By Harvey S. Keh IN the last two weeks, two very telling survey results conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) was released. The first survey showed that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's satisfaction ratings have continued to plummet with a -38% rating as compared to -31% last June. The other survey which was also conducted between September 18-21, showed that among all aspiring Presidentiables, it was Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III with a huge 60% rating whom the people overwhelmingly chose as the best possible leader to succeed our unpopular President. In past SWS surveys where Aquino's name wasn't included, no other Presidentiable has actually received more than 35%. Aside from the growing disgust of people in our present leadership, the two surveys also show that one of the most important qualities that Filipinos from all walks of life are looking for in our next President is his or her moral and ethical fiber. Aquino is the only son of the martyred former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. and the well-loved former President Cory Aquino, two known icons of good governance, ethical leadership and democracy in our country. The younger Aquino is now seen as the anti-thesis to the present leaders of this administration which has been swamped with seemingly unending graft and corruption charges and several political scandals including the infamous 1 Billion Peso Fertilizer Scam and the NBN-ZTE Broadband deal. Moreover, if you look closely at the SWS Survey, you will notice that in June 2009, there were18% of Filipinos who were undecided on whom to vote for. Three months later, in the September 2009 survey where Aquino was part of, this number was drastically reduced to 6%. This shows that with Aquino's entry into the Presidential derby, more Filipinos now have a clear choice on whom to vote for in the 2010 polls. In my own personal experiences as a college teacher at Ateneo de Manila University, many of these undecided voters are young Filipinos who like many of us are desperately longing for genuine and lasting change in our country. These young Filipinos aged between 18-35 years old comprise more than 40% of our voting population and if united can actually swing the tide in favor of its chosen Presidential candidate. Unfortunately, many of these young Filipinos have yet to register given that the deadline for voter registration is fast approaching on October 31,2009. It was therefore timely that Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan's Register and Vote (RV) Movement together with Aksyon Kabataan and Kaya Natin! recently called on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to extend the voters registration beyond October 31 given the spate of calamities that our country went through the past few weeks. I am sure that recent developments in the political sphere of our country has brought about a renewed sense of hope and reform that has encouraged more first time voters to take the time to register and vote for the right leaders in 2010. Let us hope that the COMELEC will give these young voters a chance to shape the kind of future and country that they want to see. In 2010, let us make sure that the voice of the Filipino youth be heard not only in the streets and the internet but more importantly, in the polling stations. Besides, it's their future at stake here, right? Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo School of Government.
Understanding Surveys and Extending Voters Registration
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Potential voters had 10 months to register...and still they ask for extension! Is this the Filipino Psych again. waiting for the last minute to do things. It shows laziness, tardiness, and overall lameness!
Dear Atty. Harvey
Again, I would like to reiterate the same concern that I have in terms of extending the registration period beyond that deadline set by COMELEC and synchronize it up to the last day of the filing of candidacy for both local and national officials who may wish to run in this forthcoming elections.
I'm just so astound by this kind of inaction of these officials who are supposed to protect the sovereign rights of its own people by not responding to this public clamor, in spite of the persistence of everyone who sees the need to give more time to those who haven't registered yet.
With the recent catastrophe that we went through by these series of typhoons, the more they can easily justify the granting of this extension without jeopardizing their time frame in revitalizing our system of elections, especially now that we will vote via the computer voting machines.
It has become very evident that the entry of NOYNOY among the presidentiables has totally change the results of the surveys of these noisy patriots advocating false reforms to lure the Filipinos of their support. The youth has spoken and let us preserve and sustain their strong groundswell up to
election day by giving them the proper motivation through organizing all youth movements to their sincere adherence to change and reforms that we see in NOYNOY and MAR...They are the best or I would say the perfect synthesis in our political field today that was given a blessing by the Divine Providence.
NOYNOY and MAR are persons of good breeding. "GOOD BREEDING IS THE BEST SECURITY AGAINST THE BAD MANNERS OF ANOTHER". including the presidency.
Harvey, how about if we organize all youth movements into one movement, I may call....... NOYMAR...
National
Organization of
Youth
Movements to
Achieve
Reforms
This will keep them in tact not only during elections but a potent force for the voice of the youths be heard in government affairs..
We are indeed really crossing our fingers regarding the extension of voters' registration.
So far, the COMELEC is still standing on its decision for Oct. 31 to be the last day of registration despite having at least 6 million people who are not yet registered.
Almost 24 years have passed since the 1986 Philippine People Power Revolution, just about the same amount of time that Ferdinand Marcos spent ruling the Philippines. In those 24 years the Filipinos experienced one corrupt president after another, and one of those leaders was bad enough to earn his own People Power Revolution in 2001. But that revolution ended with the current administration, making the People Power Revolutions seem more like disappointments rather than the remarkable phenomenons they really are. However, does that mean People Power is a lost cause? Perhaps we have spent too much effort in evaluating how the results of the PPR's, and should rather look at the characteristics of the process. People Power does not have to manifest itself in the form of extra-judicial demonstrations of the people's disgust with the head of government. It could just be the key to unlocking to the true potential of People Power relies upon the perceptions of the people themselves. That is something I would like to learn about. As a student at the University of San Francisco, that's exactly what I plan to do. I am asking all those who remember the 1986 People Power Revolution, please answer this short, anonymous survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=59q8x81C_2bQpb1eDhTaDvZA_3d_3d
JIMMY, are you a youth? claiming that for the youth, NOYNOY and MAR are the best. For you information, I'm only 21. And I don't consider them as the best. The Youths are tired of political dynasty and people who are good in word and not in works. We are not blind. I have researched the legislative records of all the presidentiables, not including ERAP (disqualified by constitution). And Noynoy has the least passed laws and resolutions. In my count, not more than 20 while others more than a hundred. What would the youth expect from Him?
We don't see Noynoy as Ninoy. They are different, Ninoy has been doing well during his term while Noynoy was ?????? nevermind. Pero alam namin marami pa ring boboto sa kanila, Pilipino ei.. May crabmentality, Pag anak ng may Maganda ang katangian , Maganda rin ang katangian. Pag anak ng Mahirap, pang Mahirap ang manners. Hay naku..
Don't form a union for the youths, we will form for our own. Sorry sa writer, I know your from Ateneo and Noynoy as well...
common.... Filipinos will still be Filipinos ...even if what will be going to happen after the election still they don't care. they are just after the profit that they will get this coming election. ever since the Filipino government was established, the cases of corruption never ended. even the small amount that was received by the people were vivid symbols of corruption. i am just thinking if "tradition" will change this coming election.
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Moreover, if you look closely at the SWS Survey, you will notice that in June 2009, there were18% of Filipinos who were undecided on whom to vote for. Three months later, in the September 2009 survey where Aquino was part of, this number was drastically reduced to 6%. This shows that with Aquino's entry into the Presidential derby, more Filipinos now have a clear choice on whom to vote for in the 2010 polls. In my own personal experiences as a college teacher at Ateneo de Manila University, many of these undecided voters are young Filipinos who like many of us are desperately longing for genuine and lasting change in our country.
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These young Filipinos aged between 18-35 years old comprise more than 40% of our voting population and if united can actually swing the tide in favor of its chosen Presidential candidate.
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We are indeed really crossing our fingers regarding the extension of voters' registration. So far, the COMELEC is still standing on its decision for Oct. 31 to be the last day of registration despite having at least 6 million people who are not yet registered.Ginault Watches
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