In swimming, to dive means to go underwater normally from a vantage point.

The vernacular, however, may mean something as on that day last year when I overheard my Cebuano-speaking neighbors reacting to GMA’s filing her candidacy for a seat in Congress.

“Nag-dive siya,” said one. “Bitaw,” agreed the other. “Indeed.”

Oh well, she’s got company. House Speaker Prospero Nograles, 63, is running as mayor of Davao City against 32-year-old Inday Sara Duterte, the daughter of many-time mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

This means that Grace Hora Chungalao (the wife of Ifugao’s Rep. Solomon Chungalao) will not be seeing Rhodora “Bebeth” Bendigo Nograles for a long time, since Congressman Solomon is also “taking a dive” as a candidate for governor of Ifugao.

I am pretty sure Grace C. had fond memories of her counterpart in Congress with whom she had shared various endeavors. On the other hand, Bebeth  N., who boasts of a Spanish ancestry, probably could still not get over the fact that the mestiza from Mines View who was introduced to her the first time as Mrs. Chungalao proudly proclaimed herself as an Igorot.

The first time Nograles ran for mayor in the 1980s, I recall that his wife was one of the side issues, the issue being that every time somebody shook Bebeth’s hands, out came a bottle of rubbing alcohol to cleanse her hands.

Ed Fernandez, one of that city’s columnists, said it was basic hygiene and I was inclined to agree. But it was something the radio commentators feasted upon, and Nograles was clearly pissed off.

His long-time opponent, current mayor Rodrigo Duterte is “diving” as vice mayor this time around, ala-Manny Pinol of North Cotabato who ran and won as vice governor after serving for three terms as governor.

In Benguet, three “divers” are congressman Samuel Dangwa who is running for governor, and former vice governors Robert Tindaan and Edna Tabanda who are running for mayors in their respective towns. Both Tindaan and Tabanda will be running against opponents young enough to be their sons.

Dangwa will be up against two formidable opponents: incumbent Gov. Nestor Fongwan and former Gov. Raul Molintas.

My cousin in Itogon said the set-up has confused many, including Arthur Aglasi of Barangay Dalicno. This was the same guy who had two cocks pulled out one day from their pens and unloosed them on each other. One cock had a tag named Dangwa while the other sported a Molintas tag, and watched in glee as one pounded the other.

My cousin said that with Fongwan in the scene even as shrewd an observer as Mr. Aglasi is having second thoughts in placing his bets. If he brings out his fighting cocks this time around, this means he has to bring out three. And who will fight whom? Will the Ibaloi prevail? Will the two Kankana-eys gang up on the Ibaloi, aray?  Or will it be labo-labo as what you are about to see in Baguio?

My cousin said that knowing chicken nature, no such thing as labo-labo is bound to occur, with the cocks likely to stare at one and other. And assuming a fight is joined, one of the three is content more likely to watch on the sidelines.

This means that in the matter of the candidates, each will build on his own perceived strength and make sure that the pigs’ livers are read correctly on the moment of reckoning. Cheers!