Rappler's latest stories on The Imagined President
WATCH: The Imagined President with Patricia Evangelista and Nicole Curato
The presidential profile series which maps the narratives presented by both candidates and their critics took 6 months to complete
The Last Battle of Miriam Defensor-Santiago
Her last crusade is not a fight for the presidency It is a battle for relevance – one that she lost long before the first vote was cast
The Tragedy of Jejomar Binay
His name is a betrayal Jesus and Joseph and Mary blistering the tongue Watch your back check your pockets – and mourn the man who could have been
The Inheritance of Mar Roxas
His name is Manuel Araneta Roxas II son of a senator grandson to a president anointed heir of two dynasties the last living hope of a dream that was born in the sugar plantations of Negros He may not have been the first choice of the President or his family but we are told second is the best we deserve
The Legend of Grace Poe
Poe benefits from the flaws of every candidate because she has never been in a position where flaws can be discovered Hers is a story of epic proportions but it is in the end only a story
The Rapture of Rodrigo Duterte
We write this as a warning The streets will run red if Rodrigo Duterte keeps his promise Take him at his word and know you could be next
Heir to the Kingdom
Listen to him ramble about unfairness drone on about rules the perfect whipping boy for every grinning bully with a spitball and a baseball bat
The Bully
See him watch him howling through the night in a roar of chrome and steel Tell your boys run Tell your women hide Get out steer clear and God help the fuckers who get in the way
The Loudest of Them All
For the third time Miriam Defensor Santiago continues to believe she will win the presidency Stupid is forever she says
The Bandit King
Lord of the city thief in the night the barefaced bandit who ll take what he can get and pawn what he can’t Watch your back check your pockets – and wash your hands after he leaves
The Imagined President
Rappler s presidential profile series maps the narratives presented by both candidates and critics in the campaign for 2016
Cinderella Man
His name is a benediction Jesus and Joseph and Mary rolling off the tongue He is Jojo to his friends He is Binay to the press He is the defender of the downtrodden and the persecuted hero of the common man Jojo Binay is family and family looks out for family ”
The Smartest of Them All
Any idiot can run for political office Any idiot can ramble through a useless privilege speech Choose the leader who is number one Choose the woman who will stand who will fight and who will not die at the hands of intellectual pygmies
Mar of the People
Here he speaks the private man called into a public life without drama without illusions without the grand narratives of his political opponents Watch him stolid and square marching fast forward to the future
The Punisher
See him watch him bursting into the night in a roar of chrome and steel Tell the crooks to run Tell the pimps to hide Blow out the smoke get out steer clear and fuck all the fuckers who get in the way
The Once and Future King
Amazing Grace they call her the unknown hero born from unknown roots drafted into reluctant service by fate and circumstance her heart pure her courage vast
