What Colors are You Wearing?

My attention was drawn to the man sitting right in front of me as I was on my way to work one morning. He was wearing three baller bands of different colors – yellow and blue; orange; and green. If you are closely following news on the forthcoming national election in the Philippines, you’ll know that these are colors carried by the candidates of different political parties hoping to get our votes comes May 10, 2010. Baller balls are election paraphernalia being handed out in this year’s election.

The electoral race is coming to a homestretch with less than a week before our date with destiny when we elect our new sets of officials. The most important among our decision is the man or woman (I am not really entertaining this thought though) who will be our 15th President.

Since I reached the legal age to make most decisions for myself, I have participated in four elections. I was able to exercise my right to suffrage at an older age. This was because a Dictator overextended his tainted presidency for 21 long years, the longest any Philippine President held on to the position barring any chance that our outgoing President will be able to pull another one on us and extend her term. To date, she has been holding on to that position for 9 years and holds the unenviable reputation of being the second longest serving President. She came to power on the heels of the second People Power when civil society groups, business groups, professionals, workers, students and all disillusioned Filipinos converged to topple a bumbling President out of Malacanang for charges of corruption that he shamelessly flaunted and I believe because many felt he didn’t and still doesn’t have it in him to run the country as he transformed the august Office of the President as a haven for his midnight cabinet consisting of his cronies and drinking buddies. Being the legal successor to the abruptly cut Presidency, the Vice President was sworn into the Office of the President by the rule of succession before a crowd who did not necessarily subscribe to her but just wanted a proper functioning of the institutions ruined by the bumbling and shameless kleptocracy. Little did we know that she savored the idea of being the President so much as she dispensed the powers of the presidency for the remaining three years of the deposed president’s term and run for the Presidency on her own terms in the May 2004 election which what was widely believed to have been won by an actor, a buddy of the President she replaced who shortly passed away. I actually did not vote for her nor the actor. But like many, I did not relish the thought of another actor ruining whatever remains of proper governance. I turned my cheek the other way hoping that her presidency would be more palatable. Six years later and as we are once again faced with the task of choosing our next leader, that hope is now crushed under tons of rubbles. The feeling that accompanied my stance then does not jive with the feeling I have for her right now. I have put my thoughts on her governance in an earlier post.

My mind strained to describe the kind of government we have for the past 25 years since I helped put a number of them to the critical position. I am disappointed, disillusioned, and still yearning for a real taste of good government. I will have a date with destiny again in less than a week. Let’s see how I fared in the past four elections.

In my entire experience as a voter, there were only two times that I was sure and stood by my vote proudly. The first time came at a time that our country needed a renaissance of sorts after being governed by the same ruler who perpetuated himself to power eternally. Well, as history would show my vote and those of others who wanted a change were initially laid to waste because the Dictator resorted to massive cheating and manipulation of electoral institutions as he cannot accept the fact that he lost to a housewife. It took mass outpouring of emotions to compel people to stage the first ever peaceful revolution which finally forced the Dictator and his family to vacate the palace and fly to a tropical paradise. This is the first time that a woman would topple a man in the highest position in the land. This paved the way for the reluctant but duly-elected President to take her rightful place in the once impenetrable fortress. I did not expect much from her presidency as far as economic progress is concerned. With many losing hope in the government and at a time when people begun making mass exodus for offshore destinations, I simply needed decency and morals to be back in the government, values wanting in institutions corrupted by power as a result of the outlandish one-man rule for a very long time.

The second time I was certain and proud of my vote was immediately after this renaissance period. At this time, change was instigated and institutions were functioning normally, more or less. Because I am still fascinated and inspired by the miracle we pulled through at that time, I voted for the technocrat endorsed by the renaissance president. After all, he was a key personality in the first People Power . He gave up so much to force the Dictator out of Malacanang and our lives for good risking his position, relations, life and everything that he has for the government he served for a long time under the same Dictator. In other words, he turned his back on the Dictator and chose to be loyal to the country. He won my heart immediately. There were at least four key personalities that rallied the people in the first EDSA revolution. As mentioned earlier, he was one. The other three includes the lady who would be his predecessor and a high ranking religious prelate who made the call to the people and was instrumental in ensuring the safety of the would-be president. The last one is also a member of the cabinet of the Dictator who together with this technocrat was part of the military in the despised dispensation and was seen as a close confidante of the Dictator. I have never completed trusted this last key personality up to this day even if I am grateful that he was largely responsible for the coup d’ etat staged by the military signaling the withdrawal of support for the Dictator. However, I feel differently for this technocrat, the other key military official of the government of the Dictator. Although rumored to be a distant relative of the Dictator, he seemed to be left out from critical operations or decisions as the trust appeared to have been given to a ruthless military man who sold his soul to the Dictator. In this technocrat, I saw a man who was discontented with the system; was weighing his options; and made the clean break when the time called for it. It was a perfect moment when it happened. And if his becoming a president was his reward for his sacrifice, I’d say he deserved to be given that position. Overall, I’d like to describe his presidency as boasting of modest gains in economic development in terms of infrastructure development, investment generation, export promotion, and having the essential elements of governance. I’d say it’s a feat for him considering that many of us were doubtful about his capability to govern a country with only his strong military background as his credential. Even if he did not exactly pull us out of the rut, he restored investors’ confidence back in the country, made democracy function as he slowly rebuilt the nation; and probably stopped brain drain from completely devastating this forlorn nation.

Aside from these two Presidents, the rest of my choices leaves much to be desired. I have not always voted according to my conscience. I have voted a candidate whom I believe to be the lesser evil. I have been blinded by the promises of what I perceived to be a messianic candidate. I have voted a candidate whom I have long suspected of being a ‘trapo’ just to shave off the lead of a stupid candidate whom I hate to see sit as a president. I have voted blindly just so somebody I do not like will not win. I have voted people running for lower national and local positions whom I do not even know much about just to get it over with. I humbly submit that I am not proud of all the choices I made. I would like to be eaten by quicksand everytime I am reminded of two candidates I voted for the highest position out of desperation. I would be teased, sometimes scoffed, by friends about these choices and I could just wince in embarassment. Thank goodness, they didn’t win. This is the problem of being half-hearted about my choices….. there’s that nagging feeling of discomfort. As of the last election, it’s an even 50-50 for me in terms of satisfaction over my choices.

Exactly one week to election time, I am still scratching the surface to uncover more from the list of our hopefuls. I have no problem with the vice president because the person I am certainly voting for would have gotten my vote had he run for the highest position. But luck is not in his favor and he had to settle for the second best thing. As for my senatoriables , I believe that there is a long list of candidates to choose from. I have more problem in my choice for congressman and local officials because in my place the political scene is monopolized by a political dynasty. In fact, if the head of this dynasty wins the highest position, they would have it all. Let me tell you what my choices are or more precise my non-preference, as far as these positions are concerned.

For this election, I would not vote for the following:

1. Those whose only skill is to make people believe in the make believe (I wonder why they still rank high in the surveys. I have seen them in the Senate just have their attendance checked, sat quietly through proceedings (they have been christened and inducted as members of the Committee of Silence for this reason. I don’t think it’s in their personalities. It’s just that all throughout the sessions, they are clueless about what is going on) and disappear without a trace after showing off their handsome suits or crisp barongs while smiling and waving to the crowd from time to time that I felt like I was in an academy awards night during sessions that I attended.

2. Those who are subject of controversies because of their many ‘sins’ against the people at large; each other, and even their friends and family. (Some may be allegations on how they use their positions to enrich themselves and to enjoy all the perks of the position. Some accusations may be hard to prove as they have mastered the art of ‘sinning’ without getting caught or if caught, they know how to present an exterior that can let them get away while lying through their teeth. Just check their lifestyle and we could all just puke on his/her face….. ang kapal nyo!)

3. Those whose only preoccupation is to lambast and fail to see that he/she is the biggest joke of them all (They just love to grandstand and hear the sound of their own voice as they spew venom on the target of their wrath. However, examine the person and you’ll see what I am talking about….one more time with feeling……ang kapal niyo!!!).

4. Those wannabes who even without the basic qualifications to run for a public office think that entering politics is the natural course after excelling in a completely different field (Surely, you know who I am talking about….. rather than becoming a has been in their chosen field and stop having a gainful preoccupation, they use their little smarts to find an alternative career before reaching their twilight years. Inspired by the success of their predecessors, they think that they can do as well in politics. I’d like to tell them, “Mangilabot naman kayo!!!!”)

5. Those feeding us these stupid infomercials showing the candidates in a different light like we’re too stupid to see beyond the photoshopped pictures, the plastered smiles, and their concocted platform . Let’s recall those which if it does not ruin our day, at least give us something to laugh about….. There’s this one showing the anti-corruption platform of the candidate where the candidate himself is in a fistfight with cartoon crocodiles (how is that for effect…lol) . Another one uses the staff in an august chamber to extol the virtues of a relectionist and with him giving his fervent wish to the electorate in the end (Gusto ko happy ka……..lolz). A former presidential candidate who is now relegated to running for the second highest office made the fatal mistake of using a poor man’s contraption (the padyak) to paint him as a man who feels the misery of the poor with the famous tagline “Ramdam ko kayo” (rofl). You should fire your PR firms for doing you a disservice.

I’ll stop here even if there are a lot more of the kinds of candidates we have in this election who are not qualified because just with the above, there might be no more candidates to choose from among the leading ones. That is so very right. But since the bench is deeper among the senators, I’ll choose well and depart from the ‘trapos’ making the metro filthy with their campaign materials and who are giving me a bad case of hallucinations getting LSS from all those jingles, the most famous of which is the one asking if we slept in the middle of the road or swam in a sea of garbage (To you, I say, “Mag-solo ka!!!!”……that is if there is truth to the message of this famous jingle sang even by the youngest son of the famous sister of this guy’s leading contender). Since the only thing that these kinds of candidates can offer are empty promises, I think I will be idealistic this time on my senators.

I don’t think I have much choice among candidates running for local positions in my place because they are running practically unopposed. They have been beaten only once by a rival candidate and the repercussions were grave not only for the winner but for us, residents of our place. I live in a relatively clean and peaceful city so I might say that the dynasty must be working well in there. But I am really apprehensive about check and balance because there is no opposition to the system. I recall a time when an opponent of the ruling family won and it couldn’t function well because the losing candidate was sore about losing that he’d rather see the city get jammed in traffic and stink than help the winner govern efficiently. Since the losing candidate practically owns majority of the city, it was easy to make things difficult for the then new dispensation. Vindictiveness is the name of the game in political dynasties and warlordism. Hence, choices must be made under this condition….difficult but it’s going to be manageable.

The most difficult choice for me is the candidate who will eventually become our 15th President. There are 9 presidential candidates in the running. Many fora believe that we are again faced with the choice of the lesser evil rather than be allowed the satisfaction of voting for the candidate we believe deserves to become President. I do not want my vote to tilt the scale in favor of voting for exigency. I desire a working democracy that would also allow us to choose qualified and rightful leaders. IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH?

A facebook wall post puts it succinctly…… We should not even be talking about M vs. N as it should have been G vs. G. I immediately liked this post. If I would choose a candidate in accordance with my conscience, one of these Gs would easily get my vote. There are some questions because of his association with a hated dispensation but he looks too good literally and figuratively that I am willing to overlook this disadvantage. However, there are other things to think about……

When my friends and I discuss our preferences, the usual reply is most of us really want the man wearing green to become president but…………. a plethora of rationalizations follow, among which are his association with a hated dispensation (perhaps his greatest undoing) and his sin of omission resulting in the Ampatuan massacre perpetuated by a clan wielding too much power and to whom the current president is beholden to because that clan gave enormous votes in that area. Nonetheless the guy is clean, capable, and has the makings of a president. But he is trailing in the surveys…… a dismal third in some surveys and fourth in some other polls. Among the middle class, I think he is a runaway winner. Of course, their campaigns would always belie the results of these surveys.

The rest of the candidates are not really threats. A former president making noise in the coming election is just all that…. all noise with nothing more. Except for his oft repeated wisecrack, there is nothing to him. I am glad that many of his old followers have learned their lessons and he is not getting the vote of his ‘beloved’ masses this time. There is a young idealistic man and his gregarious uncle who have good ideas about how to run this country but are clearly lacking in experience, charisma, or both. I would have wanted that young man to run for a lower position and I would readily give him my vote. As for his uncle, probably some other time, senator. It would be insane to put the lone female (is that right?)candidate to power given her tendencies and thank goodness she doesn’t matter in this election. The same goes to an over-ambitious environmentalist and this religious leader with a sure 5M votes from the power of networking among his subjects….. To these candidates, I want to ask the all too consuming question: JUST WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? The money you used in this election could have gone a long way in feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and getting basic services in a remote baranggay. For that alone, you will not get my vote now or farther into the future.

I encourage my friends and acquaintances as well as readers of this blog who care to make this election worthwhile to bother explaining the relevance of this election to people they talk to who would tell them that they are voting for a certain candidate because it is better that they are stupid since they wouldn’t know how to work around the system or a convicted plunderer because he won’t steal anymore as he already did it or who would not even want to vote because it is just a waste of time. Even if the choices are limited, we should all make a stand that would make a difference in our lives. WE NEED A GOOD LEADER TO LEAD US WITHOUT CONFUSING US WITH WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.

While I would love to put that green wristband at this point in time, I have to hold it one more time because I do not want a man giving out baller bands with a darker citrus color to become our top man.…….. Because I believe that the rich will not bother with crumbs when they can get the whole cake and eat it too. There are lots of questions as to his intentions. Those who do not trust him feel that he is dying to get into that position to preserve their wealth and at worst to further enrich himself and his business interests. Just like old times, greed becomes an all too powerful and consuming motivation. After all, one would not spend too much in the election without an assurance of a fair or maybe a fat ROI. Since he already used the power of his position to his advantage in a lesser position, what would deter him from using it another time in an all-too powerful position?

This is where the lesser of the evil, the man handing out the lighter citrus colored baller bands, have at least the benefit of my doubt. While his capability or the lack of it is his greatest shortcoming; his good name, untainted record, and the legacy of his parents put him in good stead. Lately, a lot of black propaganda have been hounding his campaign…. The most serious of which are his lack of accomplishment all the time that he is part of the government and lately his mental health. I am not certain about the accuracy of the report about his mental health but his lack of accomplishment is an obvious truth.

Right now, it’s beginning to look a lot like a toss-up between evil and the lesser evil once again. Given this scenario, my ultimate question is SHOULD I VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY CONSCIENCE OR SHOULD I THINK OF MY COUNTRY FIRST AND FOREMOST AND AVOID A REPEAT OF THE MISTAKES OF THE 2004 ELECTION? I have exactly 4 days, 7 hours, 34 minutes and 53 seconds to reveal my color and give my own answer to this question.

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