Barangay and SK elections are over. What happens now?

It’s the time of the year again when the town talks about bright futures and promising hopes following the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

During the election campaign period, there were many faces I never knew even existed or whose presence I never felt suddenly sprouting on every corner of the city like mushrooms. This is what campaign season looks like in the Philippines. Oftentimes, victory depends on how many posters of your name and face you hang on walls to raise awareness. This is not even a strategy anymore but more of the standard. If you’re in doubt, try to think of one candidate who did not have a tarpaulin.

After seeing the countless campaign posters, I could not help but wonder: “Where do all of these go afterward?” They could be recycled, after all, several recycling centers in the country such as those in Ilocos Norte and in Marikina are now upcycling campaign posters as raw materials for eco-bricks used for construction.

However, there is more that can still be done. The existence of recycling hubs does not call for the continuous production of campaign materials, especially election tarpaulins.

But there may be hope. Earlier this year, Sen. Raffy Tulfo filed a measure prohibiting the use of plastic tarpaulins during campaign periods through his Senate Bill No. 1762 or an “Act Prohibiting the Use of Plastic Posters during Campaign Season,” as an amendment of Republic Act No. 9006, otherwise known as the Fair Election Act.

Until then, prioritizing the aftermath of every campaign approach depends on the integrity and self-awareness of aspiring leaders.

Campaigning is the art of informative persuasion. Electoral candidates campaign because they attest that they have enough capability to create a better and possible reality for their communities. In the process of campaigning, all things fancy are served on a golden platter and it is up to us voters to spot the tarnished edges.

Also, gaining the trust of your constituents is not as easy as plastering your face everywhere, holding a motorcade like a saint during festivals, performing song and dance numbers for entertainment, or even blurting out highfalutin jargon to appear capable. Not all voters are dumb to not peel the onion, and this is what candidates tend to overlook.

What happens now that all the publicity gimmicks and show-stopping stunts are over?

As my late grandfather would say, principles reflect your performance and vice-versa. Do the community a favor by not running for a position if your intention is service under the shadow of salary or publicity. Every constituent deserves a grounded government official where they are within arm’s reach, not arm’s extended.

It is now time for the newly elected barangay and SK officials, on whose shoulders rest every Filipino’s hope for radical leadership and inspirational change, to get to work.

Zarena C. Hermogeno,
zarena.hermogeno1@gmail.com