It's always such a fruitful experience to meet people like Sir Vlad who seem to draw out insights you wouldn't think about on your own.
My meeting him and talking to him about my current adventures in Ateneo made me realize how rich a source of insight my Sanggu experience is in understanding how the government works in the Philippines.
The cool thing about the Sanggunian and its place in the Ateneo community is very much like that of the Philippine government in the country. The structure of the Sanggunian is very much the same as in the real government, only the positions have different names. The Sanggunian, like the national government, functions because of the taxes of the people (in our case, the student activities fund paid as part of the tuition). There so many more parallelisms but they are not the focus of this entry.
What I want to focus on is how do you make a government work effectively and efficiently? Is corruption really the major problem faced internally by the current administration? From my experience in the Sanggunian, I don't think so. The Sanggunian officers, at the very least, are not corrupt (yes, Gadfly will agree as well), precisely because we have a very tight auditing office and the system will simply not allow it. Are the Sanggunian officers incompetent? I don't think so either because most of us are very active and successful in other places like student organizations, outside organizations, non-government organizations and other types of groups. Is it a problem of structure? Maybe but to me I think there is a deeper problem.
I guess my experience in the Sanggunian tells me that corruption is not the only problem and perhaps not even the biggest. I feel that the problem is what corruption breeds - distrust. It is when the people lose confidence in their leaders that authority is crippled. No matter how great a leader is in so many aspects, the people will not see it because of the cataract of distrust placed there by corruption. I feel it is a problem not only of the leaders but of the people as well. It practically cuts off the ties of between leader and people.
I have no idea where the distrust (or perhaps indifference is a better term) toward the Sanggunian comes from. I came into the institution without knowing that this was the situation. But what I do know is that it is a problem that has to be mutually solved by the officers and their consituents. No matter how hard the officers work, if the people refuse to see that, then nothing will come out of it. The people have the responsibility to be vigilant of those they elected because no one else will. If they remain distrustful to the point of indifference, then nothing good will happen for the entire community. I would rather see angry and revolting constituents - at least they know something's wrong and they want to do something about it.
In the context of the national government, this is, I believe, is more applicable. Despite the strength of the macro-economic indicators, the infrastructure projects and other achievements of this administration, a single wrongdoing not even of the highest official erases all of these in the eyes of the people. The greatest weapon against an institution is distrust. This is why terrorism and corruption are powerful. They make people lose trust in the institutions that are supposed to combat both. Although technically the government has not lost the war on terrorism or corruption, both are gradually winning the hearts and minds of people. Both are cultivating the destructive seeds of fear and distrust. Not agreeing to the leaders of the government is one thing. Distrusting the capacity of government to serve the people is another.
The signs of how distrustful the people have become are very obvious. The Human Security Act, the Cybereducation project, the JPEPA. All these are lightning rod issues that are not difficult to resolve if the people trust the government (and if the government is deserving of the trust i.e. they are doing the right thing).
If the government wants genuine progress in our nation, it has to realize that trust is an integral part of it and that it must take concrete steps to win back the trust of the people. I know the Sanggunian is doing just that.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Root of Apathy
Apathy is defined as the state of indifference - without enthusiasm, emotion or motivation. Apathy is such a buzz word especially in the realm of politics and society, whether it is on the school or even the national level. Many people today seem to not care about what the issue over Erap's trial is about or what is controversial about the National Broadband Network deal. A lot of adults point at the youth as being apathetic but, in fact, a huge number of people - regardless of age, gender, and even social class - are guilty of this as well. In a time when vigilance has become a necessity to ensure our rights are respected and our interests served, apathy is becoming a dominant sentiment in our society today.
I would like to believe that I am a bit of a notch above those who are apathetic to the concerns of society. Knowing is a whole lot different from caring since the latter involves action which I sometimes fail to actually carry out. But I always want to look at the bigger picture and try to search for the truth as much as a 17-year-old student can in this age of unlimited internet access and 24-hour news coverage. The main motivation for me is that I know I will be affected, in one way or another, by what the Senate hearings are about, how big the budget deficit is, or what the verdict of the Supreme Court is on an issue (nevermind the notion of seeing history-in-the-making first hand hehehe). A minority (fortunately a significant minority) see politics and the concern of the greater society as something worth looking in to.
Our capitalist society today is based on the principle that each person is selfish. As Adam Smith puts it in his theory of the invisible hand, in an ideal market economy, every selfish act of a selfish entity in an economy will contribute to the greater good of society. This is why competition and free trade are advocated in capitalism. Though I do not agree with this assumption, this structure of society assumes that every man is selfish - he will not do anything unless it is for his own benefit. I believe this is a big part of the whole root of apathy - that every man thinks only of himself.
I have had quite a number of experiences that have shown me this dark side of humanity. When the school calls for a relief goods drive for victims of a typhoon, very few answer the call. The reasons are varied but perhaps the most frustrating one is that a Starbucks frappuchino is far more important than one day's worth of food for a family. Why should I sacrifice my comfort for people I do not even know?
This selfishness of man is not, of course, the sole cause of apathy. This paradigm still holds even if you look at the instances in our history when people actually went beyond apathy. The Philippine Revolution of the 1890s. The war effort during World War II. EDSA I. EDSA II. All these examples show that the Filipinos can actually stop apathy no matter what the motivations are. Some are altruistic, others selfish,but all contributed to the success of movements that brought social change to our nation. In a more localized setting, the notion of Ateneans being apathetic is somewhat proven wrong by the sheer amount of criticism the implementation of a dress code has received in the past weeks. Again, some of the motivations are noble in the defense of the rights of students while others are more selfish in the pursuit of personal interests to keep their wardrobe and still wear slippers. Selfishness, in all these instances, can actually work to stop apathy but only if man sees the use of caring for his own betterment.
It is when selfishness is combined with another cause that it most likely will translate into apathy. Man is inevitably short-sighted. Despite our tremendous capacity to use our mental faculties to think beyond the abilities of any other creature, we simply cannot pierce through the veil of the future. We think more in terms of today and very seldom of tomorrow. We enjoy today because, as the saying goes, there may not be tomorrow. The same short-sightedness can cause apathy when we are unable to perceive how something could affect our lives in the long run. Most of the big changes in the history of humanity did not come in just one blow. The same is true with politics and the concerns of society. A new law like the Human Security Act passed today may suddenly or gradually change our way of life and we wouldn't even know it because of our apathy. Responsible voting in an election may not translate into food for the table tomorrow but we often fail to see that it could very well affect how much we earn in the coming years.
Looking even deeper into the complicated causes of apathy, it can be observed that selfishness and short-sightedness assume that we have the capacity to think about the bigger picture. However, in our country, not everyone has that luxury. I agree that since our nation is predominantly poor, the bigger cause of apathy is that a larger part of our nation simply cannot think beyond what they have to eat for dinner. What happens is that the minority of those who can shape how society would benefit them and not the poor who are robbed of their opportunity to not be apathetic because of the stigma of poverty. Poverty is a problem that can be solved by government policies, political will and social change. Following the assumptions of selfishness and short-sightedness, the higher classes will not initiate these changes for the poor. The poor cannot push these themselves because their poverty has kept them focused on trying to survive day after day. A big number of our people are deprived of the education that would have allowed them to understand how politics and society work and how they can push for change. An even bigger number simply have to worry about more immediate matters such as food and rents over education. Political apathy and economic degeneration is a chicken-and-egg situation - one cannot clearly discern which came first. Does the economy worsen because people do not care? Or are people too poor already to care anyway?
Apathy, like any other human behavior, is too complex to be understood completely. But the bigger matter is not understanding its causes but acting on it. The fact of the matter is that most of the problems in our society today can be solved if people were actually not apathetic. Corruption can be mitigated with vigilance. Poverty can be fought by a combination of altruistic volunteerism in the short run and revolutionary social change in the long run. Our society and government are structured so that the people get what they deserve - if people are not responsible, society and government will not work for them.
The many events in the past and the things that are happening now has led me to believe that indeed the root of apathy is selfishness, short-sightedness and ignorance. Perhaps this is an incomplete picture but what is clear is that the only answer to this is to show the apathetic that by stopping indifference, we can actually make a difference in this selfish, short-sighted and ignorant world.
I would like to believe that I am a bit of a notch above those who are apathetic to the concerns of society. Knowing is a whole lot different from caring since the latter involves action which I sometimes fail to actually carry out. But I always want to look at the bigger picture and try to search for the truth as much as a 17-year-old student can in this age of unlimited internet access and 24-hour news coverage. The main motivation for me is that I know I will be affected, in one way or another, by what the Senate hearings are about, how big the budget deficit is, or what the verdict of the Supreme Court is on an issue (nevermind the notion of seeing history-in-the-making first hand hehehe). A minority (fortunately a significant minority) see politics and the concern of the greater society as something worth looking in to.
Our capitalist society today is based on the principle that each person is selfish. As Adam Smith puts it in his theory of the invisible hand, in an ideal market economy, every selfish act of a selfish entity in an economy will contribute to the greater good of society. This is why competition and free trade are advocated in capitalism. Though I do not agree with this assumption, this structure of society assumes that every man is selfish - he will not do anything unless it is for his own benefit. I believe this is a big part of the whole root of apathy - that every man thinks only of himself.
I have had quite a number of experiences that have shown me this dark side of humanity. When the school calls for a relief goods drive for victims of a typhoon, very few answer the call. The reasons are varied but perhaps the most frustrating one is that a Starbucks frappuchino is far more important than one day's worth of food for a family. Why should I sacrifice my comfort for people I do not even know?
This selfishness of man is not, of course, the sole cause of apathy. This paradigm still holds even if you look at the instances in our history when people actually went beyond apathy. The Philippine Revolution of the 1890s. The war effort during World War II. EDSA I. EDSA II. All these examples show that the Filipinos can actually stop apathy no matter what the motivations are. Some are altruistic, others selfish,but all contributed to the success of movements that brought social change to our nation. In a more localized setting, the notion of Ateneans being apathetic is somewhat proven wrong by the sheer amount of criticism the implementation of a dress code has received in the past weeks. Again, some of the motivations are noble in the defense of the rights of students while others are more selfish in the pursuit of personal interests to keep their wardrobe and still wear slippers. Selfishness, in all these instances, can actually work to stop apathy but only if man sees the use of caring for his own betterment.
It is when selfishness is combined with another cause that it most likely will translate into apathy. Man is inevitably short-sighted. Despite our tremendous capacity to use our mental faculties to think beyond the abilities of any other creature, we simply cannot pierce through the veil of the future. We think more in terms of today and very seldom of tomorrow. We enjoy today because, as the saying goes, there may not be tomorrow. The same short-sightedness can cause apathy when we are unable to perceive how something could affect our lives in the long run. Most of the big changes in the history of humanity did not come in just one blow. The same is true with politics and the concerns of society. A new law like the Human Security Act passed today may suddenly or gradually change our way of life and we wouldn't even know it because of our apathy. Responsible voting in an election may not translate into food for the table tomorrow but we often fail to see that it could very well affect how much we earn in the coming years.
Looking even deeper into the complicated causes of apathy, it can be observed that selfishness and short-sightedness assume that we have the capacity to think about the bigger picture. However, in our country, not everyone has that luxury. I agree that since our nation is predominantly poor, the bigger cause of apathy is that a larger part of our nation simply cannot think beyond what they have to eat for dinner. What happens is that the minority of those who can shape how society would benefit them and not the poor who are robbed of their opportunity to not be apathetic because of the stigma of poverty. Poverty is a problem that can be solved by government policies, political will and social change. Following the assumptions of selfishness and short-sightedness, the higher classes will not initiate these changes for the poor. The poor cannot push these themselves because their poverty has kept them focused on trying to survive day after day. A big number of our people are deprived of the education that would have allowed them to understand how politics and society work and how they can push for change. An even bigger number simply have to worry about more immediate matters such as food and rents over education. Political apathy and economic degeneration is a chicken-and-egg situation - one cannot clearly discern which came first. Does the economy worsen because people do not care? Or are people too poor already to care anyway?
Apathy, like any other human behavior, is too complex to be understood completely. But the bigger matter is not understanding its causes but acting on it. The fact of the matter is that most of the problems in our society today can be solved if people were actually not apathetic. Corruption can be mitigated with vigilance. Poverty can be fought by a combination of altruistic volunteerism in the short run and revolutionary social change in the long run. Our society and government are structured so that the people get what they deserve - if people are not responsible, society and government will not work for them.
The many events in the past and the things that are happening now has led me to believe that indeed the root of apathy is selfishness, short-sightedness and ignorance. Perhaps this is an incomplete picture but what is clear is that the only answer to this is to show the apathetic that by stopping indifference, we can actually make a difference in this selfish, short-sighted and ignorant world.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The People-based Theory
I've always wondered why the Philippine Science High School, despite being a government institution, retains its reputation as the premier high school of the country.
Government institutions - hospitals, schools, police and fire stations included - have always been seen as inefficient and sometimes even ineffective in delivering the services expected of them. There are many reasons cited to explain this very dismal evaluation of government services. Lack of funding, corruption and incompetence are some of the most often cited. But why does it seem that Pisay has acquired an immunity to this contagious inefficiency spreading in the government?
I've often observed that there is an excess of freedom and discretion in Pisay. Its structure is basically having a person in-charge and everything under him is under his discretion. Apparently, there are so few rules in Pisay that a fine line now exists between guidelines and actual rules (the former being recommendations only) as pointed out by a member of the faculty (ayaw ko na ireveal haha). As another teacher has observed, most of the rules we have in Pisay are responses to actual events and not products of foresight (as I think they should be).
This unstructured structure, no matter how messy it looks, seems to be the magic that makes Pisay the way it is. One way of viewing it is lack of governing rules. The other more positive perception is a people-based structure. The people that run the system are the most important parts. There is immense trust accorded to the people that make it work.
One fine example to prove how people-based Pisay is is Ms. Serrano. I considered her a pillar of the system, someone who would spend her best and last years serving the institution. She's been in Pisay so long, she had acquired the experience necessary to respond to new challenges facing the school. Her move to leave Pisay was a depressing surprise. I will no longer delve into the reasons why she left, but I must say that the most of the really few solid regulations Pisay has are ineffective in the perspective of doing good for the community. During our graduation practices, some of the teachers would comment "si Ma'am Serrano may alam nito e". I believe she left Pisay without effectively sharing the wisdom she acquired from her years of service to her successors. Opinion ko lang naman yun :D
One bad experience I had with this people-based phenomenon was during our short and yet strenuous stint as the members of the Student Alliance Electoral Board. Ma'am Samala had just left for New Zealand and there was no one left in Pisay who knew the nitty-gritty of running an election. We had two veteran SA officers but because none of the things that happened in this election happened during their SA years, we had no idea how it is supposed to be handled. Of course, the SA has its Election Code and Constitution. To our dismay, it did very little to help us resolve the issues. The SA has been in violation of its own code and constitution for almost half a decade already and haha it was during our watch that Pisay uncovered its defects. It seems the SA has always relied on the unwritten traditions followed by the previous administration and had not bothered to look into the paperwork. The SA was people-based and it somehow compromised one of the functions of the system. At the end of the experience, we had to make the Election Code less discretionary and more rigid (as it should really be).
It seems Pisay being people-based arises from the lack of solid rules to govern aspects of the Pisay community. It is the natural and spontaneous response of individuals who are where they are because of their ability to adapt and ingenuity.
This underlines that the people is what makes Pisay great - the heterogeneous mix of faculty, staff, administration, alumni, parents and students. The science curriculum, the intense academic load, the better-than-the-usual government facilities, the amazing activities, the intimidating name of Philippine Science High School - all simply provide the framework by which this mix of people work and interact for the good of themselves, the people around them and society in general. This system echoes the invisible hand theory of Adam Smith. The lack of rules allow people's actions to shape almost exclusively the course of the community. It is this freedom that enables growth and development at the personal and community levels. This acts as a catalyst for the students to become scientists - to acquire the necessary skills of critical thinking, individual confidence and competence, inquisitiveness and ingenuity. These are the most important lessons Pisay imparts on its students and the funny thing about it is it comes partly from being a people-based system.
The people-based system also ensures that this tradition of excellence lives on. Only the best and the brightest and the most courageous breed of students, teachers, staff and parents are attracted to be part of the system. It's a cycle that will always go in favor of Pisay.
However, it is still necessary to safeguard what little rigidity there is in the structure because these have set the ground rules for the continued evolution of Pisay. Simple rules on haircut and ID go a long way in subconsciously instilling discipline in a very fluid environment like Pisay. The community must remain conscious of when a people-based system is beneficial to it our not. Absolute power corrupts absolutely as they say and people are so prone to corruption. There must always be a balance. Fortunately, in Pisay, it seems it has found its balance.
This theory may also explain why the University of the Philippines remains the top university of the country despite being a state university. The relative autonomy UP has with respect to other state universities may account for this. It is note-worthy that the PSHS has an obvious affinity with UP with a big percentage of its graduates coming into the university and the UP President being part of the PSHS Board of Trustees.
Looking at a more macroscopic view, the people-based system seems to be more of a curse than a blessing for the government. I find it odd however that there is no lack of laws and rules to govern the country and yet the people-based system persists. I guess it's in the ethos of the people already to view the government by the people who lead them not by the institutions themselves. I'm not sure of my terms but I think the politics in the country is too patriarchal and messianic as well (Ma'am Doplon has a wonderful article on this: http://crazyadventure.wordpress.com/2007/05/30/messiah-politics). Our leaders have packaged our national institutions as extensions of themselves. That is why the MRT is not a project of the DOTC but the president and low-cost housing Mike Defensor and not the NHA. And this is also why criticizing the president as a person using the office for her personal gain is tantamount to destabilization of the entire government.
The people-based system is another reason why the Philippines is not ready for the parliamentary system. In that form of government, the leader of the nation can change overnight. The institutions must first be reformed to make them independent and self-sustaining that they do not need a prime minister or president to make them run properly.
The premise in Pisay is that good people run the system. In the national scene however, it seems the bad eggs are far more influential than the good ones. They have taken the people-based system and twisted it to their advantage. There is simply too much discretion in the national positions and this has been used often for the benefit of the leaders and not the people.
Being a democracy, I guess, has partly turned us into a people-based society. I really like democracy because a true one empowers the people. I believe we are in a true democracy and that we are simply getting what we deserve.
In conclusion, the real fuel that keeps the flame of Pisay burning is that people that run it. In the national perspective, as Sir Martin has said, it is the people that build a nation. The destiny of our nation is really in all our hands.
Government institutions - hospitals, schools, police and fire stations included - have always been seen as inefficient and sometimes even ineffective in delivering the services expected of them. There are many reasons cited to explain this very dismal evaluation of government services. Lack of funding, corruption and incompetence are some of the most often cited. But why does it seem that Pisay has acquired an immunity to this contagious inefficiency spreading in the government?
I've often observed that there is an excess of freedom and discretion in Pisay. Its structure is basically having a person in-charge and everything under him is under his discretion. Apparently, there are so few rules in Pisay that a fine line now exists between guidelines and actual rules (the former being recommendations only) as pointed out by a member of the faculty (ayaw ko na ireveal haha). As another teacher has observed, most of the rules we have in Pisay are responses to actual events and not products of foresight (as I think they should be).
This unstructured structure, no matter how messy it looks, seems to be the magic that makes Pisay the way it is. One way of viewing it is lack of governing rules. The other more positive perception is a people-based structure. The people that run the system are the most important parts. There is immense trust accorded to the people that make it work.
One fine example to prove how people-based Pisay is is Ms. Serrano. I considered her a pillar of the system, someone who would spend her best and last years serving the institution. She's been in Pisay so long, she had acquired the experience necessary to respond to new challenges facing the school. Her move to leave Pisay was a depressing surprise. I will no longer delve into the reasons why she left, but I must say that the most of the really few solid regulations Pisay has are ineffective in the perspective of doing good for the community. During our graduation practices, some of the teachers would comment "si Ma'am Serrano may alam nito e". I believe she left Pisay without effectively sharing the wisdom she acquired from her years of service to her successors. Opinion ko lang naman yun :D
One bad experience I had with this people-based phenomenon was during our short and yet strenuous stint as the members of the Student Alliance Electoral Board. Ma'am Samala had just left for New Zealand and there was no one left in Pisay who knew the nitty-gritty of running an election. We had two veteran SA officers but because none of the things that happened in this election happened during their SA years, we had no idea how it is supposed to be handled. Of course, the SA has its Election Code and Constitution. To our dismay, it did very little to help us resolve the issues. The SA has been in violation of its own code and constitution for almost half a decade already and haha it was during our watch that Pisay uncovered its defects. It seems the SA has always relied on the unwritten traditions followed by the previous administration and had not bothered to look into the paperwork. The SA was people-based and it somehow compromised one of the functions of the system. At the end of the experience, we had to make the Election Code less discretionary and more rigid (as it should really be).
It seems Pisay being people-based arises from the lack of solid rules to govern aspects of the Pisay community. It is the natural and spontaneous response of individuals who are where they are because of their ability to adapt and ingenuity.
This underlines that the people is what makes Pisay great - the heterogeneous mix of faculty, staff, administration, alumni, parents and students. The science curriculum, the intense academic load, the better-than-the-usual government facilities, the amazing activities, the intimidating name of Philippine Science High School - all simply provide the framework by which this mix of people work and interact for the good of themselves, the people around them and society in general. This system echoes the invisible hand theory of Adam Smith. The lack of rules allow people's actions to shape almost exclusively the course of the community. It is this freedom that enables growth and development at the personal and community levels. This acts as a catalyst for the students to become scientists - to acquire the necessary skills of critical thinking, individual confidence and competence, inquisitiveness and ingenuity. These are the most important lessons Pisay imparts on its students and the funny thing about it is it comes partly from being a people-based system.
The people-based system also ensures that this tradition of excellence lives on. Only the best and the brightest and the most courageous breed of students, teachers, staff and parents are attracted to be part of the system. It's a cycle that will always go in favor of Pisay.
However, it is still necessary to safeguard what little rigidity there is in the structure because these have set the ground rules for the continued evolution of Pisay. Simple rules on haircut and ID go a long way in subconsciously instilling discipline in a very fluid environment like Pisay. The community must remain conscious of when a people-based system is beneficial to it our not. Absolute power corrupts absolutely as they say and people are so prone to corruption. There must always be a balance. Fortunately, in Pisay, it seems it has found its balance.
This theory may also explain why the University of the Philippines remains the top university of the country despite being a state university. The relative autonomy UP has with respect to other state universities may account for this. It is note-worthy that the PSHS has an obvious affinity with UP with a big percentage of its graduates coming into the university and the UP President being part of the PSHS Board of Trustees.
Looking at a more macroscopic view, the people-based system seems to be more of a curse than a blessing for the government. I find it odd however that there is no lack of laws and rules to govern the country and yet the people-based system persists. I guess it's in the ethos of the people already to view the government by the people who lead them not by the institutions themselves. I'm not sure of my terms but I think the politics in the country is too patriarchal and messianic as well (Ma'am Doplon has a wonderful article on this: http://crazyadventure.wordpress.com/2007/05/30/messiah-politics). Our leaders have packaged our national institutions as extensions of themselves. That is why the MRT is not a project of the DOTC but the president and low-cost housing Mike Defensor and not the NHA. And this is also why criticizing the president as a person using the office for her personal gain is tantamount to destabilization of the entire government.
The people-based system is another reason why the Philippines is not ready for the parliamentary system. In that form of government, the leader of the nation can change overnight. The institutions must first be reformed to make them independent and self-sustaining that they do not need a prime minister or president to make them run properly.
The premise in Pisay is that good people run the system. In the national scene however, it seems the bad eggs are far more influential than the good ones. They have taken the people-based system and twisted it to their advantage. There is simply too much discretion in the national positions and this has been used often for the benefit of the leaders and not the people.
Being a democracy, I guess, has partly turned us into a people-based society. I really like democracy because a true one empowers the people. I believe we are in a true democracy and that we are simply getting what we deserve.
In conclusion, the real fuel that keeps the flame of Pisay burning is that people that run it. In the national perspective, as Sir Martin has said, it is the people that build a nation. The destiny of our nation is really in all our hands.
Friday, May 18, 2007
The True Story
Or maybe not. But it paints both a grim and hopeful picture of politics in our town and in the Philippines in general.
Apparently, the people who gathered to support Ricky Sandoval were not hauled in by the mayoralty candidate himself. He didn't even file a formal election protest. People say he had accepted his defeat to incumbent Toby Tiangco and was only fighting for the candidacy of his brother, Alvin, who was running for congress.
The sad part about this is that people didn't go there out of principle and support. Heck, not even all of them are voters of Navotas. They say people who went there came from slum areas around Navotas like Tondo, Malabon and other parts of Manila. The protesters who came there in hopes of receiving free food were rallied by groups who wanted to make money out of the situation.
Akala ko masama na ang mga naghahakot na mga pulitiko na pinapangakuaan ng pera ang mga tao. Sa rally na yun, nagpunta ang mga tao dahil wala na silang makain at pinangakuan sila ng mga taong gusto silang pagkakitaan na papakainin sila ng ipaglalaban nilang kandidato.
The good part is that some politicians, although not exactly law-abiding, are compassionate and sensitive enough to know when the fight is over. The Sandoval camp, after sustaining the crowd overnight, dispersed them by paying each Php 300.00. Not exactly vote buying hehehe. In a sense, the good guy is Sandoval.
This is perhaps a snapshot of the answer to the link between economy and politics. Some of the poorest of our people engage in political activities not because they believe in them but because they are the only venues for them to find sustenance.
But looking at the victory of a priest against the wife of an alleged jueteng lord and an incumbent actor whose dad is a senator shows a different side of politics. Poor people can unite to fight for a cause they believe in, not for short term gratification, but for long term progress and change.
I hope we'll see more of the latter case in the future.
Apparently, the people who gathered to support Ricky Sandoval were not hauled in by the mayoralty candidate himself. He didn't even file a formal election protest. People say he had accepted his defeat to incumbent Toby Tiangco and was only fighting for the candidacy of his brother, Alvin, who was running for congress.
The sad part about this is that people didn't go there out of principle and support. Heck, not even all of them are voters of Navotas. They say people who went there came from slum areas around Navotas like Tondo, Malabon and other parts of Manila. The protesters who came there in hopes of receiving free food were rallied by groups who wanted to make money out of the situation.
Akala ko masama na ang mga naghahakot na mga pulitiko na pinapangakuaan ng pera ang mga tao. Sa rally na yun, nagpunta ang mga tao dahil wala na silang makain at pinangakuan sila ng mga taong gusto silang pagkakitaan na papakainin sila ng ipaglalaban nilang kandidato.
The good part is that some politicians, although not exactly law-abiding, are compassionate and sensitive enough to know when the fight is over. The Sandoval camp, after sustaining the crowd overnight, dispersed them by paying each Php 300.00. Not exactly vote buying hehehe. In a sense, the good guy is Sandoval.
This is perhaps a snapshot of the answer to the link between economy and politics. Some of the poorest of our people engage in political activities not because they believe in them but because they are the only venues for them to find sustenance.
But looking at the victory of a priest against the wife of an alleged jueteng lord and an incumbent actor whose dad is a senator shows a different side of politics. Poor people can unite to fight for a cause they believe in, not for short term gratification, but for long term progress and change.
I hope we'll see more of the latter case in the future.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Something new in Navotas
This is really historical. It has not happened since 1998.
Yesterday, hundreds of supporters of former Congressman and mayoralty candidate Ricky Sandoval gathered in front of the municipal hall of Navotas claiming that there was massive cheating in the counting of the votes. They accuse the teachers of Navotas of siding with incumbent mayor and re-electionist Toby Tiangco. They also blame the mayor for votes that came from dead people. They've set up tents and a stage in front of the municipal hall and they say they'll stay there holding vigil while canvassing continues inside.
Partial and unofficial tallies show Tiangco and many of his partymates are leading.
Again, Navotas has not seen this much political activity since 1998, when Efren Bautista went against long-time mayor of Navotas, Peping Del Rosario. Efren, a candidate who had lost for two consecutive elections against Peping, was seen as a modern David and Goliath battle. But there was an outpour of support for the underdog as he was a welcome break from the decade-long reign of Del Rosario. I remember my dad joining in the motorcades and watching closely at the canvassing of votes. It was a well known fact that Del Rosario was capable of manipulating the results, so the people of Navotas were extra vigilant.
This chapter of Navotas history ended in both a sad and glorious note. At the end of the whole debacle, Efren Bautista won to the jubilation of many citizens of Navotas. However, the Municipal Hall of the now 100-year old municipality was burned down. A few months after his election, the hope of Navotas died of natural causes. Navotas was in mourning.
This was where then-vice mayor Toby Tiangco came into the picture. He was and remains to be a young and dynamic leader who delivers results for Navotas despite his outspoken political affiliation with the opposition led by Erap and FPJ.
In this year's campaign, I'd say, despite Toby being the incumbent, he was the David in this "proxy war" between the opposition and the administration represented by Sandoval. The number of posters, big tarps and billbords (which are technically beyond 2x3 - the prescribed limit for these stuff), and the rallies speak volumes of the formidable machinery of the incumbent Congressman who presents as his main achievement the Navotas Cityhood Bill.
And I'm not sure about how the rest of Navotas feels, but our family is for Tiangco simply because he's been a good mayor in his 9 year reign. And the best part - I think - is that he rarely boasts of them the way Sandoval does. Months before the actual campaign, he posted on almost every post along M. Naval a billboard with his face and he project he had worked for the area - street construction, school construction etc.
The sad part is the two were once partymates in the local Partido Navoteno. For two elections, they were the most formidable ticket that Navotas has seen in the long time. But because Sandoval's three terms in congress had already ended, the politically logical move is go for the top post. Tiangco was only on his second term as an elected mayor.
But my political views aside, I don't see the logic behind the accusations of the Sandoval camp. I've seen the amount of resources the Sandoval camp poured into the campaign so it would be stupid if the same amount was not allocated for poll watching. They claim the teachers read ballots differently especially in areas they claim to be their strong areas. I understand that poll watchers for any candidate are supposed to make sure the ballots are read right.
With regards to dead people voting, our family has seen that first-hand with my lolo (a long-time suppporter of Tiangco) who had died was still in the list even if my mom had informed the COMELEC about his death in the last election. Even my tito and tita who had already immigrated and have been naturalized as American citizens were still part of the list were still in the official list of voters. But I don't think it is within Tiangco's influence to do it. This is only speculation because I have not seen the proof provided by the Sandoval camp. I'll hold on to my judgement until the PPCRV in Navotas issues an official statement.
The funny thing about the vigil they have there is that they've lighted candles on the municipal grounds and they have entertainment on the stage with dancers and variety songs.
This political demonstration is I think within the rights of those hundreds of supporters. I just hope they came there on their own accord just as it was in the 1998 elections and not just brought there with the promise of compensation. The local police has promised to allow the rally as long as they stay within the grounds and remain peaceful. So far, that has been the case.
I hope this will not end with the municipal hall burning down to ashes.
Yesterday, hundreds of supporters of former Congressman and mayoralty candidate Ricky Sandoval gathered in front of the municipal hall of Navotas claiming that there was massive cheating in the counting of the votes. They accuse the teachers of Navotas of siding with incumbent mayor and re-electionist Toby Tiangco. They also blame the mayor for votes that came from dead people. They've set up tents and a stage in front of the municipal hall and they say they'll stay there holding vigil while canvassing continues inside.
Partial and unofficial tallies show Tiangco and many of his partymates are leading.
Again, Navotas has not seen this much political activity since 1998, when Efren Bautista went against long-time mayor of Navotas, Peping Del Rosario. Efren, a candidate who had lost for two consecutive elections against Peping, was seen as a modern David and Goliath battle. But there was an outpour of support for the underdog as he was a welcome break from the decade-long reign of Del Rosario. I remember my dad joining in the motorcades and watching closely at the canvassing of votes. It was a well known fact that Del Rosario was capable of manipulating the results, so the people of Navotas were extra vigilant.
This chapter of Navotas history ended in both a sad and glorious note. At the end of the whole debacle, Efren Bautista won to the jubilation of many citizens of Navotas. However, the Municipal Hall of the now 100-year old municipality was burned down. A few months after his election, the hope of Navotas died of natural causes. Navotas was in mourning.
This was where then-vice mayor Toby Tiangco came into the picture. He was and remains to be a young and dynamic leader who delivers results for Navotas despite his outspoken political affiliation with the opposition led by Erap and FPJ.
In this year's campaign, I'd say, despite Toby being the incumbent, he was the David in this "proxy war" between the opposition and the administration represented by Sandoval. The number of posters, big tarps and billbords (which are technically beyond 2x3 - the prescribed limit for these stuff), and the rallies speak volumes of the formidable machinery of the incumbent Congressman who presents as his main achievement the Navotas Cityhood Bill.
And I'm not sure about how the rest of Navotas feels, but our family is for Tiangco simply because he's been a good mayor in his 9 year reign. And the best part - I think - is that he rarely boasts of them the way Sandoval does. Months before the actual campaign, he posted on almost every post along M. Naval a billboard with his face and he project he had worked for the area - street construction, school construction etc.
The sad part is the two were once partymates in the local Partido Navoteno. For two elections, they were the most formidable ticket that Navotas has seen in the long time. But because Sandoval's three terms in congress had already ended, the politically logical move is go for the top post. Tiangco was only on his second term as an elected mayor.
But my political views aside, I don't see the logic behind the accusations of the Sandoval camp. I've seen the amount of resources the Sandoval camp poured into the campaign so it would be stupid if the same amount was not allocated for poll watching. They claim the teachers read ballots differently especially in areas they claim to be their strong areas. I understand that poll watchers for any candidate are supposed to make sure the ballots are read right.
With regards to dead people voting, our family has seen that first-hand with my lolo (a long-time suppporter of Tiangco) who had died was still in the list even if my mom had informed the COMELEC about his death in the last election. Even my tito and tita who had already immigrated and have been naturalized as American citizens were still part of the list were still in the official list of voters. But I don't think it is within Tiangco's influence to do it. This is only speculation because I have not seen the proof provided by the Sandoval camp. I'll hold on to my judgement until the PPCRV in Navotas issues an official statement.
The funny thing about the vigil they have there is that they've lighted candles on the municipal grounds and they have entertainment on the stage with dancers and variety songs.
This political demonstration is I think within the rights of those hundreds of supporters. I just hope they came there on their own accord just as it was in the 1998 elections and not just brought there with the promise of compensation. The local police has promised to allow the rally as long as they stay within the grounds and remain peaceful. So far, that has been the case.
I hope this will not end with the municipal hall burning down to ashes.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
My list
Sobrang excited na ako magvote. Gusto ko na. hahaha. Kaya I made my own list (which my mom says she will consider using hehehe).
SENATORS
1. Escudero - I'm hoping he runs for president in 2010 because I will really be voting for him. Despite being a product of a political dynasty (His father was I think a senator too), he's certainly got the dynamism to get pass the shadow of his father. He represents the much needed infusion of fresh and young blood into the Senate that does not engage in excessive political bickering and mudslinging. He stands firm on issues and has the charisma to get his point across.
// sa kanya lang ako mageexplain, siya lang talaga ang super gusto ko. haha.
2. Aquino
3. Pangilinan
4. Alan Cayetano
5. Arroyo - could have been number 2 kaso he went to TU.
6. Roco
7. Legarda
8. Lacson
9. Villar
//beyond this line ay yung mga candidates na I don't really like that much pero I'd vote for them to complete my list.
__________________________________________________
10. Pimentel - nakakaasar ang ad niya, hayagang political dynasty
11. Angara - Sci & tech daw ang isa sa mga platforms niya
12. Zubiri - can write laws better than the rest of the remaining candidates
__________________________________________________
So what are my criteria?
1. Well being in the opposition or generally non-administration is a factor. Even if the administration machinery does not work for the senatorial race, it's almost a given that it would take the house and the local elections. Making sure the opposition has a healthy margin (kahit magkapalitan ng sides) to keep set one more check and balance to total administration control of the entire government.
2. They have to show integrity on being firm on the issues. Walang problema magpalit ng sides basta issue-driven. I think the 9 candidates have that integrity.
3. They must be able to show the qualities of a true legislator - someone who looks at the issues and can give new and efficient solutions to them and most importantly, can translate them in actual law. Parang programming yan (di ba Clar?), madaling magsabi ng solution, pero mahirap itransform into a working code given all the constraints and complexities. I wouldn't expect that kind of ability from someone who started with being a doctor, a member of the executive branch or an actor - especially kung ang credentials na pinapakita nila ay somewhat unrelated sa quality na toh.
4. They must at least seem to not be interested in corrupt practices. You can never really know pero may ibang candidates talaga na mas may propensity than most. One indicator na ginagamit ng tatay ko is their wealth. If they're rich, they'll less likely steal from government. I'm not really sure kung accurate toh. I guess ang only way is really looking into issues past and future. Mahirap eto talaga idetermine.
Basically, that's it. haha.
Sobra pala ang trust na binibigay sa voters. Ang tanging qualifications lang ng isang senator ay:
1. natural born citizen
2. at least 35 years of age
3. literate
4. registered voter
5. resident of the Philippines for not less than two years
Yun lang o. The rest is up to the conscience of the voter to choose what is for the best of the nation. I hope there will come a time when that trust will no longer be misplaced.
May command votes kaya silang makukuha sa pagendorse ko sa kanila? bwahahaha.
__________________________________________________
EXTRA:
Kakakausap lang sa akin ni Cecile. Sabi raw ng ninang niya, wala raw nagawa si Chiz para sa constituents niya. Di ko alam pero ang usual translation kasi ng nagawa ay mga daang natapos o schools na nabuo (yun ang credentials na pinapakita ng congressman running for mayor dito sa amin).
Here's my opinion on this: Ang isang congressman ay representative ng isang district sa isang national assembly. So ang trabaho niya, magrepresent sa district na yun sa pagbuo ng mga batas for the nation. By definition, ang legislator ay gumagawa lang ng batas at ang representative ay nagmamake sure lang na ang mga batas na yun ay makakatulong din para sa constituents niya.
So kung sa legislative record na lang din, 9 years na siyang congressman at andami niya nang naipropose na national bills. I know senators na ang mga bills lang na naiffile ay pagbabago ng pangalan ng mga streets. Check out his site: www.chizescudero.com.
Dun siguro sa pagpapagawa ng mga roads at schools, dun pumapasok ang pork barrel. I don't really know, di naman ako taga sorsogon pero baka kasi dahil hindi siya administration, hindi nairerelease sa kanya ang pork barrel funds niya. Di ko alam ah. It happens pero speculation lang toh.
Tapos why do I like Chiz so much? Because he has so much potential. Technically bata pa siya sa politics pero kakikitaan mo na ng leadership qualities. The opposition is composed of true opposition by issue, mga dismayadong dating administration, mga maiingay at grand-standing na congressman at mga leftists. His minority leadership showed his leadership potential. Isipin mo, he was able to unite all these different opposition groups into one solid bloc capable of making the administration tremble in fear of an impending impeachment. If one can unite these totally different people, he has the potential of uniting the Filipino people! hahaha.
Tapos may integrity, credibility, charisma and ability pa to match. Sana talaga magpresidente na siya. hahaha.
SENATORS
1. Escudero - I'm hoping he runs for president in 2010 because I will really be voting for him. Despite being a product of a political dynasty (His father was I think a senator too), he's certainly got the dynamism to get pass the shadow of his father. He represents the much needed infusion of fresh and young blood into the Senate that does not engage in excessive political bickering and mudslinging. He stands firm on issues and has the charisma to get his point across.
// sa kanya lang ako mageexplain, siya lang talaga ang super gusto ko. haha.
2. Aquino
3. Pangilinan
4. Alan Cayetano
5. Arroyo - could have been number 2 kaso he went to TU.
6. Roco
7. Legarda
8. Lacson
9. Villar
//beyond this line ay yung mga candidates na I don't really like that much pero I'd vote for them to complete my list.
__________________________________________________
10. Pimentel - nakakaasar ang ad niya, hayagang political dynasty
11. Angara - Sci & tech daw ang isa sa mga platforms niya
12. Zubiri - can write laws better than the rest of the remaining candidates
__________________________________________________
So what are my criteria?
1. Well being in the opposition or generally non-administration is a factor. Even if the administration machinery does not work for the senatorial race, it's almost a given that it would take the house and the local elections. Making sure the opposition has a healthy margin (kahit magkapalitan ng sides) to keep set one more check and balance to total administration control of the entire government.
2. They have to show integrity on being firm on the issues. Walang problema magpalit ng sides basta issue-driven. I think the 9 candidates have that integrity.
3. They must be able to show the qualities of a true legislator - someone who looks at the issues and can give new and efficient solutions to them and most importantly, can translate them in actual law. Parang programming yan (di ba Clar?), madaling magsabi ng solution, pero mahirap itransform into a working code given all the constraints and complexities. I wouldn't expect that kind of ability from someone who started with being a doctor, a member of the executive branch or an actor - especially kung ang credentials na pinapakita nila ay somewhat unrelated sa quality na toh.
4. They must at least seem to not be interested in corrupt practices. You can never really know pero may ibang candidates talaga na mas may propensity than most. One indicator na ginagamit ng tatay ko is their wealth. If they're rich, they'll less likely steal from government. I'm not really sure kung accurate toh. I guess ang only way is really looking into issues past and future. Mahirap eto talaga idetermine.
Basically, that's it. haha.
Sobra pala ang trust na binibigay sa voters. Ang tanging qualifications lang ng isang senator ay:
1. natural born citizen
2. at least 35 years of age
3. literate
4. registered voter
5. resident of the Philippines for not less than two years
Yun lang o. The rest is up to the conscience of the voter to choose what is for the best of the nation. I hope there will come a time when that trust will no longer be misplaced.
May command votes kaya silang makukuha sa pagendorse ko sa kanila? bwahahaha.
__________________________________________________
EXTRA:
Kakakausap lang sa akin ni Cecile. Sabi raw ng ninang niya, wala raw nagawa si Chiz para sa constituents niya. Di ko alam pero ang usual translation kasi ng nagawa ay mga daang natapos o schools na nabuo (yun ang credentials na pinapakita ng congressman running for mayor dito sa amin).
Here's my opinion on this: Ang isang congressman ay representative ng isang district sa isang national assembly. So ang trabaho niya, magrepresent sa district na yun sa pagbuo ng mga batas for the nation. By definition, ang legislator ay gumagawa lang ng batas at ang representative ay nagmamake sure lang na ang mga batas na yun ay makakatulong din para sa constituents niya.
So kung sa legislative record na lang din, 9 years na siyang congressman at andami niya nang naipropose na national bills. I know senators na ang mga bills lang na naiffile ay pagbabago ng pangalan ng mga streets. Check out his site: www.chizescudero.com.
Dun siguro sa pagpapagawa ng mga roads at schools, dun pumapasok ang pork barrel. I don't really know, di naman ako taga sorsogon pero baka kasi dahil hindi siya administration, hindi nairerelease sa kanya ang pork barrel funds niya. Di ko alam ah. It happens pero speculation lang toh.
Tapos why do I like Chiz so much? Because he has so much potential. Technically bata pa siya sa politics pero kakikitaan mo na ng leadership qualities. The opposition is composed of true opposition by issue, mga dismayadong dating administration, mga maiingay at grand-standing na congressman at mga leftists. His minority leadership showed his leadership potential. Isipin mo, he was able to unite all these different opposition groups into one solid bloc capable of making the administration tremble in fear of an impending impeachment. If one can unite these totally different people, he has the potential of uniting the Filipino people! hahaha.
Tapos may integrity, credibility, charisma and ability pa to match. Sana talaga magpresidente na siya. hahaha.
Why WE should care
The usual TV battle is this: CNN/News programs and science channels vs Karl's cartoons and sometimes vs Mom's soap operas and showbiz talk shows. Although these battles are quite common in households with TV and cable, the channels that are fought for do not usually include my choices hehe. Ang nerd noh? But I don’t know. We don’t really have a newspaper subscription so I can only read it once a week (at my lola’s) so I’d have to settle with news programs on TV.
I am used to watching World News on CNN at least once a day (kapag may cable kami hehe), TV Patrol everyday, listening to DZMM on the car and staying tuned especially in special events like the televised impeachment trials, the canvassing of votes, the congressional hearings and debates etc. etc.
I guess this peculiarity can be explained by my “obsession” in following the real life soap operas of politics here in the Philippines and the world in general. I don’t know. As much as my mom always wants to catch how Jackie cries over Ellie or Celine argues with JB, I always want to be in-the-know with the latest here and around the world. Siguro more than my insatiable curiosity (I always want to be the first to know – kaya siguro nagengjourn), I feel I am part of history when I witness history made through the lens of the cameras, the microphones and the eyes of the reporters.
I used to tell my parents I was watching for bonus points in Social Science (para payagan during weekdays :P) and well it was true when I was in grade school. But when I entered a school run by the government, it was more of knowing the issues that could very well determine if I would keep my four-year scholarship in PSHS (imagine kung nagkacoup tapos ang unang nangyari pala pinatanggal nila ang Pisay – saying sa pera. Scary. Haha). But I read this article written by Randy David in the Inquirer: <http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=63092>
And it gave me a better reason to care.
And the part that struck me is this:
“A building or structure collapses when its pillars and trusses fold into one another, making them unable to perform their support function. Strong societies, like strong buildings, distribute their weight efficiently among a number of differentiated support systems. When one of these systems fails, the framework may be compromised, but chances are it will remain standing, allowing time to repair the broken part.
This is not what happens when a society’s stability is made to depend almost entirely on a single dominant system—such as the political system, in our case. The crisis of Philippine politics has spread across the whole social system, dangerously dragging down every institution in its path.”
Nakakalungkot, but it’s true. Politics is slowly spreading its roots on our entire way of life. Education, business, the legal system, religion and society in general is slowly being engulfed in the mire of politics. And with the road Philippine politics is treading – a road to perdition and collapse, it could very well be bringing all of us with it.
This is why we should care: because our way of life hangs in the balance.
Whenever we talk about politics in our family, it always ends with “wag na nga, nakakasawa na e”. The trend is because of the constant political bickering with little good results for the people, the citizenry is growing indifferent to politics. But, though this is true, we still give that occasional bribe to the mayor or congressman to expedite our business permits etc etc. This “I don’t care” attitude is almost equivalent to condoning the flaws of the system.
This is why we should care: because not caring means we are allowing the cancer of politics to grow and spread
Most people my age don’t even want to know anything about the elections simply because we still can’t vote. Sayang lang nga naman sa oras. It wouldn’t matter if we know about the candidates and decide who are the best for our country simply because in the end, it won’t matter, we can’t vote for them.
But actually it would matter. Political maturity does not happen overnight. Maturity comes with experience and what experience will we get from just watching Heroes or One Tree Hill and turning off the TV when we see the shows for voters’ education?
In the next elections come May 2010, we will be voting for the next president of the Philippines. And theoretically, our generation has the most power and a lot more at stake. I’m sure you remember that in the Philippines, the next generation is always larger than the previous one by an exponent. And if everyone in our generation and the youth would vote, we would by far have more power in number compared to the adults. Grabe, our generation could really change the nation if every single one of us votes.
Pero siyempre, the cliché statement “With great power comes great responsibility” still applies. And it is our responsibility to vote for the good of our nation. Political maturity is key in getting past the dirty tricks and deception that has characterized Philippine politics. It is exactly how we might hope to clean the system – by showing them guns, goons and gold don’t work with us. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make sure we are mature enough by 2010. It is not something we can cram like any other test. It requires us to take interest in what is happening in our country, knowing the issues, and the personalities involved in those issues.
So tomorrow, take part in guarding the votes. Watch the news, be involved, get interested, START CARING.
This is why WE the youth should start caring: because if we don’t, our future will be sucked into the black hole of dirty politics.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Not in the Philippines
Nicholas Sarcozy, a member of the Conservative party (also the party of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac) and a vocal (but critical) supporter of the United States, won the French Presidency over Segolene Royal of the Socialist party.
What caught my attention was this..
"His socialist opponent, Segolene Royal, conceded defeat for her hopes of becoming France's first woman president. With nearly 70 percent of ballots counted, Sarkozy had just over 53 percent of the vote, according to the Interior Ministry. "
Funny na that never happens in the Philippines. Almost all politicians think they're winners. Kaya nga andaming nagtatawag ng dayaan e. There's nothing wrong with it. I guess it's not just the politician but the system - if it was clean, honest and fair enough (nothing can really be perfect) I guess cheating will not even be in the minds of the people.
Another thing..
"Voter turnout was projected at 85 percent — a level not seen in 40 years — thanks to the dynamism of both candidates and the high stakes for a nation losing global clout to neighbors Britain and German and even developing countries like China and India."
Grabe. Kelan kaya mangyayari toh. When people are compelled to vote because of the candidates' charisma, competence and will for change and not money and popularity. And when will voters vote because there is a lot at stake for the country (which incidentally is the case for the upcoming elections - there are very high stakes).
This is a challenge for the Filipino people. There's no need to imitate the system (because it won't work). The power to change is in each. Unfortunately, it will only work if we 'let our powers combine' (parang captain planet noh! hahahahha).
What caught my attention was this..
"His socialist opponent, Segolene Royal, conceded defeat for her hopes of becoming France's first woman president. With nearly 70 percent of ballots counted, Sarkozy had just over 53 percent of the vote, according to the Interior Ministry. "
Funny na that never happens in the Philippines. Almost all politicians think they're winners. Kaya nga andaming nagtatawag ng dayaan e. There's nothing wrong with it. I guess it's not just the politician but the system - if it was clean, honest and fair enough (nothing can really be perfect) I guess cheating will not even be in the minds of the people.
Another thing..
"Voter turnout was projected at 85 percent — a level not seen in 40 years — thanks to the dynamism of both candidates and the high stakes for a nation losing global clout to neighbors Britain and German and even developing countries like China and India."
Grabe. Kelan kaya mangyayari toh. When people are compelled to vote because of the candidates' charisma, competence and will for change and not money and popularity. And when will voters vote because there is a lot at stake for the country (which incidentally is the case for the upcoming elections - there are very high stakes).
This is a challenge for the Filipino people. There's no need to imitate the system (because it won't work). The power to change is in each. Unfortunately, it will only work if we 'let our powers combine' (parang captain planet noh! hahahahha).
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