COMPREHENSIVE VOTERS' EDUCATION

When in critical phases of strengthening our democratic processes, we need to educate our people on how best to exercise their power to vote, to choose our leaders that will sit for three or six years depending on the position. We need to be meticulous on encouraging our people to use their power to vote and not be waylaid by promises of instant wealth or instant position or whatever sweet candies the candidates could think of. 

And that is precisely what is happening at this time in our country, we are deluged with advertisements galore from flyers to tarpaulins to online ads that pull us to look at the face of this and that candidate or to get fully convinced to vote for him or her. Those candidates who enjoy the support of rich parties have greatest edge in capturing the hearts and minds of the people but is that really possible?

Only an educational strategy that will comprehensive look at the situation of the most numerous voting sector in our society, the youth, and considering their preparation to become dutiful citizens will edge out all forms of evil machinations to fool our voters into submission. 

hence, I suggest Folks that you follow the path of this morning's Ted Failon's program and see what we can learn a lot in terms of voter's education. Here are its sections, as I remember them right:

1. Students from various universities were invited to become audience -- rich, middle class and bracket c and d; 
2. Audience participation was encouraged -- both live and through texting;
3. Game section where families tried to guess the best features of a candidate;
4. The host had a panel of experts who had backgrounds in history, philosophy, sociology, and advertising of candidates, among others. These people were able to impart valuable knowledge to the audience as to what constitutes a good political philosophical background in order to become a good voter;
5. History of vote-buying in the country -- starting during the American period;
6. Although there was a deliberate intent to focus on the family, yet the program was able to inculcate that in voting, the family view is just one factor to contend with. In the end the individual has the right to decide the candidate that he or she prefers to put up as official; and

 In the end, the program came up with 79% intelligent voters who know what would be the best criteria if a candidate is worthwhile voting for or not. 

This program I think should be watched by those in the communities and the questions posited in them should also be discussed in order to deepen the people's understanding of the value of that VOTE.

Absent an educational program of the Comelec, this is the best that our country has come up so far. Salud!+