My Turf

I’ve long been ranting about the lack of competent Senatoriables when I read the March 6 entry of my good friend, ABS-CBN field reporter, Adrian Ayalin. Before you continue reading this post, please first read Adrian’s piece on the Distorted Thinking of Voters.

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All right, have you read it? Great. Now here’s my comment on his article:

You’re right, Aids: How does one distinguish "propaganda" from "real issues?" I don’t think a candidate’s jingle or personal activities such as whitewater rafting could hardly pass as "issues." What’s even more frustrating about these candidates is that we don’t know what they plan to do in case they get elected! All we see are the likes of Manny Villar and Zubiri dancing like idiots. Or Mike Defensor’s hideous, hideous TVC (who on earth produced his commercial? Defensor should get his money back!) that doesn’t tell the voters anything except that he should be called, "Tol."

This campaign period has done nothing other than establish the fact that hardly anyone (at least not those who are actually running) truly respects the election process anymore. Are they really seeing this whole thing as no more than a big joke or their personal milking cow? Nakakatampo at nakakainsulto talaga that the people behind the campaign do not seem to treat the whole election deal with the respect that it deserves. A friend told me that Pichay has done nice things for his district as Congressman. Much as I like to believe him, I am still far from convinced. Why? Because to me–judging from the content of his TVC, especially his "Pichay: Itanim sa Senado" tagline–he deliberately packaged himself as a joke! Para bang ang sinasabi ng mga PR specialists nya eh, "O mga Bobong Pinoy, itanim natin ang gulay na ito sa Senado! Pichay = Gulay. Get it? Hahaha. Funny ‘no?" It is very insulting, really.

Because I cannot get anything substantial from the candidates’ publicity tools, I really am just counting on the TV specials that would hopefully be produced by newsmen like yourself so I could weigh my options intelligently. I really do want to put the right people, those who want to and could actually make a difference in the Senate. But I do not know my candidates. I do not know what they’re capable of doing, what their background is, what they believe in, what their priorities are. I’d like to believe I am a responsible voter and a responsible Filipino. I always make it a point to vote, no matter how futile it seems at times. This election, decision-making has been particularly difficult. It’s already March and I have no more than 3 people whose names I’d really like to write on my ballot come May.

Hay, Lord, help this country…