[Rappler’s Best] Last two minutes

We laid to rest last Saturday, April 26, the Pope who mesmerized us with his charm, awed us with his courage, and humbled us even after his death — for he had chosen to lie in state in a bare wooden casket and be buried outside the Vatican, where mortals carry their burden every day. In this piece, Paterno Esmaquel II recalls how Francis’ trip to Tacloban City made a lasting imprint on the “Filipino pope.”

Watch and read about the death and funeral of Pope Francis here.

What happens next? There’s the conclave. Paterno sits down with Father Aris Sison for a must-watch briefer on the process. 

But we’re not playing coy: The Filipino faithful are storming the heavens for the conclave to make history and elect the first Asian Pope and for that pope to come from Asia’s largest Catholic nation. There are three cardinal electors in the conclave from the Philippines: Luis Antonio Tagle, Pablo Virgilio David, and Jose Advincula. Cardinal Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization at the Vatican who delivered a homily for the Pope on Friday, April 25, is on the short list of news sites all over the world to replace Francis. 

In our newsroom huddle last week, we imagined — and prepared for — two scenarios. First, that the new Pope is elected on the day of our midterm elections two weeks from now, May 12. Second, that the new Pope is a — madre mia! — Filipino. Journalism is the best profession in the world, did we tell you that?

Because we will be working on election day, journalists — since 2013 — are entitled to advance voting rights via absentee voting, which is scheduled from Monday, April 28, to Wednesday, April 30, for those voting in the Philippines. (I will be voting today.)

Have you finished your list of 12 senators? Or are you, like me, having trouble filling out all the slots (you don’t have to, actually). If it helps, we have the complete list of the senatorial bets as well as their individual profiles. Allow us to help you find your voting precinct on May 12 here.

This year’s midterms have an unusual number of black swans, we can’t help but think there’s more to come.

• Barely a week before the kickoff of the senatorial and party list campaigns, the House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. This made the senatorial race an existential one for her, which is why she has been actively campaigning for the Duterte camp’s slate. What does this mean for her impeachment trial? Bonz Magsambol takes a deep dive.
• Senate President Chiz Escudero did Sara a favor by delaying the trial until after the elections. Critics and experts slammed him, saying the Constitution mandates that the trial should commence “forthwith.” Dwight de Leon explains the whys and wherefores of “forthwith.”
• Things got heated in March, as the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against former president Rodrigo Duterte and had him brought to The Hague. This threw the administration a curveball. In no time, ratings of Duterte’s Senate bets rose in the surveys, albeit fleetingly; trust and and approval ratings of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dropped to levels comparable to the Philippines’ most unpopular president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; and Sara Duterte managed to arrest her declining numbers from last year.
• Emboldened, Sara took her fight against Marcos to his doorstep, as she came out swinging — endorsing the front-runner in the mayoral race for Manila and cursing the Manila congressman who probed and grilled her over her confidential funds.
• The light and symbol of the reform opposition, Leni Robredo, running for mayor in her corner of the world, annoyed and puzzled supporters when she endorsed Marcos’ two senatorial bets, Manny Pacquiao and Benhur Abalos. They’re good people, she said. She, however, chose not to endorse her former campaign aide who is running for governor of her province, saying she was …. focused on her city, Naga.
• The President’s estranged sister, reelectionist senator Imee Marcos, could not yet get into the Magic 12, per the latest surveys. She has since fully embraced Sara Duterte and her all-out war against the President. Expect Imee to do more shock-and-awe stunts beyond her “itim” messaging. For one, she teased a new campaign that is rolling out on Monday, April 28: “Galit ako kay Lulong,” meaning she’s mad at the addict. Who? Your guess is as good as mine.

Meanwhile, the fourth Villar to gun for the Senate now finds herself in what critics would describe as a comeuppance situation: Administration senatorial candidate Camille Villar is now flooded with complaints and allegations about how her family has been mismanaging its foray into the water business via PrimeWater.

• In Bulacan, Lian Buan got it straight from residents — how bad PrimeWater’s service is, and how miserable their lives have been as a result. 
• Last week, Bulacan residents mounted a campaign against PrimeWater and a call to eject Villar from the ballot on May 12. #MakeBulacanLiveable is the cry from residents, as expressed in our Rappler Communities app.
• In Bacoor, Cavite, where we held our election kapihan with candidates, we heard the same issues against PrimeWater. Dwight de Leon shows us the lapses that the Villar company committed in Cavite, and why it’s an election issue. 
• Senatorial bet Leody de Guzman, a veteran unionist, proposed a solution: for consumers to form water cooperatives. 

Sara Duterte is also endorsing Camille, who called in sick and skipped the administration’s sortie in vote-rich Pangasinan on Friday, April 25. Shall we see another black swan this week, such as perhaps a House investigation into PrimeWater and its owners? Why are the Villars’ business interests an election issue, anyway? Dwight de Leon explains.

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:

We bring you back the glory that is the Tour of Luzon. A must-watch documentary.

Miriam Grace Go reminds us that all politics is local, and that makes every Filipino voter powerful.

Bonz Magsambol shows us why the education crisis should matter when you vote.

JC Gotinga illustrates the contrasting choices — reporma or ayuda? — that Pasig residents face as they vote on May 12.

JC Punonbayan asks: What’s taking President Marcos so long to take a definitive stand on the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump? 

Reuters reports how portable internet can bypass online restrictions meant to stop cyberscams.

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– Rappler.com

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The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.