“Villar tops “munggo surveys’” By: Zephora jane A. Lingahan

A local bookstore in Nueva Ecija conducted a “munggo survey” to learn the people’s choice for the next president.

Dante Cruz, the store manager said that the survey started on Feb. 9 which is the official start of the campaign period. The same survey, which was the idea of Gerardo Cabochan Jr. ,who heads the company of the bookstore, was also being conducted in Pandayan’s 32 branches in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite and Nueva Ecija.

As of now, Manny Villar of Nacionalista Party takes the lead in the munggo polls among the nine president aspirants.

Villar was seconded by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party , followed by former President Joseph Estrada of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“It was just for fun. But it is also meant to get the public’s pulse on their choice for the next president,” he said in Filipino.

Everyone can be a possible respondent in the said survey as long as he bought an item in the bookstore. Even the non-registered voter is given a chance to pick his own choice.

After paying for an item, a buyer is given one mung bean, which will be dropped in the empty water bottle with the designated caricature of the presidential candidate he wants.

The empty bottles are displayed in a small platform with the question, “Sino ang susunod na Pangulo?” (who will be the next President?)

Caricatures of the nine presidential candidates- Villar, Aquino, Estrada, Teodoro, John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, Sen. Richard Gordon, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, and Nicanor Perlas are displayed beneath their bottles.

The results all over the Pandayan bookstore will be tallied and will be proclaimed by the book officials. The announcement of the winner for the survey will be held on Election’s eve.