VOTING: WHAT''S THE DIFFERENCE

The upcoming 2016 Philippine presidential and vice-presidential elections has segregated and divided the Filipino people into various factions; each with the belief that a specific candidate holds the solutions to the current predicament of the nation. Of course, the reality to the overall dissent is due to their subjective interests. There are those who live in poverty and instantaneously accept the proposal of Jejomar Binay to abolish income taxes and provide them aid and assistance. Those who have become victims of crime and corruption, or bear sympathy for others like them; will opt for Rodrigo Duterte who claims that he will efface the existence of such injustice in a period of six months. Women and feminist groups that may have experienced abuse in their jobs and homes will support Grace Poe and her campaign to fight for womens’ rights. And the group of frustrated commuters who find it an arduous task of getting to, and returning from, work or suffer the unfavorable nuances of traffic congestion will revere Mar Roxas and his fantasitic ideas of erecting new and speedier railway systems.

    After all these hype, when a president is finally chosen; one side will exhale their cheers while the rest will sign in frustration. In the period, perhaps just a few months after the elections; nothing definite or prominent will come about. Whichever of the candidates come into office; they will always for short of fulfilling their promises or not carry them out at all. As a consequence, they will be condomned and criticized by the very same people who put them in office; as well as those who despised them at the onset.

    So what is the relevance of elections?

    This is just an event, or practice, that Filipinos have accepted into their lives; just as holidays and celebrations. It is something that has been integrated in the society and must eventually-and inevitably-happen. The masses have the option to vote or not. It is like being given free tickets to a concert of a performer that one may not have heard of. Come to the show or not. Be pleased with the artists, or otherwise. Whatever happens, when people step out of the venue, their lives go on; and they find out that their troubles and burdens are still there.