Thursday, April 26, 2007
Speak out: Philippine polls
By Atty. Amay P. Ong Vano
Banilad, Cebu City
COMMISSION on Election records show that there are 17,880 elective positions in government up for grabs on election day, May 14, 2007---from senators to congressmen, down to governors, vice-governors, provincial board members, mayors, vice-mayors and councilors.
Judging from the number of candidates vying and willing to serve the nation, there should be no reason why our country will continue to lag behind other Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries in economic development and prosperity.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007
Unfortunately, however, if we analyze the profiles of our candidates, we have in our hands to be placed in the ballot box senility under the guise of wisdom, insanity under the guise of genius, fanaticism under the guise of heroism, etc.
There’s a saying that politics, like war, is all about looting the wealth of a nation. This may be an exaggeration, but there is a grain of truth in it. The pages of history are full of stories tending to validate the statement.
“The wealth of a country may be enough for every citizen but it is never enough for a greedy politician.”
In every election, one set of politicians may be replaced by another set. But the cycle of corruption and looting continues. They call it “weather-weather lang!”
However, for the majority of the people, life may be too short to wait for the next weather. In a country where poverty and ignorance are rampant, the ballot box may not be enough.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 26, 2007 issue)
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