To ‘presidentiables’ and politicos

It’s Christmas season, and the election season is in the air!

Elections are an opportunity to deepen the consciousness of voters so that they seriously participate in the task of nation-building. But our elections have been marred by deceit, cheating and violence, and dominated by elitism and political dynasties. Still, through elections, we can change the course of history. And politicians, instead of insulting the voters with their campaign gimmicks, should help them to be critical in making their choices.

I appeal to the candidates, spare the people from cheap politics. Respect our voters.

Do not pretend to be propoor when in fact you don’t care for them. Pope Francis’ pastoral injunction to priests, that they should “smell like their sheep,” applies to political leaders as well.

Do not use women to gather crowds in your political sorties.

Do not attack your rivals for their personal weaknesses or physical appearance. Engage them instead in intelligent, sensible and meaningful public debates regarding your varying platforms and leadership styles—so voters can judge your worth.

Do not “keep your option open” on issues that matter most to our people. Be categorical with and then explain your positions on foreign policies, the Visiting Forces Agreement, China’s territorial grabs, large-scale extractive mining, onerous debts payments, freedom of information bill, peace talks, pork barrel.

Do not promise peace when you mean to take away the people’s democratic rights or deprive them of their option to take the path of resistance, a historical tradition that goes back to Andres Bonifacio, Macario Sakay, Gabriela Silang, etc. Know that the government and the National Democratic Front have agreed that any peace talks between them should address the root cause of the armed conflict, and not lead to a surrender by any of the parties.

Do not use the name of God in vain—or to deceive and manipulate the voters.

Do not use the poor either. Do not promise them the moon and the stars. What they are interested to know about is whether you will increase workers’ salaries to the level of a living wage and emancipate the farmers from centuries of feudal bondage. After all, the farmers and workers still form the majority of our people. Their cause should be part of any political and economic platform.

Do not ask people to forgive and forget the official misdeeds of the past that tore at the people’s dignity and the nation’s pride. Make sure your campaign platform would include making accountable the corrupt, the human rights violators, and the traitors of the people. Love and justice go together. If you love the people, you will make sure that they get what is due them and justice.

Do not preach the virtue of patience, unless you have lived with the urban poor for at least a week, or scavenged through a pile of garbage to feed your family, or joined a long line of people to fetch your family’s supply of water for the the day. Or have taken a ride in an LRT or MRT train at 8 o’clock in the morning or 5 o’clock in the afternoon for two weeks. Then you will know that patience is not the solution to our country’s perennial problems.

Do not forget that running a public office is both a responsibility and privilege. Do not abuse the privilege by living up to the responsibility.

Have a meaningful Christmas!

—NORMA P. DOLLAGA, Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan (Kasimbayan), [email protected]