“SO TRUE; FUNNY HOW IT SEEMS…”- Tony Hudley,
Spandau Ballet
Why do people have to vote; or participate in
elections?
The answer is very simple: to appoint leaders
expected to function for the good of the nation. Without these individuals in
designated offices, chaos and disorder is inevitable. Or such is the accepted
premise in democratic countries. But does voting really have any relevance in
the Philippines?
People sacrifice their time and energy at
overcrowded venues; the names of their favored candidates floating in their
minds or listed in a sheet of memo pad. They cast their votes, and offer
prayers for their prospective candidate. Some vote because they have subjective
opinions of personalities and believe that doing so will sate their
‘nationalist’ ideals. Others do so because they were influenced by gratuities
such as petty amounts of cash or goods; or were enamored by colorfully
romantic, but empty, speeches. However, they eventually learn that the person they
voted for did not win; or that they were mistaken about the same.
In 1965, reputed war hero, Ferdinand Marcos became
president of the Philippines. But because of his tyrannical demeanor; he was
overthrown by a woman who would succeed him as the first female president of
the country. Corazon Aquino merited the enthusiasm of the Filipinos for being
the widow of an anticipated savior; their fervor the instrument for her successful
overthrow of the despot. She was cherished until accused of being a puppet of
the United States; and suffered the criticism of the very same people who sang
her praises. Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno
Aquino III, likewise began terms revered as prophets at the outset; and condemned
for their faults and shortcoming later on.
It is a pathetic reality for Filipinos to be adept
at finding something to use against politicians who have fallen, or are, out of
their favor. Woeful are those who fall short of their expectations; more so are those
whose fraudulent conspiracies are exposed to the public eye. If Pope Francis ever
became a valid candidate for the elections, his beloved image would most likely
be lost after the Filipinos make him head-of-state.
It is probable that ardent voters judge this
commentary as anti-social or non-conformist. That is because they refuse to
admit the truth regarding their character. Elections are merely a formality of
assigning persons to office by what is assumed as a democratic, ‘orderly
procedure’. That is unarguably its sole purpose. However, the conventional attitude
of Filipinos hinders it from having any other logical, or rational, meaning.
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