I sold my vote

MY VOTE may just be one, but it added to your supporters. You met the criteria I have set:

First, that you be vastly rich—not in money, but in the desirable qualities a leader must possess to deserve the highest position in our country. That you have the largest heart, the longest patience, and the widest thinking capacity for us to be assured that the next six years of our lives will not be jeopardized by a temperamental and indecisive leader.

That you be firm and as calm as the clear and diversified waters around the islands you aspire to govern, even if some of these islands are being lashed by troubled waters.

That you be the leading light of the majority who are lost,

impoverished and indebted, and who need to be found, saved and uplifted.

Second, that you be a terminator that would stamp out the ailments long plaguing our country and deterring our chances for development, innovation and economic growth. That you use your might and bravery in ousting the parasitic officials who have corrupted the system, and have fallen prey to their thirst for power and wealth. That you bring about socioeconomic equality so that, under your administration, we Filipinos will feel the sincerity of your promises and the compassion you exuded during the campaign. That you banish the warts of immorality from our society, like the trade in illegal drugs and sexual abuse and harassment, among others, to pave the way for a better society.

Third, that you be clothed elegantly so that you can proudly represent my country with the image we want the world to see—firm stance, bright smile, chin proudly up. That you reflect inner strength, resilience and perseverance—traits we Filipinos are known for, showing that we are indomitable in times of natural and manmade disasters. That, besides being elegant, you be driven by conscience and moral righteousness. That you be fearless and decisive, but at the same time a person with a heart during crises. That, like a parent, you would mold us into morally upright and thinking citizens.

Lastly, that you, as our leader, would be the servant that we need and deserve. A servant leader who would make our land fertile, preserve our seas, pave our roads, protect our natural resources, and make possible laws for the improvement of the lives of your constituents. A  servant leader who would not expect vast wealth in return, but the gratitude and appreciation of your people. A servant leader who also listens to the minority, the underprivileged, and those in the peripheries of society.

That you be a leader who knows what we really need. That you possess an abundance of desirable qualities, the guts to confront and defeat evil, the aura of elegance and purity, and the willingness to serve more than 100 million Filipinos.

I sold my vote—not for petty cash or sacks of rice, but for a brighter future for our country.

John Earl Trinidad Cuadrasal, 19, is a mass communication student of Saint Paul University Surigao.