To the undecided
By Isolde Amante

I ENVY your position, for at least two reasons.

First, because you can make your decisions in relative peace and quiet, free from the inanities and filth that passed for political advertising in these last three months.

Second, because you represent a formidable bloc, some 12 percent of the total number of registered voters, going by the Social Weather Station’s (SWS) latest survey from May 1 to 4. That’s 5.1 million votes you can deliver, if all of you vote—almost the same number of ballots that made Fidel Ramos president in 1992.

We who have already decided whom to support for the presidency can now only hope for the best and be vigilant in the days ahead. We have made our vows. The word “vote” stems from the Latin “votum” (meaning, a vow or a wish) and “vovere” (to vow).

You, on the other hand, just might get to decide the country’s fortunes in the next six years. You’ll probably think this exaggerated, but it isn’t. Your ranks have more than doubled since the year began: the SWS reports that from 5.4 percent in mid-January, you now account for 12 percent.

No wonder so much has gone into scaring you into voting for continuity, for example, when one would be better off voting for change. Considering how much is riding on your vote today, one would think it had more than fear to stand on.

If you do decide to vote this day, and I certainly hope you do, let me share this “thinking tool for voters” published yesterday by the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP)—not to be confused with the People’s Movement Against Poverty that helped plunge us into the disaster also known as the Estrada administration.

PMAP’s scorecard lists five roles the president of the republic needs to play:

Navigator-strategist: The president must demonstrate that he or she can strategically solve problems and make the most of opportunities. The candidate should have offered a clear, detailed plan to tackle our major problems, among them the budget deficit, a severe infrastructure gap, an impending power shortage.

Mobilizer: The candidate must have succeeded in the past in managing a complex organization.

Servant-leader: The man or woman who seeks to be president must be a good example, display humility and, as naïve as this may sound, have good work and study habits.

Captivator: The candidate must inspire optimism in the future and trust in the government. He or she must move the people away from cynicism, which people often (and disastrously) confuse with skepticism.

Guardian of national wealth and the rule of law: Your choice for the next president should demonstrate success in fighting corruption, take a clear stand on controversial issues like population management and display transparency and integrity in their public and private lives.

That said, I should admit that on both occasions I voted for a president, my candidates lost. Miserably too, trailing the eventual winners by some three million votes in 1992 and over seven million votes in 1998.

Yet because those votes stemmed from what I believed—not from what I feared or out of a cynical bid to cast my lot with whoever was sure of winning—those were votes I did not regret making. I do not regret them still

Election Day
By Anol Mongaya

VOTERS should go out and vote early today to avoid the last minute rush. Besides, I expect several problems to crop up thus it would be best if one is early enough so there would be time to iron out things. One common problem is locating one’s voting precinct.

More important, one should vote wisely. The campaign period should have been enough for us to choose intelligently and sensibly among the various contenders for public office. This also means resisting appeals to vote for a candidate in exchange for a measly P200 to P500.

The credibility of today’s elections does not just rest on the Commission on Elections, the teachers or the politicians who are vying for various positions. It also rests on ordinary voters like you and me. A voter who accepts money from a politician in exchange for his vote has, in effect, participated in electoral fraud and the subversion of the electoral process. A voter who accepts money from a politician has therefore helped rob today’s elections of its credibility.

Credibility is crucial today because we have to prove that the resulting mandate is indeed the true will of the people. We need to prove to ourselves and to the world that Philippine democracy is worth defending in the face of forces advocating more drastic methods of effecting political and social changes.

***

However, asking ordinary folk to resist the lure of P200-P500 might be wishful thinking in the face of today’s economic crisis. In fact, many are looking forward to getting their share of the politician’s wealth be it ill-gotten or not.

Thus, some political groups like former mayor Alvin Garcia’s Kusug has asked voters: “Kuprason ang kuwarta” that his opponent would shell out.

For groups like Kusug, the time to discuss issues had already passed. Now is the time, not to buy votes, but to resist the cheating of the other side. But could Kusug indeed stop the BO-PK machinery? In 2001, the party mobilized its throngs of supporters after Election Day. In 2004, party supporters are reportedly in Bantay Tikas mode citywide as early as the other night.

In my view, Garcia’s victory rests on his ability to effectively stop the last minute special operations of his adversary, which was something that he failed to do in 2001.

***

Nevertheless, urban poor groups are alarmed by talks of demolitions if BO-PK loses in their areas. “I thought the `No-Vote-Ibot’ method of getting votes is only used in haciendas,” said Edward Ligas, Kusug candidate for councilor. He said his neighbors received such threats late last week. “Maybe Tomas considers Cebu City as his hacienda,” he said.

Also circulating in some urban poor areas are copies of a supposed handwritten memo from Mayor Osmeña to the city administrator for “the immediate demolition of the squatter area in Pasil because foreign investors are interested in the area.”

I’m sure BO-PK would deny this damaging piece of document. And this could be disinformation from Kusug or pro-Kusug groups. However, the urban poor could only reflect on the experience of Santo Niño vendors who participated in the MOA-signing with Osmeña in 2001. The MOA said no demolition. We all know what happened to them after that election.

***

In the province, I was told that many ward leaders of various gubernatorial bets complained as of yesterday noon that the promised election operations money has not arrived yet. Well, maybe each camp is waiting for the other two to show their hand first before revealing theirs. Or, the election war chests are not that overflowing after all.

The camp of Gwen Garcia said Sen. John Osmeña’s alliance with Junie Martinez could actually work against the former congressman. But Vice Gov. John-john Osmeña’s camp might benefit from sympathy votes for having been abandoned by his father though it remains to be seen if Junie could actually make use of his access to the senator’s bailiwicks.

Jomari Osmeña’s withdrawal from the gubernatorial race also removes an obstacle to the vice governor’s bid. Curiously, Jomari’s candidacy was the reason Senator Osmeña withdrew his support from Junie months ago. Last week, Sonny and Junie renewed their alliance.

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Post-election scenario
By Bobby Nalzaro

TODAY, is the day of reckoning, as the 43 million more or less Filipino voters will troop to various polling precincts to elect our leaders. Everybody is hoping and praying that today’s balloting will turn out to be peaceful, honest and a credible one.

Like most of our kababayans, I am crossing my fingers too that today’s proceedings will be uneventful. But what worries me, though, is what happens next.

There had already been pre-election violence recorded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially in areas where political warlordism still exists. We are lucky enough here (in our local politics) that there were no such occurrences.

What we had at the height of the campaign period were negative campaigning and black propaganda among political rivals. We have to give credit to our local politicians for the peaceful and high-level conduct of the campaign. At least, sa black propaganda, walay namatay. Pero sa armas ug bala, daghan.

I may be too presumptuous. But what worries me is the possible election violence that may occur after today’s balloting when losing presidential candidates and their supporters cannot accept their defeat. It is possible they might initiate rallies and demonstrations that might result to chaos and disorder.

This possible scenario is not remote. Even before the elections, the opposition had already accused the administration of massive cheating and election fraud and these allegations had already registered in the minds of their political supporters.

The opposition can always create a scenario, say, for example, using Comelec’s lack of preparation for the smooth conduct of today’s elections. We know for a fact that the poll body has failed to do its job, especially in the preparations of the voters lists in most areas.

What if the supporters of the losing opposition candidates will troop to Edsa and make noise? It’s not only the opposition who has been airing warnings on the possible elections fraud but also some nongovernment organizations (NGO) and the Roman Catholic Church.

In fact, some Church leaders have already aired their warnings that they will call for the resignation of President Arroyo if they find that the administration committed massive fraud through ‘dagdag-bawas’ operation.

They even asked Vice President Guingona to be ready to take over the government in case a perception of massive fraud and violence mar today’s elections. What about if the various camps of the opposition, NGOs and the church will join forces and hold a series of rallies and demonstrations?

We cannot also discount the possible intervention of disgruntled military men and those who are already retired from service who have been warning of a possible military takeover. It is just a matter of igniting an already volatile and explosive situation.

The intelligence report revealed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that warned the public of a possible post-election violence also has some basis. We cannot just ignore the report because it came from the administration with the suspicion that it was tainted with politics.

I hope my fears will not be realized, or else today’s elections will just be an exercise in futility. It is useless to exercise the right to suffrage if politicians who submit themselves to the will of the Filipino people will not honor the results of the elections. Again, vote wisely.

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Out of my league
By Stella Estremera

The goosebumps I get when faced with politics in governance pale in comparison to their disgust of politics, governance, and politicians. I cringe, they sneer. Now a growing number of young ones who sneer at politicians is cool! But sneering at governance? That's an ingredient for future disasters.

I HAD this unexplainable allergy to politics, Philippine politics, for years. Nothing turns me off more than a person who insists on discussing politics with me even after I have already worn my most disinterested look topped with a piercing side glance. Nothing makes me lose my temper faster than one who still insists on such topic even after I have spewed out my trademark single-syllabled growl and my disinterested look has graduated to an irritated, teeth-gnashing one.

Thus, every three years I disappear from the mainstream and absent myself from my fave hangouts in order not to be subjected to such torture and also not inflict harm on politics-awed individuals if not sniveling politicians wanting a space in the newspaper.

It was easy before as a second in command. It's not as easy today, although I have already perfected a smile to cover my otherwise bared fangs whenever one other politician or vest-wearing supporter comes around.

Thursday last week, I was scheduled to interview several underage, non-voting girls just to listen to what they expect from government and what they hope their elders will consider when they cast their votes on Monday.

I thought the girls would be more spontaneous if I talked to them all together. Street girls who only know the interview cum interrogation style of policemen and television police reporters usually tend to clam up and give prompted, monosyllabic replies when interviewed one on one. And so, there I was with four girls to my right, three to my left, and one beside me (the one beside me didn't show any interest to participate and just flipped through the book I brought with me).

I wanted spontaneity, and I had it in a super-duper dose. They were talking all together, and one would butt in even before two or three others could finish and... uh-oh!

"I think I'm over my head here," I thought. But they're girls used to being bullied and bullying, that's what life on the streets calls for and so, I thought, I must not show any indication that they were already overpowering me. I stuck a grin on my face and quickly designed a scheme to note down who's talking and what she's saying before one other girl would interrupt.

It was obvious. They know what's wrong, they know who's doing wrong, and, they have long been waiting for someone to listen to them speak out what they think should be done instead. But no one in position ever did and so they have made their own conclusions.

Beyond their knowledge of these political realities, they likewise have their corresponding reaction. The goosebumps I get when faced with politics in governance pale in comparison to their disgust of politics, governance, and politicians. I cringe, they sneer. Now a growing number of young ones who sneer at politicians is cool! But sneering at governance? That's an ingredient for future disasters.

This attitude should give us a lot of food for thought. We have obviously pushed our children to resent the politics involved in governance and they went on to believe that that's what governance is all about and thus do not deserve respect. There must be some way to restore respect in the exercise.

That's wishful thinking of course.

Made more impossible when what we have in our near future are the likes of this national position wannabe.

This person's not among my favorites, really. But I'm one who gives whatever respect is due to an individual and I admit this national position wannabe is very intelligent and has a lot of educational achievements. And so I grudgingly give that respect for whatever it's worth. That was until Friday.

Friday, the second to the last day that candidates can campaign, I was starting to get a headache disapproving, arguing against, and reading the Fair Elections Act in a bid to swat off black propaganda this person's camp was determined to put out. Yes, I admit, I never liked that person, but despite that I respected the person's achievements, intelligence, and yes, chutzpah... before Friday.

Since then that grudging respect has been replaced by revulsion.

I know politics is dirty, but I still believe that decent people still try to appear clean amid all the mud throwing; and so white papers are as dirty as you can get. SOP, really. Anonymous letters and documents that speak evil of your enemies, and no one could really pin down the white paper on you.

But for one camp, clearly and properly identified, churning out paid advertisements that's murky black is something else, I believe.

How much dirtier can you play if you do not cringe at playing dirty this early?

Long ago, my friends and I thought my allergy to politics was inexplicable. As I grew older in this profession, it has already been diagnosed at the same time that the allergy has worsened and now comes complete with gagging and the creeps.

I'm clearly out of my league here. But still I continue to wish that like children, majority of the adults will soon be able to wade past all these pretenses, and vote according to what their conscience dictates. But that's wishful thinking, or is it?

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