking public office, elections in the Philippines are also known for being bloody and violent.
According to the police, in the 2013 elections, there were 81 incidents of election-related violence across the country with 50 deaths and 65 injured.
