Last Wednesday, I had the chance to meet with Yoly Ong, the President of Campaigns and Grey, one of the country’s top advertising companies. During our meeting, she showed me the latest Pulse Asia Survey which showed who were the top candidates for the 2010 Senatorial Elections and I was no longer surprised to see familiar family names dominating the survey and that most of the people who belonged to the Top 20 were either incumbents, former senators and their family members.
Although I expected this would be the case given that majority of our country still votes based on popularity, I was saddened with the thought that if we continue to elect many of these same politicians then naturally, we can expect the same kind of service that we have been getting these past 20 years.
Looking back at the past 20 years since the EDSA Revolution, millions of Filipinos continue to live with less than 100 pesos a day while many of these prominent government leaders continue to live lavish lifestyles. Yesterday, the Social Weather Station (SWS) released a survey wherein almost 25 percent of Filipinos or almost 20 million Filipinos have grown hungry these past months. Yes, I agree with the argument that not all of them are perpetuators of graft and corruption and that there are still those who continue to do a good job but I’d like to believe that it may be time for us to start looking for new faces which will bring new values, new politics and new ideas in our resolve to finally put an end to the poverty cycle in our country.
Also in the news these past weeks are pronouncements of deposed former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada that he is still interested in running for the Presidency despite being convicted already of plunder.
On the other side of the fence, we have our current President and her minions in the House of Representatives trying their best to perpetuate her reign beyond 2010. At the rate things are it would be sad if we would be left only with two choices in the 2010 national elections, a deposed former President or the anointed one of our very unpopular incumbent President.
The challenge for us is to go beyond our apathy and indifference to politics since if we continue to choose not to be active in looking for morally upright, effective and God-fearing leaders for our country, we will always be left to choose between who is the lesser evil. I think the Filipino deserves more than the kind of service that many of our current government leaders our giving. We have seen in Naga City through the leadership of multi-awarded Mayor Jesse Robredo that if you elect a good leader then the people can expect good governance which will translate into better delivery of basic services. Now, Naga City has been transformed from being a sleepy third class municipality to the premiere city of the Bicol Region.
Yet, amid all these problems in our country, there are still rays of hope such as the recently launched Movement for Good Governance (MGG) which aims to gather 10 million votes for a Presidential candidate that will represent the values of effective, principled and ethical leadership. This group led by civil society leaders such as former Finance Undersecretary Dr. Milwida Guevara and Ayala Foundation’s Bill Luz face a daunting task ahead but if every Filipino will join them then at least we can all hope that maybe 2010 will be the year where genuine change can finally reign in our country.
Merry Christmas to all! May the year 2009 be a more prosperous year to all of us!
For more information about MGG, you can send an email to mguevara@synergeia.org.ph.
Help promote Good Governance in our country by sending free Kaya Natin! Christmas and New Year E-cards at http://www.yehey.com/ecards/ .
Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government.
13 Feedbacks on "Same Names, Same Politics, Same Poverty"
crisostomo_ibarra
Although there were times I do not agree with with Mr. Keh, this item, entitled “Same Names, Same Politics, Same Poverty”, is absolutely true. Well, if you ask me, the Filipino people created an environment that we deserve. The people voted for popularity, then we get popularity as well. However, we do not get quality health care, quality education, quality governance, quality, social services, quality infrastructure, quality leaders, quality etc. etc. etc. The people are just stuck in popularity, as if it gives us quality something. Quo vadis, Filipino?
patrick
I agree with you, but the problem here lies with us. We keep on voting for people who has a tainted reputation. We never learned from the past. We are the one to be blamed for putting our leaders up there. We are blinded by their popularity and celebrity star status, not thinking what they can do for us. The solution here must begin from us. We must change our ways and thinking. We should analyze and scrutinize the personality and character of the person we wanted to vote.
Stephen
The effort of the group/s is great. But why limit it to the presidency? I suggest that the effort can also be geared towards, at the same time, educating the people to value their vote. The people should be taught that their individual votes are much more valuable than the measly sums they get from candidates during elections.
True People Power is not really rallying to oust a tyrant. The tyrant happened to rule precisely because the people did not properly exercise their power in the first place. People Power is when people believe that it is up to them to determine who they would like to govern, and in democracies, people know that their votes determine who governs them, or not.
Hopefully, Filipinos like you who really care, would look at the fundamentals of a democratic system more and work from there. Electing a good president is only a part of improving the country. The congress and local governments also affect and influence the daily lives of the people. All elected officials should be chosen well and be held to account for their policies and actions. They should be made aware that they are servants of the people and not the other way around. The people should also be reminded of this fact. After all, it is still the people who will decide if they are willing to have the same governance that has brought them over the edge of the abyss election after election.
Tama na! Sobra na! Igalang na natin ang boto ng bawat mamamayan.
Rico Baltazar
I’ve heard so much about Mayor Robredo of Naga Cty. TY for promoting good politicians like him.Please dont forget also Bayani Fernando. He is an Honest,Hard working,w/ strong political will,vissionary leader and willing to join govt. not to get rich, but to serve.Lets take advantage of him while he is still young.I live here in USA,Before I migrated last 2004, I already knew what kind of person BF is.Villar C 5 at Taga?Erap?Legarda? Dios ko po! De Castro? huwag naman po.Roxas Ano ka vwa! Lacson? Vice ni BF puwede.Chiz? so young and so corrupt.
juanmaaram
The recent Corazon Aquino gaffe, points an unmistakable and undeniable truth:
ordinary filipinos should never expect justice to come from the landlord and ilustrado classes. filipinos are simply tired of these clowns, many will support forcible land reform.
Redistribution of wealth is an imperative. Government should take a lead to promote the coconut industry through replacement of oil-based chemicals with biodegardable coconut oils.
these are but a few of the things that could set our country on the right path. at this time, we have to go back to the masses to explain the issues and hope they stop electing these thugs, mercenaries, landlords and ilustrados that have bled us dry all these years.
Tokwa
same citizenry, same attitude, same election results, ….equals no change. as long as filipinos live in this country, its just like a never ending cycle of hopelessness.
Eterio
MCC goal of 10 million votes fall short of the one million votes needed to win the 2010 election, mind you based on SWS survery there are about 25 percent of pilipinos or twenty million that have grown hungry that would be enough to win an election that whoever is really vying for this position has already a winning idea to win this election, or as in the saying in the electronic world, going to an election without trying, just like the electronic politician Senator Trillanes that defies all odds in winning the philippine election, Merry Xmas 2008 and happy new year blogging 2009
Reynaldo Doroja
Same names, same politics, same poverty? I agree with you. It seems that our country has no future at all. Blame our culture. However, we can still use this culture to somehow promote a light in the midst of darkness. I suggest that all those who will take their oath of office, from the president down to the baranggay officials, say this: ” I, (Name), do solemnly swear that I will uphold the laws of the land. If ever my personal or my family’s interest come before my sworn duty, may me and my family suffer all the terrible misfortunes and that we die a horrible death. Have mercy on me.” This oath is very simple yet it sends shivers to the bones of those who only aspire for money and power. This may be barbaric but it only applies to the barbarians of this nation. Any good mannered or service oriented citizen will have no problem uttering such oath. I just hope that those greedy politicians may read my proposed oath. Harvey, if you will have this comment published, it is your discretion whether to include my name or not. Thank you and more power!
Nestor Bandalan Jr
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MIND-OPENING ARTICLE; I HOPE MANY OF OUR COUNTRYMEN WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ YOUR POLITICAL INSIGHT. LIFE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF US FILIPINOS AND IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT IN THE DAYS TO COME IF WE WILL NOT ELECT THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO WE EXPECT TO SERVE US IN 2010. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR COUNTRY STILL VOTES BASED ON POPULARITY AND THE POPULAR ONES WHO WE VOTE ARE THEM WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE “SEAT” FOR MANY YEARS; OR IF NOT, FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES OF RICH INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS. WE BADLY NEED COMPETENT POLITICIANS WHO WILL NOT SERVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF HIS OR HER SELECTED FEW CONSTITUENTS BUT HE WHO IS WILLING TO WORK HARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL. MAY GOD GRANT US THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO SERVE US WITH INTEGRITY IN THE UP-COMING ELECTIONS. LASTLY FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE YET TO BE BORN, I HOPE WE WILL ELECT THE RIGHT PERSON AS OUR PRESIDENT WITH A CRITICAL MIND. WE NEED A TRANSPARENT, INTELLIGENT AND COMPETENT MAN IN OUR HIGHEST POLITICAL POST. WE DESIRE FOR THIS PERSON WHO WE CAN LOOK UP TOGETHER AS OUR FILIPINO ROLE MODEL; A TRUE LEADER WHO WE CAN BE TRULY PROUD OF. MAY THE MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE ILLUMINE THE MINDS OF THE VOTERS IN GIVING THEM THE RIGHT CHOICES: A LEADER WHO REPRESENTS THE VALUES OF EFFECTIVE, PRINCIPLED AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP WHO CAN LIFT MILLIONS OF FILIPINOS FROM THE AND LONG PLIGHT OF POVERTY AND WHO CAN INSPIRE US ALL TO DREAM AND ACT FOR A GOOD FUTURE OF OUR NATION.
wonderwoman
How do you change a government that targets its would-be contender with bullets and involuntary disappearance. See what happen to the “Bayan Muna” members? They were branded as communist front, terrorist, revisionist, and all sort of names just to justify liquidating its members.
The sad part of it is that Norberto Gonzales, Undersecretary for National Security and ExGeneral Palparan acts as thought everything is “business as usual” in spite of death of approximately 1000 known activist.
Remember that our very President, PGMA, express her appriciation on the “accomplishment” ExGeneral Palparan made while he was still active duty in the Military.
Ours is a ruthless government that would not hesitate to kill anyone who runs counter to its policy.
frank
what we need is an incorruptable free press that really investigates and explains the platforms of politicians so the filipino people can decide who to vote. we showed that the filipino can be an intelligent voter if given the chance. and lets get away with the trapo and look at our future as a country instead of selling our votes for temporary gains.
Paulyn Duman
We lack alternatives and I think, our youth can greatly help deal with it.
I suggest that some youth groups collaborate with groups like MGG and:
1) Form an “Alternative Governance” Movement. May be an arm of MGG or an entirely different group, but I really think we shouldn’t form too many groups. Divided (opposition or alternative) groups, can’t really help that much. Groups should once and for all unite.
2) This Alternative Governance Movement primary job will be to search the entire country for alternative leaders. People from active NGOs, corporate entities with relevant and established CSR programs that have greatly helped our society, scientists community, religious community, individuals who have proven themselves worthy of an effective brand of leadership.
We have the right people amongst our population. We just need to encourage them.
3) Youth can use Facebook, Multiply, Plurk, Twitter, and their own personal blogs and social networking accounts to help promote these alternative candidates. We can even get donations from these sites like how Facebook runs its fan pages.
Text forwarding can be used too since a very large part of the population of all classes have access to a cellphone.
Donations may come through G-Cash or whatever alternative means so that we can promote our ONE SLATE of alternative leaders.
Please do not make too many slates and please make the research about these alternative leaders extensive and exhaustive. Transparent in all aspects if possible.
4) We also have to make a list of groups that need volunteers and make this accessible to the youth through sending invitations to schools, etc. Something like “Bayanihan ng Kabataan” where volunteerism is encouraged by institutions of our society. I’ve seen a books of list of volunteer orgs but these books aren’t too accessible.
I think it can be given a shot. Of course the usual “Bantay Eleksyon” groups must be vigilant.
Yun lang po. I don’t know if this is too idealistic but I think it’s workable.
Tara na!
Gilda I. Yosa
(corrected version, thanks.)
I am not confident that the MGG will attain its goal of 10 million votes, and even if it did, what kind of “alternative” political candidates will it support? Even the relatively “clean” political figures in both legislative and executive departments — think Mar Roxas and Jessie Robredo — represent at best the liberal-democratic politics of accommodation and consensus that cannot untie the Gordian knot of political dynasties entwined with a fundamentally rightist US-oriented military establishment in this country. What we need is a genuine alternative to American-style politics, a political movement that seeks to transform our neo-colonial (ok, it’s a loaded, “leftist” concept, but please read on) cultural history, economic underdevelopment, and politics of patronage, which have resulted in a highly stratified class society in which the armed forces of the state act not in the interest of the broad masses but of whatever elite is in power at any time. Simply stated, why don’t we look more closely at groups like Bayan Muna, and its predecessor the Partido ng Bayan? Branded as “subversive”, these groups — just look at the national mass organizations of workers and peasants that they represent! — are arguably the truly “last chance” for emancipation for millions upon millions of Filipinos. Of course they will find it difficult to win against the political elite and what Doronila calls the counter-elite, the military establishment, and the “populist appeal” of bogus leaders like the plunderer Estrada and his ilk, but only the victory of a genuinely pro-people group like Bayan Muna and its enlightened supporters in all social classes can begin — only begin, mind you — to promise a change in the sorry lot of the Filipino people. Let us study their program carefully. Let us open up our minds to the possibility of a truly revolutionary transformation of the Philippines. Let us debate openly. And I suggest that Bayan Muna launch its own mass campaign to gather millions of signatures and commitments from its reputed mass base. It can only begin to make a dent on the consciousness of this society — which is languishing in almost permanent stupor — if it can summon the full potential of its political organization. With the parliamentary accession to power of Bayan Muna and like-minded groups, we end the insurgency perhaps for good, and we may see finally a glimmer of hope for our long-suffering people.
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