THE RESULTS of the recent elections showed that Filipinos are not yet mature, although growing. Many based their analysis and decisions on what they hear and see, less on what they read, because many are tired of reading. There is more analysis actually when reading.
This resulted in education through media. It is now a powerful tool to build up one’s image, as what actors and actresses do to build up their careers. People now cannot differentiate fiction from half-truths or from truths. Political events are watched like soap operas on prime time. And media would take advantage of political gossip and scoops to make stories more valuable for money. Errors in reporting are justified by icing them with more controversial ones.
This is the “education” that Filipinos have had after Marcos. Democracy was abused like the phenomenon of “people power.” “Will of the majority” is falsely equated with what is “right.”
“People power” is wrongfully used for protest while, in fact, it must be used for reforms. It is easy actually to incite protest but too hard to campaign for reforms given human nature. Politicians would also take advantage of the Filipino attitude of fanaticism as many will follow them blindly because of the image media has made for them. It is not very different from being an actor with many fans (which is actually short for fanatics). No wonder a politician even after tainted with graft and corruption would still have many followers and loyalists. One would not be surprised that even after the evidence presented in the impeachment trial, the PCIJ reports of his properties and “Darth Vader” friends, the well known stock manipulation in the Philippine Stock Exchange, Erap can still gather people at the EDSA Shrine or still win in a snap election, if one is held.
A politician can easily change his position and principles as long as he has many fanatics that will put him in the Senate or presidency. Many have seen how many senatorial candidates have crossed party lines, and ate their principles but still managed to be in the Top 5 of the senatorial lineup. These filthy political tricks were hidden under the rags of issues like “Hello Garci” and election cheating. Another trick of “throwing the garbage on others’ backyard and exposing it” in the form of gossip is being maneuvered to hide behind inefficiency and incompetence. Political sugar-coated media speeches are used to lure fanatics to his side, like courting a lady persuaded with enticing poetry.
Many young opinion-makers and also bloggers would say that what is wrong is the system as a whole but they must realize that the voting public is part of that system.
– Henry Delgado, MD, EMAS Offshore Pte Ltd, Singapore
June 1st, 2007 at 10:25 am
Our Constitution and laws allow the “person having the highest number of votes� to be proclaimed elected. So, where is the majoritarian popular sovereignty rule there?
Arroyo needed only 39%, Estrada 40%, Ramos 21% of valid votes cast to assume the office of President. How can a mere plurality in these instances be regarded as the expression of “the will of the majority�?
Similarly, since the 12 Senators are to be elected “at large by the qualified voters of the Philippinesâ€Â?–with no provision specifying that each candidate should receive at least 50% of valid votes cast–how can Senators claim to represent “the will of the majorityâ€Â? of the national constituency (or even regional constituency, if Senators are to be chosen by region)?
In fact, current COMELEC and NAMFREL election results (including SWS and Pulse Asia surveys earlier) show only candidate Legarda as having garnered over 50% of valid votes cast.
I think it’s about time Filipinos study a democratic alternative to electoral politics: DEMARCHY at http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/pubs/89demarchy.html) or SORTITION at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortition
June 1st, 2007 at 10:23 am
I agree. Most politicians has been using the media to gain popularity. An adverse effect is what we are seeing now, too much political bickering. Most people like Allan Peter Cayetano and Chiz Escudero has used the media well, presenting issues that cannot be identified as facts and redunduntly employing their accusations that people (masses) will come to believe in them.
Another thing that I would also add is the party list like Bayan Muna,Gabriela, etc, they have been blaming GMA and the military in perpetrating the killings and abductions of their members when they do not have enough evidences to take. I is bias in their part, they should not point to them, obviously the Opposition’s ideas has seeped through their minds.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:36 am
I agree. Media is really a powerful tool. To, me media has reallly squezzed the “Garci” issue, even if for example, there has not been a Senate Committee report that should bring about a formal court case against whoever (I think the opposition had to do with the Garci issue, too.. the espionage case, the tape brought out by an opposition person, etc). Media plays up the issue, kaya the public is conditioned that GMA is “bogus”, there was massive cheating, FPJ won, Erap may be returned to power (after his term has been finished). If these are what is fed to the public by media (specifically the very big and powerful ABS CBN), mananalo nga ang opposition. And of course, the “thinking voters” are outvoted by the masa, kaya lalong talo tayo. I hope the opposition in the Senate will not oppose for the sake of opposing, but to do their fiscalizing job well, with the public (which voted for them anyway) interest foremost.
May 31st, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Salina
Dr: Delgado. It doesn’t matter what you say,. We just had a PEOPLE POWER VOTES. JUST TO PROVE THE POINT TO THOSE IN POWER!
May 31st, 2007 at 11:18 pm
You may need to revise your article. I cannot render a thorough analysis because paragraghs 1 & 2 do not seem to connect. Kindly review the flow of your thoughts.
Thanks.