Filipinos know what the country needs yet fail to choose ‘the one’

My Facebook account is being flooded with political posts from friends recently. Candidates vying for local and national positions have been filing their candidacies, either for reelection or just their first try. Celebrities have expressed their support for certain candidates with their colors, while others have opted to join the game.

Frankly, I do not know who to vote for in the 2022 national elections just yet. Seeing so much indifference toward the probability of the return of a famous family name has made me go back to our history since I vaguely remember my lessons on that subject in Sibika at Kultura. I also am tempted to browse the track record of each presidential candidate. I can never bring myself to lecture or reprimand my students who continually post hate comments and memes pointed at specific candidates. I am only tempted to ask them: Have you even registered yet? If not, you should. It is a constitutional mandate to exercise one’s right to suffrage.

I could only say with a massive eye roll, “Here we go again.” Like spectators in a cockfight, we all have our bets in the political arena. Oftentimes we seem to know what our country needs, yet fail to choose “the one.” We tend to believe in colorful and flowery words, but soon miss out the thorns and wriggling worms spat out by some of the candidates. We seem to know better, and still flunk during the voting season. We choose to believe in clickbaits, on promises that are yet to be fulfilled. Then, when they are forgotten by the one who took oath, a political uproar ensues, forcing that person to address or mansplain the delay.

Still, as an “exercise of our collective sovereign will as a people” (Philippine Electoral Almanac, revised and expanded edition), our votes serve as a symbol of our choice to hope for a better life for us and others, and to trust the ones we choose. Borrowing again from the revised and expanded edition of the Philippine Electoral Almanac: “The polls are at the heart of our political culture; it is a signal for change and an emblem of our collective decisions—and of who we are as one people and of what we value.”

Whosoever wins, may they set the best example for our children whom we are honing to be the champions of tomorrow. May they exercise hearts that are for the people, not for themselves. May they create an atmosphere of positivity amid all the hurdles our country is facing today, and truly address our raging problems on poverty, the health system, and literacy, to name a few.

I am no partisan, and I am not campaigning for any political wannabe. I choose to campaign and vote for our nation’s future. My ultimate plea is that one day, when their time comes, our children will be responsible and make good choices. They remain our nation’s hope.

Marjorie Millan, [email protected]