MEDIUM RARE Jullie Y. Daza Everyone’s a winner when you look at the size and enthusiasm of the crowds greeting, screaming their hearts out, hailing their candidates like victors ready to be crowned. The latest survey by Laylo researchers gives BBM-Sara’s Uniteam a formidable, unshakable lead that other polling groups say merely confirms the results of previous surveys. They’re also saying there’s little time for the rest to catch up, noting that it took underdog Rodrigo Duterte three months in 2016 to leap to the front of the race. Surveys, opinion polls, political analyses, when collected they form data. But in real life, on the ground, it’s people who count – at any rate, their votes will be counted – and it’s the plain folks with little stories to tell, unedited, from the heart. Pacita is in her 50’s. She connects condo owners with tenants and she considers herself a martial law victim because she was detained for a curfew violation. As such, she has no love lost for the Marcos regime. It’s a different story with the younger generation of nephews and nieces who are for BBM. As much as it’s a mystery to her, she doesn’t think they’re going to change their minds for her. Security guard Alfonso was the first person to greet candidate XYZ and his running mate when they walked through the lobby for a meet-and-greet with the people upstairs. When the two VIP guests left half an hour later, I asked Alfonso, “Did you get their autographs? They could be the next president and vice president, you know.” Alfonso: “No, I’m BBM.” Have you met BBM in person? Alfonso: “Never.” Why are you for him if you’re not Ilocano? Alfonso: “My father was jailed during martial law. He was always getting himself drunk. That experience sobered him up.” Joseph drives for a prosperous businessman who travels to Asean cities looking for investments and trade opportunities. “My boss is young, not even 45, but smart and hardworking. I listen to his stories, and the few times we talk about the elections I’m inclined to agree with his choice of candidates. Boss said his father considers Marcos a president who did great things for the country. My father also remembers good things, like peace and order.”