It would be much better if Pulse Asia or other poll survey bodies would come up with a study on why (or how) Filipino-respondents pick their chosen ones. For example, I have chosen Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. among the presidentiables. Then, there would be multiple choices stating why I chose him similar to this one below:
Because I think that I and all Filipinos will be rich under him as he will finally be free to unfreeze his family’s bank assets and be allowed to access their hidden wealth in multiple countries which they have craftily accumulated during the martial law years.
Because many are saying that he was robbed of the vice presidency in 2016.
Because I wholeheartedly believe in the intelligence and integrity of the Marcoses and I don’t accept the charges that those who suddenly vanished into thin air and/or tortured and slaughtered during martial law are the accountabilities of Marcos Sr.’s autocratic administration.
Because I admire the parents of Marcos Jr. especially Imelda who inspired (cajoled, maybe) Marcos, Sr. into constructing Fort Santiago and the Cultural Center of the Philippines and other relevant infrastructure during the “golden age” of the Philippines, according to the dictator’s loyalists.
I don’t like women sitting as president (again) since they are branded “soft” and they might just turn out like Cory (Aquino) who relied heavily on her consultants and eventually became the “puppet of evil elements.”
All of the above
Others (Please state)
Now, if the data gathered from this kind of survey will be spread to the people, then, this would be called real voter education which might level the playing field and lead the voting public to make legitimately intelligent decisions.
If this still doesn’t work, then, we go to Plan B. Get ready for another 20-plus years of a regime of—darkness or light? Not unless Marcos Jr. will become an honest-to-goodness healing chief executive totally different from his father … which may require another set of multiple choices.
JOSEPH ROMAN G. ARAGONES
jrgaragones@gmail.com