Next only to front-page news of national newspapers, and opinion pages, naturally, if only to read the inanities of some of my colleagues, I go next to the obituary page.

My age is not the reason, although I am now in the pre-departure area, just waiting for the final call of the last flight for the Great Beyond.

Rather, it?s because on several occasions, my wife and I have been put on the spot and get embarrassed when we meet friends, ask about their spouses, and are asked back: ?Didn?t you read the obituary??

After that, I go to the comic section if only to offset my trauma of reading all about scams, anomalies and controversies.

Santa Banana, I really miss reading our newspapers whenever I go abroad. I find newspapers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Taipei and Tokyo really boring. My gulay, frankly, reading our newspapers daily makes my day. For a journalist like me, what can I write if there are no scams, anomalies, controversies and confrontations?

***

The political horizon for 2010 is clearing up a bit. With the entry of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as the administration candidate, treading as it were where angels fear to tread (an endorsement from President Arroyo, according to the opposition, would be the kiss of death.)

With the grassroots support of Lakas, Kampi and the Nationalist People?s Coalition for Teodoro, the presidential race gets very interesting.

Lest I am misunderstood, this is not an endorsement of Teodoro. Still, with the funding of his uncle, San Miguel ?bossman? Danding Cojuangco, a support which is but logical since blood is still thicker than water, the grassroots support of Lakas and Kampi combined together with NPC, I can say Teodoro must not be underestimated.

Some so-called or self-styled analysts may say that Gilbert as a three-termer congressman and now Defense secretary has not made an outstanding performance, comparing him to the late President Ramon Magsaysay. But what the country needs is a non-trapo. Teodoro certainly fits the description?he is young, bright and, most especially, untainted. He is unlike other presidential aspirants with a lot of baggage.

Teodoro also has a political base, the Ilocandia (he speaks fluent Ilocano) and Central Luzon (with his Kapampangan). There is also the fact that his late father Bert Teodoro, who hails from the Visayas like his aunt, Mrs. Gretchen Cojuangco. His late father as SSS administrator couldn?t even be dictated on by Marcos.

Most importantly, considering the fact that Teodoro as Defense secretary is admired by young officers, the support of the Armed Forces could give him the edge. I admit that Teodoro is no Magsaysay, but the latter then was more of a creation of the Western press, the Central Intelligence Agency and Philippine media combined.

Awareness is not a problem with our kind of electronic media. Can you imagine all the retail outlets of San Miguel and Petron campaigning for Teodoro, together with administration mayors and governors, and congressmen of Lakas, Kampi and NPC, funded by both the administration and Cojuangco? My gulay, that?s an edge which is the envy of other presidential wannabes.

***

In mid-2008, when the names of former Senate President Manny Villar, Senators Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda, Dick Gordon and Ping Lacson and later on Chiz Escudero came up as presidential contenders coming out in poll surveys, I said then that since they are all oppositionists, Gilbert Teodoro could be the counter-balance as an administration candidate. That was when he was named Defense chief. Former President Erap Estrada was not even in the race then.

Now, with Teodoro looming as the best bet of the administration, the opposition may have to go back to the drawing board since there is now an alternative to the opposition taking everything in consideration. Teodoro looms big in the political horizon.

Some may say that his identification with San Miguel?s ?bossman? Danding Cojuangco could be a minus factor because big business is behind him. I say that this is a plus factor since it?s but natural for us Filipinos to support our kin. As I said, blood is still thicker than water. What would be suspect is for some presidential hopefuls to be seeking the help of the NPC and the San Miguel ?bossman? since that could mean some ?quid pro quo? or political patronage in exchange for something.

The bottom line is that a Teodoro candidacy for 2010 can change the political equation between the administration and the opposition.

***

There are those who say that a Teodoro-Chiz Escudero teamup for 2010 can give other aspirants a run for their money, including that of poll front-runner Manny Villar (and his billions).

It must be noted that Escudero belongs to the NPC. So does Loren Legarda. And both are seeking the support of the ?bossman?. They also say that Chiz is favored over Loren. Is that the reason why Loren is now identifying herself with Erap?

The big question mark is Chiz, who is not yet 40, the eligible age for the presidency, making noises about his ambition and banking on the youth votes with his pop star-like personality. Both Chiz and Loren have nowhere else to go with Teodoro in the big NPC picture. Thus, the speculation now is that Chiz might settle for the vice presidency of the administration.

Then, again, will Chiz be an administration candidate having been an oppositionist both in the House and the Senate? And can the administration trust him?

But, Santa Banana, politics being the art of the possible, and even compromise, a Teodoro-Chiz tandem could be a winnable team.

***

With some 15 months to go till the May 2010 polls, poll surveys at this point in time do not relate to the winnability of the personalities.

Poll surveys, in the first place, do not translate into winning or losing. At best, poll surveys are simple road maps to show that those ahead should better watch out because there are also others behind them. Knowing how fickle people are in their preferences for the presidency, things can drastically change.

Take the case of Manny Villar. He has been ahead for months according to surveys. That could be a problem for him since he has to maintain that lead, and there?s no other way for him but to lose it. Leading in surveys this early for Villar, in my opinion, is a minus factor.

With 15 more months to go, Senator Mar Roxas can still go up and so with another administration hopefuls like Senator Dick Gordon. That?s why I believe that Gordon, with his track record both in the legislative and executive, has reason to complain about the administration?s selection process that seems to be discounting his chances. If there?s something I can admire about Dick, it is his independence of mind. He is not entirely pro-administration.

I believe the results of poll surveys can only be construed as the real preference of the people by November this year. The last day of that month is also the deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy for national office. As of now, the national elections is still anybody?s game.

***

Another point worth considering is the fact that the Commission on Elections has sent the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for national elections on Nov. 30 to enable Comelec to include in the automated ballots the names of local candidates, as well as senatorial and presidential bets. Given the number of candidates and the number of offices they are seeking, it makes a lot of sense to have the certificates filed early enough.

We come now to the candidacy of former President Erap Estrada, who faces a constitutional problem with the ban of presidents seeking the same office ?in any election.?

Once Erap files his certificate of candidacy on or before Nov. 30, surely it will be contested. And that would enable the Supreme Court more time to decide with finality on his case, ruling out a high court decision coming out after the polls.

In the face of this possibility, the question now comes up if Erap will still seek the presidency. I had written that he would. But, will he, now?

That, Santa Banana, is the big question.