Partido Reporma standard-bearer Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ C. Sotto III launched their 2022 electoral bids filled with optimism made extra special by the fact that they received good placements in the official ballot for the upcoming polls.

Lacson is number five (5) in the list of candidates for president while Sotto is ninth (9) among the vice-presidential aspirants who are eligible to be voted for the top two highest public office positions on Election Day, May 9, 2022.

Since the introduction of automated elections in the Philippines in 2010, the lists of candidates are arranged in alphabetical order by their last names as soon as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finalized and certified those who are qualified to participate in every general election.

At the Lacson-Sotto proclamation rally held at the Imus Grandstand last night (February 8), the program hosts made sure that voters in attendance would remember these numbers: “Singko-nuwebe sa Mayo 9! (5 and 9 on May 9!),” they urged some 4,000-strong Caviteños.

There are many positive attributes and symbolisms associated with the number 5 from mathematics, science, astrology to religion. The physical universe generally has five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space/aether). Five also signifies ‘change,’ ‘grace,’ and ‘balance,’ according to spiritual beliefs.

In the Biblical tale of David and Goliath, the young shepherd picked up five stones to defeat his giant enemy. This story has been told and retold for many generations and the characters of David and Goliath became synonymous with an underdog winning against a cocky opponent respectively.

Number 9 is also considered lucky to some extent. In Feng Shui, which a lot of Filipinos and Chinese-Filipinos believe in, nine is considered a supreme number, signifying wholeness and accomplishment. It, therefore, carries with it some good fortune as well.

Lacson and Sotto are both practicing Catholics, who have relied on their faith to guide them in their decisions throughout their combined 83 years of public service and political careers. They don’t necessarily subscribe to the ideas of numerology, but they keep an open mind to it anyway.

“Five-nine, ano—May 9. Ang May 9 po sa numero, 5/9—05/09/2022. Number 5 po siya (Lacson), number 9 ako, kaya 5/9—May 9. ‘Yan po ang matindi sa lahat. [5-9, right—May 9. May 9 is 5/9 in the number format—5/9/2022. He (Lacson) is number 5, I am number 9, so 5/9—May 9. That’s pretty cool,” Sotto noted in his speech.

“Siguro ito na ang pagkakataon namin ni Ping Lacson. Kasi, ang sinasabi nila, ‘yun daw pinakamadilim ay bago mag-bukang liwayway. So, malaki ang aming pag-asa, kasi may tiwala ako sa kanya; may tiwala ako sa mga nakapaligid sa amin. Mahalaga po ‘yon’ [I believe this is our time, Ping Lacson and I. Because you know what they say, it’s always darkest before the dawn. So, we have high hopes because I trust him, I trust the people around us. That is important),’’ the vice-presidential aspirant added.

The Lacson-Sotto presidential duo is on a mission to restore public trust in good governance and the democratic institutions whose reputations were impaired by the outgoing administration, including our justice system, law enforcement and military, civil society and the government itself.

Despite facing some serious competition against their political rivals, both Lacson and Sotto have been largely successful in positioning themselves as the most competent, experienced, and qualified candidates who are more than ready to take on the primary leadership roles.

“Ako po humaharap sa inyo bilang isang kababayan, lehitimong taga-Imus, lehitimong taga-Cavite. Kapag ako pinagpala na maglingkod, hinding-hindi ko kayo ipapahiya. Hinding-hindi ko kayo bibiguin!” [I am standing before you as a fellow citizen, legitimately from Imus, legitimately from Cavite. If I will be fortunate enough to keep serving you (as future president), I will never let you down. I will never disappoint you),’’ Lacson said for his part, counting on the support of his countrymen to catapult him to the presidency.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem is campaigning on their advocacies of good governance and anti-corruption through their battle cries “Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Aayusin ang Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino” (Fix the Government, Fix the Lives of Every Filipino) and “Uubusin ang Magnanakaw” (Get Rid of the Thieves).