POPULARITY
Two politicians, Macario Mandarambong and Celso Curakot, were bitter rivals who seldom agreed on anything. But in their desire to settle the issue of who was more popular between the two of them, they met one day and came up with an ingeniuos plan.
They would publish fictitious announcements of their deaths in all the widely read newspapers. And whoever got the greater number of mourners would be the more popular man. they agreed to implement the scheme right away.
On the day that the morning newspaper carried the obituaries, the two politicians stayed home and waited expectantly for the crowds of mourners. But they both waited in vain. No one showed up in their houses to mourn their supposed deaths. Depressed, Macario Mandarambong took a walk to Celso Curakot's house.
"There are no mourners in my house," Mandarambong told his rival.
"Well, as you can see, there are none in mine either," Curakot replied.
At this, their trusted aides barged into the room. All were visibly agitated as they sought their respective bosses. They reported, "No wonder there are no mourners in your houses--the whole town is gathered in the plaza."
"Mourning our deaths?" Mandarambong and Curakot chorused.
"No, rejoicing over it!"
