#2013elections

A lot of people have been devastated over the results of yesterday’s senatorial elections. My Facebook and Twitter timelines couldn’t do any more justice to a number of raging souls. Citizens were complaining about the recurring success of political dynasties, political tyrants, actors and the like: how others seem to not vote for the right candidates.

I feel disdained by this occurrence. I know for a fact that there are senators, mayors, etc. who are undeserving of their positions and that for some reason a lot of people didn’t get that. Whether those voters were bribed, threatened, or merely supported the ‘wrong candidates’ by choice, they still had the right to vote, and they did what they thought was best. Apparently, those people were judged because they seemed to have not known any better. Majority belonged to poor families, whom did not have the educational attainment or perhaps the ‘proper/lawful’ sense to discern who should and should not sit in the senate. They didn’t belong to our group of friends, our families, or our social settings, although it makes me wonder about us. Who are we to discern who should and should not sit in the senate, anyway?

My point here isn’t to challenge those who violently reacted to the results (I, too, have my own stands on our newly-appointed local board), but rather to state that this is a free country, and that each one is given the liberty to choose their leaders. They must not be robbed of that by subtle (or in other cases—explicit) ostracizing. Bashing and criticism never did the trick; and it is probably the reason why this country is still messed up to this day. It was once said, ‘One must be the change he wants to happen.’ My question is, how can we attain peace if we couldn’t even accept one another’s decisions—no matter how dumb or misconstrued we think they are? Yes, to some of us us, they’re obviously mistaken, but they didn’t think that. And if they did know, wouldn’t they have voted for the ones we believe are rightful?

Allow me another quote: ‘He who is without sin cast the first stone.’ Unless we have 100% integrity and a 0% margin of error, we don’t truly DESERVE the right to vote. Each and every one of us has a role to fulfill, be it a lawmaker, an educator, a physician, what not; and as long as we live in this country, we serve as its rightful citizens and decision-makers. I suggest we leave the results at that, and move on to the things we can do about—like staying healthy, maintaining good relationships, conserving energy, and getting a new air conditioner because let’s face it, the elections aren’t the only thing that’s driving us crazy. 

Dapat Tama. 'Yan ang campaign ng media. Of course! Dapat TAMA ang sinong iboboto ng bayan. Ang problema, parang iba-iba ang "tama" para sa bawat mamamayan. This should not be the case. Iisa lang ang tama at alam kong alam ng bawat tao iyon. However, some people are blinded by stuff like short-term rewards and popularity (party, name, works of relative, etc.). Sayang ang mga pwestong ibinigay sa mga kandidatong hindi naman dapat manalo dahil hindi sila "tama". Sayang.

Lesson learned:  Know your candidate first. Kung re-electionist siya, alamin niyo muna kung may ginawa nga ba siyang mga AKSYONG NAKATUTULONG. Huwag niyong iboto yung mga re-electionist na gumawa ng mga AKSYONG PAULIT-ULIT para lang ipakita na meron (at marami) silang ginagawa (e.g. low-class roads and a number of unnecessary stuff). Kung bago naman siya, siguraduhin niyong kaya niya maging opisyal. Make sure that he/she is experienced and knowledgeable enough. Look at his/her OWN ethics and programs/achievements, not his/her party, name, or relative. Kaya nga hindi ako naniniwala sa mga "Vote straight" campaigns kaagad-agad. I think one should evaluate each member before "voting straight". Isa pa yang mga pol. dynasties. Hindi dapat iboto ang isang kandidato dahil lang sikat ang pangalan niya. Know him/her first. Personally, I think pol. dynasties are all right AS LONG AS these dynasties don't make politics their family heirlooms and businesses. I think it is possible, although rare, that blood relatives are all born to be leaders. Malay mo, pwede nga...malabo nga lang.