CHOICES WILL DELIVER

Wilhelmina S. Orozco

Tonight is the eve of the first automated elections in the country. Everyone is agog over how it will turn out – for better or for worse in Philippine politics?

Somehow, the presidential candidates are gallant enough to come together to forge a unity of adherence to peaceful and honest elections. Not one demurred, not one hesitated in signing the covenant, thereby showing an ounce of maturity on all.

Even the do’s and don’ts – what people cannot bring, cannot wear, cannot say while inside the polling precinct are quite clear, or else, the offender or violator will be charged in court, by whom, or when, the Comelec does not say.

Foreign observers too have come to watch how we will conduct ourselves.

1998 was memorable because for the first time in history, a president won a landslide victory, Erap Estrada. Unfortunately, he was unjustly deposed, treacherously treated by his AFP chief of staff. A nightmare.

2004 should have been a deciding period for us to boot out all fakeries in elections but the main contender, FPJ died rather mysteriously. “hello Garci” became a byword in all media and among the public. Another nightmare.

Now, here we are with another presidential elections – we have quite a good list of candidates, each with a trait of his and her own worthy of displaying to the world, “Hey we don’t run short of good people,” except for …

How come we have many contenders now but in 2004, only FPJ remained at the forefront fighting GMA? I think that the Filipino people are now very much aware of the importance of presidential elections, and we don’t want a president who is corrupt, who manipulates elections, who has a coterie of equally corrupt officials, and who is “manhid” to public opinion of her low moral governance capabilities. For that we need to thank GMA for having awakened the people about having another “Marcos” figure wearing skirts.

How did the people arrive at such high political consciousness? For that we must credit the media – especially the radio people, who can simplify all those 4-to 5-syllabic English words into simple Pilipino understandable to the real “masa.” Everyday, on radio, the people listen on who has committed this and that, who amassed wealth, who uses government vehicles to go to nightclubs, which official is this who …etc.etc. In other words, in terms of researching for corruption, the radio people are very good, aided also by the printed media. We can hear radio people quoting from printed newspapers and tabloids, thereby showing us that we are all one for seeking the good state for our people and country. Even the entertainment people are politicized, with not a few running for local, and Rey Langit for senatorial positions. Angelo Palmones is for Agham Partylist, Ogie, a writer, is running for a QC local position. We can no longer ignore the fact that what happens in the country requires our attention.

So the next set of officials need only stabilize our democratic institutions. No one should no longer be able to manipulate them to suit their selfish ends. The people should finally profit from giving their votes to people who can save them from poverty, loneliness over the absence of their loved ones working abroad, from lack of opportunities for decent and cheap housing, from a climate that brings about floods, hot temperature, and unfertile lands, and many more.

Yes, we deserve the attention of the world – on how we face our problems squarely. And we are starting now with a very big step – choosing the best candidates that will address our problems.

May our choices deliver.

PLEASE PASS ON. THANKS