It's national election season next year and here's a short personal guide to selecting MY next President!
I chose to vote NO ONE during the last Presidential election and mainly because I didn't see a candidate worthy of the position. My one vote is too precious to waste it on someone that I will just choose because he or she is 'Pwede Na.' And the 'Pwede Na' character six years ago was our incumbent leader.
This year, I still don't see an outstanding leader from the present roster. Political campaign ads are already picking up airtime in local TV and radio networks and what I see is nothing short of a despicable line-up for a country that badly needs a leader that will elevate the way of life of all Filipinos (not just the upper classes) and lead the country to a path to genuine progress.
In fairness to the present administration, the 'Daan Matuwid' campaign has worked hard to cut down and limit the chances of widespread graft and corruption in the country by exposing one by one all the faulty bureaucratic systems that has bled the nation dry and left the poor with crumbs and false hopes for such a very long time. We are, at the moment, still at that limbo. But somehow some small windows have been opened.
This year, we see the names Poe, Duterte, Roxas, Lacson, Escudero and of course Binay as the ones most likely to enter the race next year. They have their own strengths and weaknesses and frankly, I still don't see from that list MY next President.
My standards are high because our need as a nation is also very high. And we, Filipinos, as a people, deserves only a real public servant and the most competent leader in the world that will raise us up from our long overdue slumber.
FYI: The first person I voted for the Presidential seat was Miriam Defensor Santiago way back in 1992 but she lost to Fidel Ramos. The 'Dagdag-Bawas' controversy was born and fighting the Ramos government took a toll on her strength and credibility which she recovered after some time. I saw in her in 1992 something that could've been a shining light for all Pinoys to follow - I still see that light to the now ill Senator, a little dull, but the light is still there. I just wish there are more people like her in Philippine politics. And there was one, Raul Roco had my vote in 1998 but he lost the race to Estrada and look at what happened to the country after that.
MY next President like the one we have right now should be against all forms of corruption and should be free from it as well BUT at the same time have the vision and capabilities to bring this country forward, able to make the tough decisions and proactively handle challenges without any EXCUSES.
MY next President is strong-willed and just BUT he or she is not the kind that put justice into his or her own hands. My next President can exact discipline like it was an overdue loan but is still respectful of human rights and the court of law. I am particularly against a leader who don't value a person's life. Yes, we need someone who can effectively apply discipline to mold our people to greatness but MY President should be better than the common criminal and warlord who's brand of justice is ONLY by the sword.
In the words of Detective Gordon in the film 'The Dark Knight' - "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
MY next President does not use statesman-like words and promises, money and influence to get a vote of confidence. MY next President uses words that inspire and actions that make people follow - not because of fear or the feeling of hopelessness but because the people believes in him or her and his or her visions.
My next President only has one thing in mind - to SERVE the FILIPINO PEOPLE! And that should radiate from all his or her words, actions and decisions.
Sadly, for now, MY next President won't get that vote from the Filipino people. After witnessing the result of the text votes of the Grand Showdown of Your Face Sounds Familiar last Sunday, I have only one conclusion - We still have a long way to go before majority of the voting public achieve a certain MATURITY when it comes to selecting people or at least learning to base our decisions using the right criteria.
I chose to vote NO ONE during the last Presidential election and mainly because I didn't see a candidate worthy of the position. My one vote is too precious to waste it on someone that I will just choose because he or she is 'Pwede Na.' And the 'Pwede Na' character six years ago was our incumbent leader.
This year, I still don't see an outstanding leader from the present roster. Political campaign ads are already picking up airtime in local TV and radio networks and what I see is nothing short of a despicable line-up for a country that badly needs a leader that will elevate the way of life of all Filipinos (not just the upper classes) and lead the country to a path to genuine progress.
In fairness to the present administration, the 'Daan Matuwid' campaign has worked hard to cut down and limit the chances of widespread graft and corruption in the country by exposing one by one all the faulty bureaucratic systems that has bled the nation dry and left the poor with crumbs and false hopes for such a very long time. We are, at the moment, still at that limbo. But somehow some small windows have been opened.
This year, we see the names Poe, Duterte, Roxas, Lacson, Escudero and of course Binay as the ones most likely to enter the race next year. They have their own strengths and weaknesses and frankly, I still don't see from that list MY next President.
FYI: The first person I voted for the Presidential seat was Miriam Defensor Santiago way back in 1992 but she lost to Fidel Ramos. The 'Dagdag-Bawas' controversy was born and fighting the Ramos government took a toll on her strength and credibility which she recovered after some time. I saw in her in 1992 something that could've been a shining light for all Pinoys to follow - I still see that light to the now ill Senator, a little dull, but the light is still there. I just wish there are more people like her in Philippine politics. And there was one, Raul Roco had my vote in 1998 but he lost the race to Estrada and look at what happened to the country after that.
MY next President like the one we have right now should be against all forms of corruption and should be free from it as well BUT at the same time have the vision and capabilities to bring this country forward, able to make the tough decisions and proactively handle challenges without any EXCUSES.
MY next President is strong-willed and just BUT he or she is not the kind that put justice into his or her own hands. My next President can exact discipline like it was an overdue loan but is still respectful of human rights and the court of law. I am particularly against a leader who don't value a person's life. Yes, we need someone who can effectively apply discipline to mold our people to greatness but MY President should be better than the common criminal and warlord who's brand of justice is ONLY by the sword.
In the words of Detective Gordon in the film 'The Dark Knight' - "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
MY next President does not use statesman-like words and promises, money and influence to get a vote of confidence. MY next President uses words that inspire and actions that make people follow - not because of fear or the feeling of hopelessness but because the people believes in him or her and his or her visions.
My next President only has one thing in mind - to SERVE the FILIPINO PEOPLE! And that should radiate from all his or her words, actions and decisions.
Sadly, for now, MY next President won't get that vote from the Filipino people. After witnessing the result of the text votes of the Grand Showdown of Your Face Sounds Familiar last Sunday, I have only one conclusion - We still have a long way to go before majority of the voting public achieve a certain MATURITY when it comes to selecting people or at least learning to base our decisions using the right criteria.
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