WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN ELECTORAL PROCESS?

What is the purpose of the electoral process? Some people mistake it for a chance to gain unlimited power. Others view it as a chance to have reflected power light, meaning those they support would be able to beam their popularity and power on themselves as well. But some prefer it in order to be more effective in bringing about change peacefully especially for the downtrodden. 

Unfortunately, our electoral process seems to be flawed from the time legal candidates are accepted as such and up to the time of the election period -- the counting and the pronouncement. We have not really mastered the art of HAVING a clean democratic participation. 

Look at our government -- are there checks and balances? Congress can easily be swayed to do whatever the Executive Department asks them to do. The Executive Department exercises so much power that the other officials in Congress and the Senate appear to be appealing (begging, may I say) all the time, pleading for his/her  support, thus ending to be not a co-equal branch at all. 

Hence, when we hold elections, the same colors appear again and again. 

Actually, when we speak of electoral process, the main topic should be that of upholding popular sovereignty, meaning to say the government is strengthening its capacity to implement the  people's will; that the people have access to relevant, important and even simple information so that we can make informed decisions (that is the purpose of the Freedom of Information bill); that we participate fully in every decision-making process of the government; that elections are peaceful, free and fair and that even the minority have a voice in society, not just the majority. 

Since our country is the first in the world to conduct a bloodless People Power then our government should also be exemplary in making sure that the people's will, the people's power is reflected, is embedded in every section of the government, in all the branches, and imbibed by every employee and official, year after year after year. 

Every governing act should be a new, a discovery or a rediscovery of democratic processes which we lost, have lost or were hidden from us or which we had failed to nurture and develop  during the one-man rule in the 70's and 80's. Then, as we are a spiritual people, predominantly, Christian nation that is theist, then such values, which of course are also attitudes in democratic societies, of having self-initiative and that voluntaristic attitude in helping the downtrodden should be axiomatic in every area of governing bodies; and those in positions of power need not wait for the bureaucratic rules to be relaxed by higher bosses before acting for the poor and the needy. 

Look at what has happened now to the more than 170 applicants to become president. Only 4 has been accepted and a fifth slot is being reserved for someone. 
Is that democratic? Is that Christian at all? Is that being spiritual or humane?

Choice of the four
Who chose the four candidates? What are their qualifications which cannot be found in the other applicants? Can they articulate the program that they will pursue once they win? I am sure that those other applicants to be candidates have among themselves certain qualities that the people could want to have as president had they been given the chance to exercise their talents and abilities. 

Examine their similar qualities:
1. graduates of higher education in schools for the affluent;
2. belong to the upper class in society;
3. current officials and so their media mileage is long as every act of theirs has been exposed since the time that they have sat into power. 

Rerunning officials 
Actually, I believe that re-running officials should be assessed -- in terms of their performance before being allowed to campaign and run again. Here are the questions that we should pose to them:

1. Did they fulfill their duties well while in office?
2. Was there something exemplary in their public service so that the people they are supposed to have served have lightened up their economic burdens?
3. Did they fulfill their tasks as dutiful servants -- like attending the sessions of Congress more than 50% of the time? Attendance is one way of showing to the people that they are conscious of their wants, that they are always relevant in terms of developing opinions that will advance the people's capacity to progress, not just economically, but also socially, politically, and spiritually. 

Standards for judging acceptance
Thus we must say that the standards for judging the acceptance or rejection of a candidate who has been an official in the government should be their own performance and that this should be judged according to being good, better and excellent. Otherwise, they should be disallowed from running, made to meditate on what they had done all throughout, to make amends, and grievously apologize to the people for having wasted their votes, salaries, project funds released  to them. 

So, numbers should not be a problem at all in terms of selecting who will be approved as candidates for official positions, if the people's opinion is gathered. 

Democratic process for selecting candidates
If there are two hundred vying for a position, then divide that by ten so that there will be 20 panels that can be formed. With media coverage, in a public setting, each applicant will be asked to pick a topic from a box and then  asked to deliver a talk for 3 minutes. Afterwards, sitting as a panel of ten, one problem topic for discussion will be asked of them so that the people may see the differences in opinion, who knows how to discuss, analyze, synthesise and provide solutions to problems. 

The people in the audience will be asked to send their approval of which candidate/s they prefer to run through texting. The results will be coded and analyzed by a group of social scientists together with statistical analysts and the winner/s shall be declared then eligible for running. Everyone will be challenged to prepare and come out at par with the other candidates in terms of the standards. 

This approach should be replicated in all other positions up for election. 

Let us admit it, governance is not only doing but also speaking out, of having that ability to use the mind properly and acting out what needs to be done. However and whatever the candidate reveals in that panel would be a mirror of futuristic reactions and would show his/her capability in being on top in every tricky, stressful or even lugubrious instances of governing the country. For example, does the candidate apologize for a mistake or does he/she get back at the questioner? Some people are like that -- they refuse to accept their mistakes and instead try to avenge their revealed errors in judgment and otherwise. 


Lastly, let us treat candidates humanely, not calling those who are not accepted as "nuisance," but rather using a generic name that is non-judgmental at all as everything is in limbo unless and until those persons have been allowed to exercise their talents and abilities to be candidates. By the way, that word "nuisance" is a product of our history. Search where it came from -- our colonial background being used again and again in the new millenium. 

For emphasis, it is the duty of the Commission, isn't it to inform all the 42,028 barangays as to who are the candidates in all the positions that are up for claiming, their pictures, their biodata, their accomplishments as previous officials or employees in the government, their reputation and record as professionals and as members of their community. We cannot really rely on personal comments because some candidates do not enjoy the support of their apolitical families who would rather be mum about what is going on in society than be involved in political debates and the like. 

So multiply the number of barangays and the types of media to be used for announcing the candidates. That should be the budget given the Commission. 

Folks, let us mull over our electoral processes in order not to make it descend into an activity of clowning, in entertaining with irrelevant jokes or lewd dancing, and in general, being a mentally-challenged exercise. Let us not forget, or rather let us emphasize that during an electoral exercise, our number one criterion is that the candidates love our country very much, have a world-view that encompasses the whole of humanity, and will bring our country to that level of peace, humaneness, and economic prosperity for everyone, and not just a few. 

By the way, our people have grown in leaps and bounds because of social media and the government has to reach that level of understanding, of curiosity, of social consciousness, of the people now. Or else it would become superfluous and useless later on.  

ORO MAGNIFICO PROGRAMANG AKSYON PARA SA BAYAN

EMMA S. OROZCO 09324940622 * 331.55.87*09158238491

ORO MAGNIFICO

OPPOSE RACIAL OPPRESSION  -- The Filipino people have a significant historical background especially as we toppled colonialism at the turn of the century; stopped the imperialistic forces of WWII; and achieved full independence after WWII. In 1986, were were able to dismantle martial law and restore human rights. We need to regain the feelings of dignity and pride of the people in our race, our history, and the God-given talents which need to be appreciated and re-appreciated in our own country.

Usigin ang Pangaapi ng ating Lahi -- Maraming siglo na and ipinaghirap ng ating lahi. Ngunit napakagiting ng ating kasaysayan: Nalansag natin ang kolonyalismo noong ika 19 na siglo; natalo natin ang puwersang mga imperyalista noong Ikalawang Digmaan at natamo natin ang buong kalayaan matapos ang giyerang yun. Noong 1986 naman nalansag natin ang batas militar at naibalik ang ating mga karapatang pantao. Kinakailangang maibalik natin ang ating damdaming may dignidad at pagpapahalaga sa ating lahi, sa ating kasaysayan at sa ating mga talino ng ipinagkaloob ng Maykapal. 

M    - Makamasa Mobility and Establishment of Alternative Health    Centers For Them In Every Barangay Magkaroon ng Gubyernong Makamasa at tinatakda ang kanilang maliksing pagkilos at pag-angat sa buhay at magtayo ng Alternatibong Health Centers sa bawat Barangay

A -    Agricultural Food Crops Sufficiency and Environmental Sustainability Papagyamanin ang Agrikultura upang maging sagana sa pagkain ang sambayanan at pangalagaan ang kapaligiran

G -    Gender Equality and God-centered Governance Magkaroon ng tunay na Kapantayan ang Kababaihan at Kalalakihan at magkaroon ng Pamamahalang may pagkilala sa Maykapal

N -    Nuclear Power In Areas That Will Accept Them and generate alternative sources of electric power. Magkaoon ng mayamang alternatibong pinagkukunan ng kuryente at enerhiya, lalo na ng Nuclear Power. Ang UK, Japan, Korea at Russia ay may nuclear power reactors na na tumutulong sa pagpapaunlad ng kanilang mga industriya sa murang halaga. 

I –    IT and Inventors Support Tulungan ang mga Information Technology Sektor at ang mga Imbentor na may mga orihinal na produkto. 

F –   Full-scale Financing of and Incentives to Pioneering Inventions,           Small Businesses Magkaroon ng buung-buong financia at incentivo para sa mga orihinal na imbensyon, mga small businesses lalo na ng mga OFWs

I –   Indigenous Groups Respect for their Ancestral Lands Igalang ang mga Indihenyong Grupo at ang kanilang ancestral na lupa. 

C-    Cultural and Artistic Renaissance         Magkaroon ng Malaya, Mayabong na Kultura at Sining                                                   

O –  Organized And Media-Covered Participation Of The People In     Government Programs And Projects, Especially For Development     Of Policies For Private Partnerships Programs Magkaroon ng Organisado at kinokover ng media na paglahok ng taumbayan sa mga programa at proyekto ng gubyerno lalo na sa paghubog ng mga policia sa pakikipag partner sa mga pribadong kumpanya. 

BAKIT AKO TATAKBO SA PAGKA-SENADORA

Mga Kababayan ko, Narito ang aking mga karanasan sa pagkilos sa non-government movement at kung bakit ako tatakbo sa pag-Senadora:

Community Volunteer Work:

Literacy Volunteer sa Tundo, Manila sakop ang mga Magsaysay Village, Aroma, Happyland, Smokey Mountain na tinatawag ngayong Paradise Heights, mula 1984 to 2002

Legislative Advocacies Nagpanukala at nagsumite ng mga draft bills para sa

1. Deklarasyon ng March 8 (1984) para maipagdiwang ang International Women's Day bilang isang national holiday at ipinasa ni Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino;

2. Nagsuhestyon ng pagtatayo ng magkahiwalay na mga women's groups, isa para sa gubyerno at isa para sa mga non-government women's groups dahil sa hindi magka-ayon ang kanilang working place. Nabuo ang GAD o Gender and Development Units dahil dito.

3. Wrote about Children's Rights in Mr. and Ms. Magazine in the 90's.

4. Nagsumite ng Anti-Smoking policy sa mga pampublikong lugar matapos sa ga opisyales ng gubyerno, 1989 matapos ang aking paglalakbay sa LA, USA kung saan nakita ko ang matinding pagbabawal ng paninigarilyo sa mga public places;

5. Nagsumite kay Sen. Aquilino Pimentel na i-ban illegal logging sa Mindanao dahil sa matinding init doon dulot ng kawalan ng puno. Matapos noon, nagsumite siya ng total ban ng logging sa Mindanao;

6. Nagsuporta ng Reproductive Health Rights (2014) through Sen. Pia Cayetano's office by suggesting tactics para ito maipasa;

CURRENT WORK:

Produksyon ng Educational Materials tulad ng Regalo Magazine para sa Kabataan;

Pagsusulat ng Blog : Google Norge: thirdforce-prg. blogspot

(PRG – Pilipinas para sa Responsable at Kagyat ng . Ito ay sinimulan upang noong 2008 dahil sa pangangailangang mabuo ang mga kasapi ng isang discussion group na nagmimiting sa Forbes Park, kasama ang mga alumni ng De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University and Lahat Na); nagbibigay ng third perspective (kontra sa mga pananaw na makakaliwa at makakanan) patungkol sa political, economic, social and cultural issues na may kaugnayan sa ating national identity at dignidad bilang isang lahi at kasapi ng mga pangdaigdigang komunidad.

BAKIT KO GUSTONG TUMAKBO BILANG ISANG SENADORA?WHY I AM VYING FOR A SENATORIAL SEAT: Tatlong mahahalagang trabaho ng isang Senador/a

1. Mag- imbestiga ng kamalian sa pamamalakad ng gubyerno – dahil sa aking pagsusulat, madali kong masasakyan ang mga isyus at makakasama sa diskusyon ng mga panukala na mahalagang matalakay para maibsan ang mga problema ng ating mga kababayan;

2. Mag diskusyon at magpasa ng mga batas dahil sa aking malawak na karanasan sa cultural at community work, makakapag-papasa ako ng mga panukala na tiyak na makatutulong sa ating mga kababayan;

3. Magdiskusyon, mag-analisa at magpasa ng badyet ng gubyerno taun-taon. Gawain ko na ito noong nagtrabaho ako sa Budget Commission kung kaya't madali ko nang magagawa ito. At pamilyar din ako sa pagpapatakbo ng non-government organizations na nangangailangan ng budget taun-taon.

DALANGIN

Nawa'y dumami sa ating bansa ang mga intelektual na may pananaw sa kinabukasan, may may malalim na paggagap ng ating kasaysayan bilang isang lahi at may kamalayan at pang-unawa tungkol sa pangkasalukuyan, nakakaintindi ng trabaho ng buong pamahalaan at mga tungkulin ng Senado, nakapagbasa na ang Konstitusyon at alam kung paanong palalakasin ang mga probisyon nito sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng mga batas at implementasyon nito. Sana ay marunong ding umakto at kumilos ng kagyat kung saan may matinding pangangailangan ang ating mga kababayan. Amen. 

    ISUSULAT KO ANG AKING PROGRAM OF ACTION  SA SUSUNOD NA BLOG. Sumasainyo, (Wiilhelmina) Emma Orozco 

SUPREME COURT

MINA del Rosario, the actress sometime in the 70's walked up a high building, trying to slim down. However, she suffered from heart failure and never recovered. 



I would like to mention to Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Sereno that the old building of the Manila Regional Trial Court at the old Nawasa building a few meters away from the Manila City Hall and the Park and Ride does not have an escalator and has not had it for more than five years already. For senior citizens, PWDs, it is a calvary-like experience going to attend a trial on the fourth floor on a weekly basis. Pity the lawyers and employees too.

Hope you could do something about it.

A CALL FOR SOBRIETY

The mood was festive. The supporters came in similar colors, whether all black, or all yellow tee-shirts. Some even wore caps. There was no element of seriousness, just fun. Is this the way we should regard elections, a time for fiesta?

For a country that has undergone typhoon disasters, floods, hunger, deaths and so much more, it is a wonder that our people are still taking everything in stride, finding something to laugh about, to smile and kid each other in public while waiting for their candidate/s to arrive and file their Certificate/s of Candidacy. 

Maybe elections should be studied in the grades up to college in order to instill among the people its seriousness as a central focus for our country to be in order, to be peacefully concentrated as we choose our leaders. 

The problem is that, as we reach voting age, that is the only time that we get to know how the ballot looks like, how a candidate is selected, how the officials are listed as accepted candidates, and so forth and so on. I think that is not really a very good approach. 

Everyone should be knowledgeable about elections even while young in order to know that it is the Pinnacle of being a good citizen -- exercising one's right to choose the leaders of the country. Singing the national anthem,  reciting Panatang Makabayan, or even saluting officials are nothing compared to filling up the ballot with the names of ethical leaders who would be handling the reins of power later on. 

As I waded through the mass of supporters on the last day of filing of COCs I noticed that even at the steps going up the Comelec office at the Palacio del Gobernador, the spaces had been occupied. I felt deprived of my right to present myself as a candidate, and also, I felt marginalized by the huge mind-setting actions of the supporters. Is it not the case that music bands, banderitas, tee-shirts with the names of their candidates are forms of mind-setting that they will win the elections?

No, it did not feel right at all. I think it is within the power of the Comelec to require that all supporters should be 50 meters away from the building of the office. That space is reserved for those who are coming with their companions to file their COCs, to have a peaceful walk to the office as they mull over the significance of their act. 

Sobriety not bruhaha is the characteristic of a mature electorate.   

PREDICTING ELECTION OUTCOME

Who are the presidential candidates who will embrace the interests of the marginalized sectors of our society? Everyone.

Who are the candidates who will create a better life for artists and cultural workers? I have not heard any but Grace Poe, whose parents are movie artists surely would have her heart set in listening and doing something for their lives.

It is really very difficult predicting who will win the elections except that we know the electronic counting machines could provide fantastic results in the future.

Why are we so skeptical about the outcome of the elections? The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting should make us feel safe and secure that our votes will be counted and the right candidates shall earn the correct number of votes their constituents have given them.

I just want to suggest to the PPCRV that when they go to the people, they must emphasize that the voters should not sell their votes at all. I don't know what psychology they should use in this regard because the problem has become too common. Perhaps a historical-psychological approach should be done to ensure that they people understand the value of their votes.

Easier said than done. Some would readily get the P500 just for buying their food for the day. Hey, that is a good idea. Let us ask all the restaurants and moneyed people to give food to the people several days before elections and until the day itself to make them so fat that they would not be thinking of money to buy food at all.

Funny? I am just joking. The problem looks unsolvable because we are dealing here with character of our easy-to-buy voting sector. Maybe we should ask all the candidates to remove themselves from the scene, after voting and stay away till the counting is finished. Hey wait, buying votes usually occur on the night before, the eve of election day.


So maybe we could ask the Comelec to contain all the candidates in one place so that they would not have contact with anyone. But then, these candidates could prepare themselves ahead of time and give the money to their go-fers several days ahead to insure that the votes are bought on time.

Well, it seems it is really difficult to pin down the problem -- why because it lies on the candidates who really use that approach in order to insure their victory.

So there, the problem after all lies on the candidates themselves. Walang magbibenta ng boto kung walang bibili.

It is the candidates who will call the shots -- "how much? what is my guarantee?|"

Now how do we ask the candidates to stop committing that illegal act of vote-buying? how to erase that sin in their souls? how to cleanse themselves of that overarching desire to be in the political limelight?

Here is the State of Illinois Board of Elections statement :

PREVENTING VOTE FRAUD
WHAT IS VOTE FRAUD?


Vote fraud is a clear intent or action aimed at depriving a voter of his right to vote or falsifying actual votes cast. Voters can play a major role in helping to guarantee clean elections by being on the alert for unusual activities at or near polling places and reporting irregularities to election authorities. Some of the more common methods of fraudulent activity include:

Vote buying, offering money or gifts to a voter to vote for a specific candidate;

Chain balloting, taking a previously marked ballot from the polls and passing it to a voterentering the polls;

Ghost voting, voting under the name of a deceased person a fictitious name, or anonexistent address;

Altering the figures on the tally sheet during the counting of ballots.

WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS OF SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR?
Money changing hands in or near the polls.


Someone passing a folded piece of paper or card to a voter who hides it on his/herperson. NOTE: voters may possess and use sample ballots to assist them while voting.

A person claiming to be someone else in order to vote. Also, someone giving anaddress or place that you know is an empty lot. Or, if you know a person doesn’t live atthe address which he claims.

More than one person in a voting booth, except under these circumstances: (a) if adisabled person signed an affidavit requesting assistance, he may have a friend or twojudges of election (one from each party) assist him; or (b) one or more children under theage of 18 may accompany their parent or guardian into a voting booth.

Electioneering within the Campaign Free Zone.

Intoxicated voters being given assistance in the voting booth.

Election Judges from both major parties are not represented in the polling place.
The judges of election are not in control of the polling place; for example, if you see someone giving orders to the election judges.


What are the measures we can take in order to stop or prevent electoral fraud?


That is something to ponder about in the coming months. Meanwhile let us enjoy the political struggles to determine who is really sincere and honest and will deliver once elected.

ON COMELEC ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL TERM "NUISANCE" CANDIDATES AND OFFICIALS

I am worried about the Comelec report that they are going to comb through the list of applicants for national and local positions in order to weed out "nuisance candidates." 

I wonder if they could also perceive if a candidate who looks okay as a candidate would turn out to be too lazy to attend the sessions of Congress,  or is a perennial absentee, or who pops in to the session hall and then leaves after the roll call is done. In other words can they predict that a candidate, whom they allow to campaign, and who wins would become a nuisance official?

There are also those who chair and are members of committees but never get to first base in terms of alleviating the problems of the sector they are supposed to serve. 

Hence, what checks can we make when well-meaning candidates are denied the right to run as certain powerful forces could call up Comelec to disallow a certain person to be a candidate? I have talked to some filers in the past and they do not understand why they had been denied their right to stand up and serve the country. No reason, no justification, just plain silence. Why?

BUREAUCRATISM, BUREAUCRAT DEFINED

nonelective government officials

Synonyms:

bureaucracy

Types:

Pentagon

the United States military establishment

Type of:

government officials, officialdom

people elected or appointed to administer a government

bu·reau·crat

[byoor-uh-krat]

NOUN

1.

an official of a bureaucracy.

2.

an official who works by fixed routine without exercising intelligent judgment.

Related Question: What are the synonyms for bureaucratism?

Source: Dictionary.com

bureaucratism

bureaucrat

   
      n  

1    an official in a bureaucracy  

2    an official who adheres to bureaucracy, esp. rigidly