NOW is a very polarizing season. People find themselves either as blind supporters or scornful critics of a running politician or group. Both are toxic and not helping at all as both sides jeopardize the fair and balance assessment of any candidate running.
While I do not dispute claims of achievements from politicians as displayed in their ads especially in the local arena be they in governance or in their private capacities, I, however, find it gutter low when they resort to demolish the dignity and the character of their respective opponents. Whatever they do in their personal time is none of our business. Their track record however in terms of performance will always be our collateral whether they have what it takes to deliver their promises.
The better question is what have they achieved so far to assure us that they can deliver their promise of heaven? Are they strong enough to be on top of a highly politicized population? Or will they just end up to be partisan politicians even when they are already in power?
Let us take the mayoral race for example. While they exchange blows in accusing the other as fake news king or corrupt king, such allegations are often weak on facts and details. They end up at most confusing the voters. When dirt and fake news dominate in the campaign circus, people are only being fed with entertainment and are derailed from being given the chance to choose among who really has what it takes to run this city.
Perhaps, we should look into what other qualities of a leader should a mayor possess. While basic honesty paves for clean governance and therefore an essential requisite, a local chief executive calls for additional special skills and experience such as foresight, wisdom, decisiveness, and ability to translate vision into tangible and calibrated outputs and outcomes.
You see, if it is but honesty that they possess and they win I’m sure they will not last long. There had been many before them whose intentions have been better, and are way more gifted than they are yet failed. I have also known of leaders in my exposure with different LGUs who were as sincere as they could get, but with lack of skills they also failed to deliver services. We call that wasted power.
Another crucial issue is fairness of the whole election process itself as parties try to secure victory by all means necessary. Allegations of vote buying, intimidation, “hakot” system, and bribing village chiefs to get the most number of votes have always resurfaced time and again. This raises questions on the kind of candidates we have and just how much are they willing to soil their hands to be in power.
Well, ultimately, politicians live on borrowed times. No fake news and propaganda could ever replace genuine public service. The survival of our city greatly lies in the good relationship of whoever sits with the stakeholders of the city, from the private and business sector, to the religious sector, and even to national agencies. Therefore it is vital that the local political parties should change tack. They should focus their campaign on presenting their visions more than throwing personal dirt. And that their rhetoric should have substance.
Here we will know who really has a clean heart worthy to be called leaders. Because at the end of the day, they can never single-handedly bring the city to new heights, it will still be us the people who will be the soldiers of change, and I am sure we will happily contribute and follow their lead if we are treated well with honesty, sincerity, and respect.