After Monday, May 10, 2013, evening, we will have had a half-picture of how the Filipino people have voted. We will see who are most important for them to lead the country: will they be the persons who exhibit truthfulness in their actions? Will they be those who have had sterling accomplishments in terms of good governance? Will they be the rich ones who can afford to buy votes?
So many questions to ask. So many answers needed to see the political profile of the Filipino people. But does it really matter?
To some ordinary folks, the corrupted, those who buy votes are the best to be voted upon. A few would believe in surveys and say "kung sino ang kilala, ok na." Still others refuse to go with the tide and say, they have chosen who to vote and they need not fill up the rest of the ballot.
Thus, we can see that our voting behavior cannot be described fully, nor systematically yet. We are in this transition to seeing elections as a truly important method of shaping our government -- peopling every important position with candidates who would fulfill their promises, and who would do the utmost to raise the lifestyle of the people, their living conditions.
Our honest elections happened in 1998 when Joseph Estrada was elected as president. After that year, everything went downhill. We lived through two administrations of a fake president. It was only in 2010 that we got a real dose of what a people's elections is. Maybe it was not perfect, but still the people until now are happy with their choices.
Sometimes, I fantasize as to what our country could have been if Miriam Defensor Santiago had become our president in 1992. I am sure we would have a very exciting time with her, what with her colorful language and sometimes impulsive acts -- borne of a legal mind. Maybe 80% of ehr acts would have made us a country of note.
Unfortunately, she lost after a series of brown-outs rendered the counting of votes a tedious effort. Her protest against cheating in the elections was rendered moot and academic because she ran in 1995 and won as senator.
It is possible that protests will happen again after Monday, after elections. The tribunals involved in resolving political cases should develop newer methods of dealing with protests and resolve them in the soonest time possible. It is unhealthy for the members of the tribunals to make the protesters wait for years and years before they would render a decision on the cases. Also presidential, senatorial and congressional protests should always be decided upon in a month, and not more. The positions are highly important in running our country and hence protests with regard to the legitimate occupation of such require immediate attention.
What should be the role of the military in this case? Should they be used by persons whose holding on to the positions is being questioned? Should they harass those individuals who protest so that they would back off and not"rock the boat" so to speak? I think these are unhealthy acts just the same, unhealthy in terms of making our democratic space work.
I hope that the people would be more discerning of who to vote. This morning I was told that purok leaders in District 1 of Quezon City are already receiving their share for use in getting votes. Unfortunately, "inuuna nila ang mga kamag-anak nila na mabibiyayaan, hindi ang taumbayan." In this view of my source, she seems to to be saying that this is the system and so the system should work in favor of everyone.
I really cannot speculate as to when we could have a very accurate and bias-free method of electing officials. Some quarter say education is the key. But this is not simply education -- it is moral education. Now can we eat that as Bertolt Brecht would ask in The Three Penny Opera. Can we eat morals?
As I have continually harped on, our society must offer each individual a chance to be powerful not just in the field of politics but in every aspect of life. Why should we give so much emphasis on political positions as the be-all and end-all of things? The government -- the cultural center of the philippines, the national commission on culture and the arts -- must think up of ways of making all artistic endeavors as highly important for pursuing, and insure that the funds are democratically dispensed to deserving individuals and groups, not because they are close to the powers that be. The science agencies should also insure the same -- make science as a worthwhile endeavor to help humanity. Even farmers/fisherfolks should feel that their occupations are highly important to nation building and should be recognized by the government.
Politics should be viewed as being entered into to solve the grave problems of the country, and not as a field that would make individuals shine in society. I think that some of the candidates have that traditional view, which is why we call them trapo, because they view positions as a glittered job that would make the people kowtow to them.
Is anyone reading this? Are they listening?
Folks let us bring flashlights on Monday and help the teachers complete their job. Have a peaceful and bloodless week.
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