'Political stroke' more deadly than heat stroke

"Look around. There are no enemies here. There's just good, old-fashioned rivalry." Bob Wells

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- There is a virus in the Philippines nowadays more deadly than heat stroke: "political stroke."
While medical experts describe heat stroke as a form of hyperthermia or heat-related illness, or an abnormally elevated body temperature with accompanying physical symptoms including changes in the nervous system function, "political stroke" is the virtual collapse of a relationship among erstwhile friends--because of politics and election 2016.
Political rivalry has murdered a lot of friendships; and some quarrels have turned awry and appear irreparable after the May 9 polls because of intense mudslinging, name-calling, and character assassination, which have become the order of the day during campaign sorties.
Locked in bitter rifts and cold shoulder treatments brought by partisan politics, kumpares, kumares, inaanaks, ninongs, ninangs are now ready to return baptismal candles.

SOCIAL MEDIA

In the social media, Facebook "friends" rooting for different candidates, swap insults and hurl unprintable against each other before "unfriending" one another.
Election season in the Philippines has proven also to be the number one source of animosity even among family members.
Only in the Philippines where a father, Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte Sr., is campaigning against his own son, Gov. Luis Ramund Villafuerte, who is running for congressman against Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Ignacio Arroyo in Camarines Sur.
Only in the Philippines where a younger brother, Vice Governor Raul Tupas, who is running for congressman in the fifth district of Iloilo, is being opposed by his own brother, Rep. Neil Jr., who supports his own wife, Angeli Lee.
And who can forget Guimaras' political Cain and Abel: former governors Felipe Nava and Rahman Nava?

PRESIDENTIAL

Things are also not getting better in the presidential race weeks to go before the final reckoning.
Rudy Duterte, Mar Roxas, and Jejomar Binay have unloaded and swapped heavy diatribes never heard before in history of political campaign in the country.
They distract each other with personal insults when survey results showed it is still anybody's ballgame. Ditto in the vice presidential race.
Even supporters of leading candidates have turned violent and tangle like they are nemesis themselves. 
The vice mayor in Isabela was recently assassinated allegedly for premature vote-buying.
More violence is feared by the Philippine National Police in the next several days when the final campaign trails come to a final conclusion.

HEAT

Heat index is feared to hit from 37.9-38.5 Celsius, which the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) said is the equivalent of a 45.4 Celsius heat index.
The searing heat is here to stay and not yet inclined to leave the Philippines. 
Intense political rivalries compound the matter and the mayhem may not subside within weeks after the winners in the May 9 polls will be known.
In terms of damage and destruction to the Filipinos' health and psyche, "political stroke" is giving heat stroke a run for its money.