I THINK that since the election is now over save for the counting we can now do a post-election evaluation. Maybe candidates can learn a thing or two from this.
I did not vote for Pichay because he apparently spent so much for his political ads. This worried me. Where will he get the money to recoup his "investments"? Also, there were so many ads that I feel it backfired. I got fed up hearing him promise that he dreams of fulfilling my dreams. But it seems the only way for him to do that is that I must first fulfill his dream of becoming a senator.
I did not vote for Sonia Roco because of her "para silang autistic" remark aired over national TV. That's a very callous statement. She claimed in her apology that she was not poking fun at children with special needs. But the fact that she used the word autistic had hurt me. By the way, autistic is not the politically correct term. It's "children with autism." Because we have to see the child beyond his or her autism.
I did not vote for Alan Peter Cayetano. Every time I hear him, he always attacks. What will he do in the Senate? Attack some more? He got suspended in the last Congress for his false accusations against the First Gentleman. My dear lawmaker, "tsismis" (or gossip) should have no room in a lawmaker's mind. Leave that to showbiz gossip writers. You cannot make laws based on "tsismis." Verify your facts first. Gather evidence before calling for an investigation. That way you will save us taxpayers our time and money. Cayetano came across as a witch hunter, not a fiscalizer that he tried to package himself.
Plus, I cannot stomach his arguments against the political dynasty issue thrown at him. He claimed that, before he ran, he challenged PGMA that if she will not allow her sons to run for Congress, he will also not run as senator. That's baloney! If he really thinks that political dynasty is wrong, he should not run. Period.
This political dynasty issue is also the reason why I did not vote for Koko Pimentel and Vic Magsaysay. They already have relatives sitting in the Senate. Can't they wait for their relatives to step down before running for the senate?
I did not vote for Loren Legarda for she came off to me as someone out to be in power no matter what's the price. Whenever I see her, I see ambition written all over her face. She cried when the envelope was not opened in the Estrada impeachment trial. But during the campaign, I saw her all smiles while Erap is raising her hand. Where's her convictions? Were they for convenience or expediency?
I did not vote for Antonio Trillanes not only for the Oakwood mutiny but also he came across as arrogant. First, he claimed it would be a slap for PGMA if he wins while campaigning behind bars. But then he applied for bail. It appeared to me that it was all for media sound bites.
Well, some of these candidates may have won in this election. I just hope my perceptions are wrong. But I think I will not regret dumping them. It's my vote. It's my choice.
Recently in Prospero Pichay Category
HERE'S an interesting blog entry by JJ of Unsent: Notes to and from my former self.
JJ did his own version of INQUIRER.net's Eleksyon 2007 podcast interview with Prospero Pichay called "Feeling Close: 2007 Senatorial Election -- Prospero Peachy Edition," and it's quite hilarious :)
Here's an excerpt:
If you have a pretty good internet connection speed you could opt to listen to the podcasts which are divided into four parts to prevent you from dozing off. For those who have slow connections though I'd recommend reading the transcipt instead. :) For those who are lazy then go ahead and read my version of the Eleksyon 2007 podcast interview. Here are some "juicy parts" that I have selected. Do pardon me for voicing out my thoughts from time to time.
Joel Guinto: Hello, sir. Sir, why are you running for the Senate? Why should we "plant" you there especially since while in Congress you pushed for its abolition? Prospero Peachy: Well, you know, I was asking that question myself. Why did I run for senator when I could have, you know, spent an easy life, go back to private life, run my business and make more money rather than go for another public office? But you know, when I started politics in 1998, I was a businessman. And then I went to my province in Surigao del Sur and ran for the first district of Surigao del Sur, to serve the people of Surigao del Sur because I noticed that my province was actually deteriorating. It used to be a first-class province and then it deteriorated to become a third-class province because of the mismanagement of the politicians in my province. And while the other provinces were progressing…the development was very fast. Roads were paved and bridges were concreted and the barangays were energized. Hospitals were modernized. School buildings were built. In our province, it remained stagnant. Unsent: I'm waiting for the answer...
I'VE been following the podcast interviews and never heard a more substantial and practical program of government than Prospero Pichay outlined.
I was about to give up hope on my country with what's been going on, but Pichay's vision has made me see that there's still hope.
It's our prayer that Pichay will make it in the coming election.
-- IVAN TORRES, 8327 Beechtree Way, Panorama City, California (via e-mail)
