The 1987 Philippine Constitution explicitly provides that the election of national and local officials shall be held every second Monday of May. This year, the elections is scheduled on May 9, 2016 when all roads lead to the different polling centers here the over 54 million registered Filipino voters will individually cast their votes for their chosen national and local leaders from the President up to the position of councilors.
Filipinos from all walks of life were able to witness the different types of campaign waged by the aspirants for the different elective posts. In fact, no stone remain unturned that is why at the close of the campaign period, we were able to decide whom to vote in the different positions that will be due for election. We were also witnesses to the various tactics employed by the politicians and their supporters in order to gain the sympathy of the voters so that come election day, we will remember them as the ones who we will vote for the positions that they are aspiring for.
Voters should not be convinced to vote for a certain candidate for an elective position because he or she is a relative, she or he is a classmate, he or she is a neighbor, she or he is a town or provincemate, he or she is a close friend, she or he is a former acquaintance, she or he had the best jingle played during public gatherings, she or he had the best speeches, she or he had the most doable projects and programs, she or he had the best jokes but instead she or he is the most competent and qualified candidate to the positions based on his or her track record, performance and his or her desire to willfully serve the interest of the greater majority.
Obviously, citizens are already tired of promises because they are frequently broken that is why many of them do not want to gamble their votes for amateur and inexperienced aspirants for the different elective positions. Many voters are also tired of mudslinging being waged by some candidates who believe that they have the monopoly of knowledge but do not have the ability to serve the people in any capacity. A number of our aspirants for the different elective positions do not have the heart for the poor but they have the heart for the elite where they rightfully belong. If you happen to be one of them, then you do not deserve the votes of your constituents.
Many election watchdogs have emerged through the years of our democratic practice of selecting our leaders, however, some of them have lost their credibility because of their obvious political alignments. In fact, even those election watchdogs who claim to be non-partisan are actually working for the advancement of the personal and political interests of some individuals and groups contrary to what they had been advocating for.
We believe that our voters are now mature decision-makers who know whom to elect as our leaders in the next six or three years, six years for the President, Vice President and the twelve Senators and three years for local officials like governors, vice governors, boardmembers, city and municipal mayors, city and municipal vice mayors and city and municipal councilors. If you can recall, voters were able to actively participate nine elections since the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. Every election is a learning period because voters have to assess, study and evaluate the private and public lives of those aspiring for to different elective positions and by doing so, we were able to learn a lot on their attitudes, behavior, vices, among others that we should understand for us to decide whether or not we will cast our votes in favor of them or decide to vote for their rivals because of certain considerations.
The conduct of the election is plain and simple divisiveness because it has become a source of conflict among family members, friends, relatives, officemates, among others but we view this scenario as part of getting better in terms of selecting who will be the most qualified leader to occupy available positions. As we individually mature in choosing our future leaders, we also mature in deciding what will be the best for our daily lives.
Before we go to our designated precincts to cast our votes, let us make sure that we have chosen the right leaders who will lead us because if we commit a grave mistake in electing non-deserving leaders, then we will be made to suffer the consequences of our very own act in the next three to six years. Let us therefore seek the guidance of our Almighty Father to enlighten our minds so that we will be able to elect the right kind of leader on election day. Another important thing to remember on election day is we must all go out and exercise oour right to vote for a better nation and locality in the future. Let us judge our leaders on election day.
