In the world of political polls, reality and press releases are like distant cousins—related but rarely in the same room together. 

The latest third-quarter surveys show VP Sara Duterte’s ratings tumbling faster than a government project’s deadline, yet the Office of the Vice President (OVP) insists on singing the praises of “raw” numbers. 

What these press releases conveniently skip over is the context—like proudly announcing you scored 50 points in a game, but neglecting to mention the number of your violations and penalties.

Is it any surprise, then, that Duterte is busy perfecting the art of distraction? Evasion is her new hobby, deploying baratella techniques to divert public attention from dwindling ratings and fiscal mysteries. It’s a political magic show: “Look here, not there!” 

Meanwhile, reality trudges along, unimpressed, watching the OVP scramble to spin a narrative that fools no one—except, perhaps, the one writing the press release.