Dear fellow voters

It’s that time again, when the theatrics of Philippine politics extends to glossy banners, million-peso TV ads, song and dance on makeshift stages, and kissing babies in both urban malls and rural markets.

Election after election, I am disgusted by how we continue to be victims of traditional politicians’ endless preelection ploys. They smile wider, shake our hands tighter, and promise better projects just to get our vote. But after they are elected, amnesia sets in almost immediately: They forget that roads and schools remain unbuilt, mass transportation cries out to be upgraded, the educational system is substandard, utility rates are skyrocketing, and many remain in abject poverty.

I share the sentiments of the disgruntled youth who pay good money for quality education but cannot find decent jobs after graduation; the parents who work double-, triple-time to earn enough to sustain the needs of the family; the working class that is forced to settle for below-minimum wages; and the overseas Filipino workers who are hailed as “modern-day heroes” yet are constantly milked by the government for exorbitant fees and payments.

We are living in a time when surveys and credit ratings portray an improvement in the economy yet the majority cannot feel the touted progress and still struggles to meet the basic necessities of living.

But I am an optimist and I would like to think that there is still hope, that we can change all that and improve the destitute state of our country by voting wisely. Now, more than ever, is the time to be effective voters.

It is also important to acknowledge that we have duties that extend beyond our voting rights. Do not assume that by simply electing Poe or Binay or Roxas or any other presidential hopeful that we will finally see the changes that we deserve. We expect way too much from politicians, that they would radically change the system, but we do not recognize how important our roles are. A lone president cannot save this country; we have to do it with him or her. We forget that success is a group effort, and that problems concerning crime, poverty, corruption, drugs, education, healthcare, territorial conflicts and others cannot be resolved overnight.

Politicians are not magicians, and changing this country requires more than just power or money. Not only will they have to step on a few toes, they must also be willing to break rules to create long-term changes.

Fellow voters, I understand that like the majority, you are disheartened. In fact, I have a growing circle of relatives and friends migrating overseas because to them the Philippines has become synonymous to poverty. The brain drain is precisely why we should be able to choose better, because our government should not be paving roads for more OFWs as a means to increase its GNP, but instead create sustainable solutions to produce more professionally satisfied Filipinos who would like nothing better than to serve their country.

Our motherland is rich not just in resources but also in values, culture and tradition. If we fail to see that, we also fail to see the importance of voting properly.

We should not be inured to reports of corruption, of delayed justice, and of violations of laws that seem to favor, not the majority, but the privileged few. We should use these as a means to understand, to educate ourselves, in order to grow and contribute better alternatives that will serve the many. It is our duty to actively participate in solving socioeconomic problems and not just sling angry comments and insulting memes on Facebook or Twitter. Understanding how the ways of corruption work and why it flourishes is one of the ways we can use to effectively choose deserving candidates.

Remember that it’s not only the politicians who make Philippine politics a joke but also the voters. Many consider an election as a means to get a quick buck, not realizing that a single vote can make a difference between living in this continual hell and bringing about change. We should not allow candidates to think that we vote blindfolded and handcuffed. We should not turn a blind eye at cash handouts, donations, shallow platforms, and even the promise of getting a job once they are elected. By selling our votes, we make not only our city or town, but the entire country, suffer. Incompetent politicians who have little or no understanding of how to represent their district will create tiny ripples that will eventually cripple us. We are already beaten, half-walking, and bleeding. Don’t make ourselves suffer even more.

Being in government has become an exploitative career where one can easily gain power, influence and money, mainly because many voters are clueless about the state of our political arena. Our elections are about popularity, not competence. Applying for a teaching job requires stricter vetting than running for a high position.

Everything is based on voters’ attitudes and behaviors, and so we create the politics that endures. We always complain about corruption and poverty, and yet we consistently vote incompetent candidates into key positions.

Fellow voters, if Philippine politics is a joke, it is only because we allow it to be.

Our role is not limited to choosing which lesser evil to put into office. We should know that elections can be historic—for our own demise or eventual success. If there is one thing that history has taught us, it is that we can do more than just vote; we also have the capacity to impeach and oust those who abuse their power for self-gain. We should remain hopeful because change can come at any time—maybe not in the personification of good politicians but in our becoming better voters. We are the 99 percent that can alter and create our own history.

Voting for candidates with the genuine desire to serve can bring about the progress that we long for. The government needs us, not only as voters, but also as citizens. We cannot just vote and hope for the best. We have to do the best. It is not always about the periodic change of leaders; collectively, we have to be capable of achieving great transformation.

We cast our votes every day based on what we choose to do, or not. Today, I choose to vote better. I will vote not only because I love my country but also because I would like a nation where its citizens no longer have to struggle just to meet the most basic needs. I will vote because I want change.

Fellow voters, I hope to see you in 2016, queuing in a cramped classroom but with full understanding that we are empowered and intent on living hopeful lives through tiny acts of personal change.

Demsen N. Gomez, 25, is “one of the faceless millions tired of screaming and remaining unheard.”