The election flame has now been lit… even before campaign season officially starts

I am no Billy Joel.

I couldn’t name all the events that took place from my birth year to this current date. I find myself delusional trying to put GMA and Garci, Noynoy, and SAF 44, Du-30, COVID, and second Marcos rule into a lively single hit. I am not a songwriter.

But one thing I know for sure—that the fire has already started; the Philippine election season has commenced.

First of all, we’re only counting down a few months before the filing of certificates of candidacy for people who wish to run in the midterm polls next year. From Oct. 1 to 8, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will begin the process of accepting applicants who want to be the next members of Congress or leaders of their cities. Senators will enter the race for a six-year term, while other elected positions will run for a midterm post that’s good for three years.

This exercise will also help amplify rumors of people who could take part in the upcoming electoral contest scheduled in May 2025. As early as now, survey firms have already researched the composition of the new Senate in the next Congress. The T3—Erwin, Raffy, and Ben—dominate the “Magic 12,” with none of the (liberal and progressive) oppositionists inside the winning circle.

Surveys help gauge the kind of legislators voters want to elect in Congress but critics have called it a “mind-conditioning” machine. It is helpful, but not beneficial to our weakening democracy.

But enough of the surveys, for now.

Friends, have you taken your short walk today? If you did already, well, thanks! If not, let me explain.

Try to look at the streets away from the bustling business districts in the city. Notice the tarpaulins hanging on signposts around it. The first person you might probably see is Juan or Juana dela Cruz trying to give you a timely reminder of what you must do today. Like obeying traffic rules or paying the driver honestly, they would ask you to do something good.

Or you might find Ynigo or Yniga Malabanan congratulating you, your teacher, your parents, or any significant one in achieving something for the country.

I find no fault in these messages. However, like my old humanities professor used to say, there are no innocent motives in writing. True enough, their words are nothing ordinary. They are powerful, or at least, they are trying to be.

These innocent messages of goodwill are now symbols of their introduction to society. These candidates who bear these words are now making their move to become known to the people in the neighborhood. They would shamelessly place their identities to allow a form of recall with their target audience—the voters.

Lest we forget, the campaign season for the 2025 polls will begin on Feb. 11. They must maximize their time selling themselves to the public for the next 90 days. They have to do all they can to win in their eyed posts.

This is premature campaigning plain and simple.

The Comelec must do its duty to monitor these posters and hold these people accountable. They must sanction them through a hefty fine or an outright rejection of their certificates of candidacy to give other candidates a dire warning in waiting.

While these messages spark amusement, their antics can’t be stopped unless the commission regulates them.

In despair, I’ll let that fire of ignorance be lit until the elections end.

Rolando O. Ng III,
University of the Philippines