ELECTIONS FOR WHOM?

Yesterday, on my way home, I saw the wife of a Comelec Commissioner (one of those who rejected the accreditation of the Democratic Party of the Philippines) campaigning nearby. When should the local officials start their campaigns? On the 26th yet there she was on the road already. If a relative of a high official could violate the election rules, how else would she work when placed in office?

Folks, I don't really know how far we should go into allowing other people to compromise their ideals but the public may not be squeaking but deep in their hearts, they know who are really sincere and those who are just there for the taking.

In politics, there are no ifs nor buts; but rather either/or. One is either for the people, or one is for one's pockets. There are no gray areas here. And it is sad because she is one of the more intelligent women whom we respect in the women's movement.

Yet, this 2010 election period seems to be a competition for the limelight -- the person most seen, most heard will get the plum votes. A friend said Villar will win -- he has the money to buy everyone. Are we going to believe this? Does this mean, there are many willing to sell their signatures, to tamper the votes for him, to tick his name as their candidate in the computer machine? Who really knows but those whose hands get greased?

I was imagining myself joining the fray to get the vote but then, I found it largely undignifying to tack my poster on any electric post, on any fence of a vacant lot, only to be vandalized later on by the other candidates. No, this does not seem to be the humanized way of campaigning. Sad to say, the manner of campaigning in our midst has largely stayed the same -- posters, streamers here and there.

Instead of making the printers happy and rich, why not just provide free meals or snacks -- lay out a long table at every barangay; have all the candidates take care of food from day 1 uo to May 10? Let all the tables be filled up with nutritious foods; give numbers to those who will partake of them so there would not be repeats; then teach the people to say prayers before meals and after, and then to thank the host candidates.

I say this because yesterday too I met two teams of young girls handing out brown letter envelopes, asking for alms. Usually those who do are boys. And I am wary and afraid that they would be a free-for-all of harassers and victimizers.

So, let us ask, May 2010 is elections for whom?