With the positive economic indicators, Hope is the operative word for the year ahead.
However, it’s important to take a note of caution as this is a national/local election year.
The after-election scenario can be likened to the AlDub phenomenon. The resurgence of populist, personalistic, celebrity circus is bound to result in the same old rom-com kind of government leadership. Like clanging cymbals, full of noise, bereft of substance and integrity.
Filipinos are smarter than others, but why is it they seem clueless when it comes to issues of nation- building and owning the future of the nation?
A recent public opinion poll conducted for Manila Standard by research specialist Junie Laylo indicates that “corruption” is considered the “most important problem of the country” rating 31 percent, or more than twice the next highest ranking issue of “poverty” at 15 percent.
These are followed by “drug addiction/illegal drugs” (14%), “unemployment/lack of jobs” (10%), “high prices of goods/services” (9%), “criminality” (7%), “low salary/income” (4%) and “traffic” (1%).
In spite of the accurate findings on the most important issues of the day, the Presidentiable topping the recent survey is Vice-President Jejomar Binay.
So why is Manuel A. Roxas “MAR” II, Liberal Party presidentiable, on the tailend of the survey when he professes an “anti-corruption platform”(Daang Matuwid)?
Should we even take note of these surveys as they tend to condition the minds of the voting public? Can the results make us sit up and listen? Should we exert more effort to educate all the people within our spheres of influence?
For one thing, when asked why MAR Roxas is so “hard to carry”, most people talk about his image of being “insincere”, “suplado”, “arrogant”(cacique or Spanish for ‘local political boss’ mentality) which can be summed to the cultural, attitudinal bias against the “Manor born, scion of the old rich, powerful, Araneta-Roxas clan.
So why was President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III elected in 2010 when he comes from the same mold?
The socio-political environment after former President Corazon Aquino’s death was an important factor that catapulted P-Noy to the Presidency.
On the other hand, Ganito-kami-sa-Makati VP Binay projects a Robinhood image, a recycled version of the Erap-para-sa-Mahirap portrayal.
A second look should be made on the perception, fairly or unfairly, that all politicians (yes, P-Noy included) are corrupt.
The populist projects and services rendered are made indicias of competence (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program of the Department of Social Welfare & Development) and beneficence (medical missions), sharing with the people the bounty of public office (Job Orders).
Yes, all politicians are tarnished with the stigma of graft and corruption that the people couldn’t care less if they elected an openly- corrupt official, concluding that “they are all the same” after they are elected into office.
They may have wished to stop corruption, a disease that seems to have permeated all levels of government becoming the new normal.
Is change possible in 2016? There are a few good men and women who have integrity. Let us know and let us elect them come May 9, 2016.
Happy 10th birthday to Sophia Soledad Versoza Yap!
________________________________
Author’s email: [email protected]
