Aguilar: Election is a game of thrones

AS HBO’s Game of Thrones’ series launches its final season, there is another game of thrones happening in our country in this election season. The heat intensifies in the political arena as election day is just few days away. Late next week, things will be confirmed as to who wins in the midterm elections.

Let me share with you my notes a few years back about election as a game of thrones which still very much capture our present condition. I did minor editing just to fit the message in today’s context. Here goes:

The game of thrones has long begun. The last few months have been the perfect time for our seasoned politicians and our new players both in the national and local scene to test how much chance they have of winning a public office. Strategic moves of eliminating the opponents’ advantage are in operation. Positioning of resources are also gaining momentum.

And while politicians magnify their public value, the business sector are also organizing themselves into teams and then study from amongst the prospects whom they can best invest. I have known for a fact that businessmen invest so much during elections. When asked what their criteria is, I was told that they always bet on the winning horse. I was further told that loyalty is never a good value in politics. Why? Because they have interests to protect.

As for the rest of us, we become the weather, the indicator, and the reactors. Well at least, we are the deciding factor. They may play on us, manipulate what information to feed us, and lure us but still, at the end of this all we are the voice of this land.

And while we have no control as to who should run, we have the power to choose who should win. Unlike in the series, we, the people, have a crucial role.

Here are three tips I can share to make us win in this game:

1. Know your candidates. Knowing goes beyond just knowing their names and who they are affiliated to. Try to know their platforms if they ever have one. Inquire about their track records to size up whether they have what it takes to be the leaders we want them to be. Read, listen, and study them.

2. Express your thoughts in public. Make known your criticisms may they be good or bad. Use the social media to air out your concerns. When you voice out your thoughts, other people can resonate with it or disagree. It gives the politicians the chance to make public their positions on certain issues. It initiates a dialog.

3. Exercise your right to vote. Into your vote lies the future of your place and the country in general. However good your candidate is if you do not vote for him or her, nothing good will happen. Democracy cannot materialize. So vote! Not only is it your right, it is your obligation too.

Indeed the game of thrones has started. And while politicians throw filth against each other, it only signifies that democracy is indeed very much alive, and that it’s always the people who ultimately decide who sits in the throne.