My Thoughts on the Upcoming Elections

Tweet

This May, the Philippines will be holding its elections, and again we can expect nothing short of chaos, not necessarily in a physical, violent sense but in some mental, collective decision-making form. We'll be going out to vote, and again we'll prove that at least in the local scene, we've lost the true meaning of political parties. In the years past, political parties used to mean something, even if not for everyone. Parties used to mean complementing platforms, a unified vision for the country, a similar - if only in general terms - stand on current political issues. Parties meant unity in service (once the candidates are sword in to office), but I don't really see that now. Is it just me or today's candidates are just siding with parties to benefit from being associated with other big names? Are they just there to strengthen their popularity? Or to help them with their campaigns' expenses? Because come to think of it, Philippine politics in the recent years have been nothing but a popularity contest. Do you think Joseph Estrada would have won if he wasn't in the films he starred in? Do you think Loren Legarda and Noli de Castro would have won if do you think we have so many former actors, journalists, athletes, and sons and daughters of former politicians working for the government today? Because our elections has become a pageant where the most popular - and it would be okay if that popularity was based on good records and solid performance, but no - wins the seat he's vying for. Why do you think Cory Aquino was chosen to replace Ferdinand Marcos? Surely not because she knows anything about running the country! It was because she had a martyr for a husband, and that's all there is to it. She received a ticket to the presidential palace for being a popular symbol. What I'm trying to say here is that, one: political parties are just popularity boosters. Two: it is only a matter, for most people, of which names they remember on election day. And three: Manny Pacquiao should not be elected in to office. (As a post-script: I'll be watching Wowowee live on May 14. I hope there's something I could celebrate.)