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 3rd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
brice887-New York
Your analysis is quite revealing and heartening at the same time. Could the country still find its true compass and steer into the right direction. A vote does not necessarily mean it is the right one especially that of the majority of the exploited and gullible masses. Heartening because the middle class have not been participating in making its vote heard. I wish for a decent, moderate and popular leader to step up and steer the country right. Our loss, Kapatiran did’nt make it.
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Fr: Salina
Kapatiran, Loss because the filipino people don’t know them. It just too bad. These people are very smart but they didn’t use their brain properly. No offense,. I’m just telling the truth. They should start from lower house. Thats well give them time to introduce themselves to the filipino people. There’s a saying goes, If you start from the top. When you fail down, You’ll hit hard. Iyan ang na pala nila. They should start from the button. I wish them all the luck in the world. We do need somebody like them to run the country. And hoping they can direct this country in the right direction.
But, I really have doubt on it. Being a doctor thats don’t means you know everything. I know that for the fact.
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:44 am
Your analysis is quite revealing and heartening at the same time. Could the country still find its true compass and steer into the right direction. A vote does not necessarily mean it is the right one especially that of the majority of the exploited and gullible masses. Heartening because the middle class have not been participating in making its vote heard. I wish for a decent, moderate and popular leader to step up and steer the country right. Our loss, Kapatiran did’nt make it.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I think it’s the will of the majority and at the same time, fanatical vote. You’re right, the Filipino electorate are not yet mature, but they’re going there. The mere fact that three entertainers didn’t make it to the Senate speaks a lot. That would send an uneasy signal to Bong, Lito and Jinggoy to show that they are up for the job as senators, lest next election their legislative record will be scrutinized. Too bad, senators who are outstanding are getting rarer but those who are grandstanding are jampacking its august halls. I’m hopeful the just elected young guns just won’t make empty noise but to craft laws with teeth against corruption, against political dynasties, for election modernization and perhaps a new Charter. There’s just so much to be done.
June 1st, 2007 at 10:40 am
on the part of the voters simply ther is no choice, and lack of it, what can we expect from them? kung baga sa pagkain kung ano nakahayin syang pagsasaluhan, kaya nga kelangan magpunla, magtanim ng me , maani na pakikinabangan balang araw, sa ngayon its not the will of the majority neither fanatic votes, its the will of the few and powerful politicians and their associates that only looking for their bested intersts. I admire Pimentel before, but instead of changing the trend of political dynasty he’s starting his own, I can’t just imagined what can his son do that he can’t do in the senate, bakit kelangan pa nila mag dalawa dun kung talaga paglilingkod sa bayan ang motibo?
June 1st, 2007 at 10:29 am
The result of the recent national election, so far, is still not an indication that Filipinos are now intellegent in choosing the best candidate for a position.
Because of the many overwhelming events, be it positive or negative, (mostly are negative) that happened in the country, negative news have great impact in the minds of the voting population. It is left to the voters to weigh and decide which reports to believe in. The negative form of advertisements of the Genuine Opposition have great effect in the minds of the people. People felt that they are nowhere to go, and that what’s going on in the present times would push us down more and more — that we have no chance to survive unless we vote for them. Is this really an indication that we used our brains in choosing the best candidate?
It is hard to say that this year’s election result is a by-product of an intelligent decision making. I believe that to test this, is to see the effect. If these politicians will be able to make a difference, a substantial difference, then Congratulations to all of us, we did it right this time.