VOTE WISELY!

March 30, 2025 Opinion

With 45 days to go, we shall go to our polling places and vote for our leaders in the next 6 years for national officials and 3 years for the locals. Let us choose wisely and as they say, otherwise, we deserve the kind of government we shall put into place. I see this election as a
choice between the lesser evil and not between the good or evil. As succinctly put by Judge Tom Rufino “better to be with the devil you know than the devil you do nor know! As a past president once said, “Judge me by the enemies I have made.”

When it comes to our leaders, friends, lovers and other strangers, the idiom “comfortable as an old shoe” is a rule rather than an exception. We would rather be with someone nice, familiar or comfortable no matter who he is or who does he think he is. We prefer one who deals with people patiently, kindly, in an agreeably unpretentious or unrestrained manner, pleasant easy to talk and work with and relaxed, not pretentious, plastic, tupperware, corocan wen nu ‘agin-lilinis’, stiff, ‘agin-la-laing’, strict or too polite.

From among those vying to be the leaders I would choose the candidate who fits the description to a “T” or locally to an “M”, he he he-Look for a guy who has character, humble and down-to-earth. Look for one who will never view himself as more important than other people or that he is messiah out there to save the kingdom. Look for him who treats everyone with the same respect, whether he is dealing with a King or pauper. An honest desire to serve should be the key, not seeking an office for his personal agenda or future national political plans.

If an incumbent and he did good in the past, bring him back! If ain’t broken, why fix it is a well taken rhetoric but the reverse too is true! Since it is broken, now is the time to fix it! And if it needs fixing, go for a New face, a new one! The reality out there is “good governance” is never beyond politics and this motto would make a candidate espousing it look ‘kulelat’ and may end up “pupulutin na lang sa kangkungan!” Good governance was Ping Lacsons’ messaging when he ran for president, but in one survey 2% lang towed the line and he lost disgracefully. Keep in mind people abhor a one-man rule, thus those who espouse it must necessarily flop.

“Inspire” messages-gobyernong tapat, marangal, integridad is a thing of the past. Alam naman ng botante na motherhood statement lang o bola-bola lang. To be charming to the voters, your must have a program for health, education, livelihood, peace and order-help-tulong, waras, pampalipas-gutom! Some pundits and the usual bashers will make “taas-kilay” with your choice but this is your judgment call but the greater good must override emotions. All the candidates have obvious flaws although the projection is they are Saints or
angels with a ‘halo’ but tell that to the Marines!

I know a candidate who has a trillion enemies, liberal media cannot stand him, the professionals and businessmen, taxi drivers and masses hate him, some sector fears him, And disdains him but at the end of the day, he might even or still win the contest of course with a little help from his extra terrestrial pals. Politics has been defined by Heywood as an activity that involves the interaction of people, whose relationship is characterized by conflict and cooperation, and who come together to solve such disagreements through binding solutions.

So, it would be the height of stupidity to go around and ask people to vote for you and declare that you are not a politician! The art of
government involves public affairs, compromise, consensus, power and distribution of resources. All politics. Your candidate then must
be people oriented. Very important to our people is accessibility to the powers-at-be. One does not need to fill up a form or a screening committee stating the purpose of a visit to a government office. He must listen to both sides and many times over and when one
disagrees with your point, you do not point nay, show him a gun to threaten him into submission. While the law is black and white, there is no rule that one can humanize it, and my candidate should do it with gusto. Don’t rush into judgment whom to vote for. 45 days is long
enough to decide, following the carpenters rule-“Measure twice before you hammer!“ Sigh.