Cabaero: When defeat comes

DEFEAT is certain to most aspirants of elective posts because only one candidate per position out of the several seeking it can win in the general elections Monday.

How to accept defeat, live with it and grow with it depends on the individual. To do otherwise, to not be able to accept the reality of electoral loss, could spell disaster not only for the persons involved in the contest but also to the people they endeavored to serve.

I would applaud the maturity of the first bets for President and Vice President to concede early--by late Monday or hours after the end of polling or by the next days. This means the candidate admitting defeat knows the futility of pinning hopes and resources to fighting it out despite the telling numbers in the canvassing of ballots. To concede loss clears the way for the winning candidate to prepare for an obstacle-free victory.

With the bitter and divisive campaign for the top two positions in the country, it becomes a prayer that the losing candidates would realize early their defeat and clear the way for the winner. I say a prayer because, from the conduct of the campaign that finally ended Saturday, it seemed none of the top candidates would be willing to accept defeat until the official proclamation of the winner. It would take days or weeks to have the President-elect and Vice President-elect declared.

Until then, the harsh exchanges, bickering and lies that marked the campaign period would continue and the country would plunge into uncertainty for a stretched period. Electoral protests could also add to the strain of waiting for the winner to be named.

But then it is not only for the candidates to learn to accept defeat. When electoral loss comes to their bets, supporters and voters of opposing camps should be able to concede, as well. Their candidates can lead their supporters into accepting the outcome of democratic processes and extending their arms of cooperation to the winners. If there is no call for sobriety at the height of accusations of election fraud, supporters could end up protesting in the streets, wreaking havoc and ignoring laws.

When defeat comes, candidates and their supporters should be able to accept it and begin to cooperate with the election winners.

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It has been 15 months since I lost my mother, Clara, due to complications from old age but, to this day, the pain of not being able to hold her hand and laugh with her throbs in my heart.

What consoles me is an awareness brought about by recent developments in the area of murky politics. The knowledge that any political instability or the prospect of a revolutionary government would not harm her as she is beyond the distresses of the living. For that reason, I am happy she is no longer around and she is spared the troubles that might come if the elections turn insane.

I feel assured she is safe in the arms of the best protector ever, and she will be with me when the next days turn challenging. Happy Mother’s Day!

(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)