Sen. Bongbong Marcos and former Secretary Mar Roxas need haircuts while Sen. Chiz Escudero must do something about his “robotic” diction.

 

Senators Gringo Honasan and Alan Peter Cayetano could take pointers from their standard bearers on how to be folksier.

 

Rep. Leni Robredo was stunning in that yellow dress during last Sunday’s debate. Imagine the effect if she wore pink lipstick?

 

The harsh spotlight of the campaign makes it easier for observers to scrutinize the looks and actions of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

 

Tiny tweaks may not bring about victory but sometimes, it is those little things that make a candidate more endearing, if not more presentable.

 

Inquirer Lifestyle asked the opinions of reporters covering the candidates to determine which areas of the bets’ campaign need to be improved.

 

Candid

 

Their answers are candid, sincere and insightful.

 

For example, vice presidential candidate Marcos’ bombastic style of speaking could have more impact if he is better groomed.

 

“He doesn’t care much about his physical appearance,” said a reporter.

 

“Bongbong is usually in a white polo with blue, red and yellow stripes. But his hair is not well-trimmed.  He could also do with some (facial) powder, and his teeth could do with some cleaning,” the reporter said.

 

Despite the surname, Marcos is no flamboyant dresser. He is often seen in shirt and slacks; his accessories consist only of his wedding ring and a simple watch.

 

“If only he would brush his hair back. As it is, people say his voice and mannerisms remind them of his father (the late president Ferdinand Marcos).  It’s working for him,” the reporter added.

 

Basic grooming for the men

 

The lack of grooming becomes more apparent when Marcos is beside standard bearer Miriam Defensor-Santiago who is always impeccably dressed, often in Filipiniana and two-inch heels.

 

Another journalist pointed out that Marcos had apparently learned a lesson after he was photographed with damp armpits during his proclamation rally in Laoag last February.

 

“Nagbago na ng deodorant. That image stuck kasi with a lot of people,” the reporter said.

 

Roxas, standard bearer of the Liberal Party, also needs a trim, a third reporter echoed.

 

“If he keeps his hair short, he would not look disheveled. He also looks stiff because he is always in slacks on stage, as if he is about to attend a meeting.  Mar can try dark denims so he would look more relaxed,” the reporter suggested.

 

This reporter had observed Roxas up close in a lot of rallies and noticed that Roxas’ intonation has a “certain lilt that is annoying especially if he keeps delivering the same message to audiences everywhere.”

 

Of course, a candidate cannot help but keep repeating the same message in different rallies. After all, how do people become aware of his agenda?

 

However, reporters believe a candidate can deliver the same message in different ways, revving it up a bit every time and making sure to tailor-fit the content and duration depending on the audience.

 

Bring son along

 

“At least Mar now smiles more often and tries to connect with the crowd. It would help if he would bring his son Paolo, who is intelligent and good-looking, more often to his sorties. The son speaks fondly of his father; it humanizes Mar when Paolo talks about him because Paolo brings out details about his dad not normally known by the audience,” the reporter said.

 

A political reporter privy to the goings-on in the LP said that stalwart Sen. Sergio Osmeña III had already advised Roxas: “You have to get people to like you before they would listen to you.”

 

The suggestion was apparently spurred by Roxas’ laggard showing in the surveys.

 

Another reporter said Roxas likes to repeat an oft-told joke about wife Korina Sanchez getting upset when he comes home with lipstick on his collar after being kissed by a female admirer from the audience.

 

The one who has been with Roxas in some sorties said the former interior secretary could pick pointers from running mate Robredo who connects better with the people.

 

“Kapag si Leni ang nagsasalita, nakikinig lahat.  She is a good narrator, she gives a detailed story of her journey to the vice presidency that starts with how she met her husband (the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo).  It is not rare for people to end up in tears when she speaks,” this reporter noted.

 

The reporter who pointed out the Korina joke sums up the duo as this: “Leni is a storyteller. Mar delivers speeches.”

 

Avoid monotony

 

Robredo looks attractive, noted one female reporter. “She is sexy in denims.”

 

Her decision to wear a striking yellow dress during the vice presidential debate aired by CNN Philippines was a fashion coup.

 

“It made people remember how (the late President) Cory Aquino also dressed in yellow. And Robredo stood beside Bongbong, the son of the person who imposed martial law,” she said.

 

The reporter added, however, that Robredo might consider pink lipstick to soften her look and avoid monotony.

 

“Leni should also do something about her hair. Alanganin ang bangs,” she said.

 

Hairstyle change

 

Sen. Grace Poe, standard bearer of a coalition of four political parties, can also benefit from a change in hairstyle every now and then.

 

Reporters covering the Senate often see the senator with her hair pulled away from her face.  Poe’s uniform consists of pulled-back hair and a predominantly white outfit.

 

“Her fashion choice is very practical, especially this summer. That Grace does not wear too much makeup is not a liability since baka matunaw lang,” said one reporter.

 

“But I like to imagine how Grace would look with her hair down or curled. Probably in an indoor event?  She could also be more adventurous sartorially,” the reporter added.

 

Poe should watch out for her diction that some journalists think is becoming very similar to that of her running mate Sen. Chiz Escudero.

 

“Nagagaya na si Grace kay Chiz,” is one observation being heard among those covering their sorties.

 

A show-biz writer described Escudero’s intonation as “pam-Balagtasan” after the CNN debate.

 

A Senate regular, on the other hand, called his intonation “robotic.  Walang highs and lows.  Walang feeling tapos masyadong mabilis.  You can see he tries to slow it down pero natural n’ya ’yun, eh.”

 

No-nonsense approach

 

Reporters covering Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lauded their down-to-earth approach in the campaign.

 

One reporter who’s seen Binay since his days as Makati mayor said the Vice President goes around in his light-blue campaign T-shirt and slacks.

 

“He does not hesitate to approach fish vendors and butchers, kahit may dugo-dugo pa ang damit nila,” the reporter noted.

 

“He has dressed humbly even during his time as mayor. He goes around in simple clothes, sometimes with a face towel over his shoulder. He has built that image since the beginning. Or it would be a barong Tagalog for formal functions. You would hardly see him in a suit,” the reporter said.

 

Another reporter who covers Duterte said the mayor exhibits the same no-nonsense approach to voters, only with a big helping of cuss words.

 

“Digong (Duterte’s nickname) does not dress to impress.  Mag-iiba ang personality niya if he changes his attire.  And he could hold the people’s attention during rallies, kahit paulit-ulit ang sinasabi. Kapag nagmumura, tumatawa sila talaga,” the reporter said.

 

Both reporters said Binay and Duterte’s running mates could reprise the folksy diskarte, but without the cussing.

 

A reporter who has seen Binay’s running mate Honasan in rallies of the United Nationalist Alliance said people cheer when they see the senator.

 

Keep it short

 

“He has presence. People say guwapo siya talaga in person. And his outfits are simple. Gringo does not speak evil of his running mates. But he comes off as too intellectual. He said he would rather stick to issues to educate the audience, but sometimes they tend to get bored,” the reporter said.

 

Another who covers Duterte’s running mate Cayetano has the same observation.

 

“Mahabang magsalita.  Sometimes he cannot capture the audience because of his lengthy speech. But we noticed that since the television debate, he now discusses himself at rallies more than Duterte’s achievements,” the reporter noted.

 

“Alan makes sense.  May laman ang platform.  But hindi siya nagpapatawa (like Duterte) so napapansin ng tao ang difference,” the reporter added.

 

Independent vice presidential bet Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is one candidate who has no need for a stylist.

 

“He is always well-groomed.  Mabango siyang tingnan.  Hindi halata kahit puyat and people notice how handsome he is when he meets them,” said one who covers his sorties.

 

“He speaks clearly about his (anticorruption) agenda.  The problem is, Trillanes does not often hold rallies,” the reporter said.