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Don’t worry. Social satirist and an accomplished film and video director Jun Sabayton is not really running for President. In a press conference on Aug 25, Jun clarified that this whole B.A.Y.A.W. scheme is a public service campaign for the 2016 elections, one of many launched by TV 5.
Says Luchi Cruz-Valdez, the head of TV 5 news and public affairs, “It’s really the time of political satire and there is no better time to actually exploit the power of political satire than in an election season. That’s why we thought of ‘Bayaw.’”
B.A.Y.A.W. stands for Bagong Alyansang Ayaw sa Walang Hiya. It began in 2013 as a fictitious partylist in Lourd de Veyra’s documentary show, Word of the Lourd. But it was such a hit that two years later, TV 5 is making a parody campaign off it.
The campaign is really just a series of documentary-looking ads that aims to educate voters. In them, Jun, curiously looking like erap, portrays ‘Bayaw,’ a nuissance candidate running for President.
It’s an ambitious project; imagine, having a parody campaign in a market where parody and sarcasm don’t really work? Perhaps it’s time to try something new.
“Ang lungkot lang ngayon kasi parang wala tayong choice. Pag-aralang mabuti siguro yung kandidato. Pwede mo namang iboto ’yung hindi lang lesser evil. Pumili ka ng totoong kandidato na tapat at kayang mag-lead ng bansa,” Jun said.
Jun will represent a cog in trapo or traditional politics. ‘Bayaw’ will also be comparing Jun’s character to presidential hopefuls who have something better to offer.
At the press conference, ‘Bayaw’ made a grand entrance, surprising the audience by popping out of a balikbayan box while accompanied by a marching band.
He also brought a care package for his supporters named “Alay ni Bayaw”, which contained noodles, rice and sardines.
Bayaw shows us the contents of his “Alay ni Bayaw” bag. It comes with noodles, rice and sardines. #NaisKo pic.twitter.com/GbDoZF9FnP
— Manila Bulletin News (@manila_bulletin) August 25, 2015
Magpaparesearch ako sa DOST Para magkaron ng x-ray vision taga customs, safe na #BalikbayanBox ng mga OFW #NaisKo pic.twitter.com/5oR3HHMom2
— Art Samaniego Jr. (@artsamaniego) August 25, 2015
So what’s in store for Bayaw’s elaborate campaign?
Bayaw will be introducing Filipinos to his still unknown running mate, and of course, Bayaw will not miss filing his certificate of candidacy in October.
Bayaw also places a great value on the youth as he organizes the Bayaw Youth Action Group or simply BAYAG.
Are you jumping on the “B.A.Y.A.W. for President” bandwagon yet?
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