Your Vote Counts

Election fever has blanketed the nation.

Posters scream of frozen smiles and chest-thumping good-doers are just about everywhere. Jingles punctuate the airwaves and commercials featuring some senatorial bet either come off as a comic relief, an excuse for a trip to the loo or a reason to switch channels.

Visuals and audio of political bashing have littered every available space nowadays, that perhaps, the only nook devoid of May poll-talk and visuals is my bedroom and my cramped office cube.

True, a good lot of these political ads have been a good source of spoof materials for some gag shows. Some of these have served as fodder during break time lull, and a handful has inspired several office wisecracks for an impromptu stand-up comedy repertoire.

Cynicism and apathy aside, one should seriously take a closer look on political ads (infomercials or whatever advertisers would rather have them called).

These canned 30-seconders (or less) offer us-THE VOTERS-a chance to really pause and reflect on how we would like to paint the May 2007 election outcome.

Do we like future 'leaders' who talk more and do less? Are we going to settle for someone who's perpetually in love with himself rather than someone who has a good grasp of the abstract-poverty, health, education, jobs? Are we ready to compromise morality with leadership?

Really, that one vote counts. A lot.

I recall a friend's comment-on inept governance, politician's broken promises, yada-yada-yada. I smiled. And before I knew it, I was all fired up as well launching lines on how myopic (a good deal) of Filipinos have become-short-termed memories, absolute fading love for history.

But I think, what made her stop and think was when I asked her if she cast her vote. She answered in the negative. For my reply, I recited for her what that Oakwood mutineer stated four years ago: "Filipinos deserve the kind of leadership they have."

See people think that their vote would hardly matter.

That "it's just a single vote".

But see here, that 'single vote' matters a lot. If 10,000 people think that way, it's 10,000 votes gone to waste. Kaput!

And my take is, you don't have a right to complain because you didn't give a damn in the first place. Don't go around blaming the society's marginalized sector and the youth who cast their ballots.

Because you, an intellectual apathetic, made sure your vote was not counted.

Suffrage is a right that every true-blooded Filipino should practice. We are empowered to make a dent on our socio-political landscape with this right. Suffrage blurs the line between the society's rich and poor. For all of its brevity, suffrage breathes life to the line "all men are born equal".

GMA could have never phrased it any better in its "Sa Isa Kong Boto" election advocacy campaign, that every single vote counts if we want to change the country's future.

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I had the chance to attend GMA's ELEKSYON 2007 last Thursday. The tradeshow event could have not emphasized it better when it laid out its comprehensive coverage of this year's elections.

Paying attention to election specials should be of utmost help in helping us trim our choices for the 12 senatorial candidates we shall be listing com May. Watching quality programs that deal with sensitive issues and provide in-depth reportage and analyses are a staple in shaping our personal choices-something, I personally feel, that GMA nurtures.

It's obvious, fair reportage and responsible journalism is equivalent to the Kapuso brand of news. Proof of this is the local and international honors that GMA has reaped, and most of all, the trust that its viewers have bestowed on it.

During the most challenging moment in our nation's history (EDSA 2), in times of crises (Typhoon Reming et.al.) and emergencies, when worldwide events unfold (Pope John Paul's death, war in Lebanon et. Al.), whether tragedies or triumphant moments (Mount Everest expedition), GMA News and Public Affairs delivered impartial, credible and objective in-depth and up-to-the-minute reporting.

I could still recall, during my college years (which was not really that long ago), my friends and I would be watching GMA's late-night public affairs programs and we would be talking about it the following day. We would be inspired by the kind of reportage that the news correspondents deliver that we would not settle for a one-dimensional material.

Now, I'm excited to learn that GMA's ELEKSYON 2007 comprehensive coverage has began via the election series of the Reporter's Notebook. Here Maki Pulido and Jiggy Manicad have started to present issues and problems which voters should discover, understand but also discuss among themselves whenever possible.

Palaban has started to air its fearless election coverage last Wednesday, with Mareng Winnie Monsod interviewing senatorial candidates' Sonia Roco, Chavit Singson and Zosimo Paredes. In her trademark hard-hitting style, Mareng Winnie is sure to leave no stone unturned and no issue untouched as senatoriables get their feel of the hot seat every Wednesday.

Another must-see is the soon-to-be unveiled Philippine Agenda which will be hosted by Mike Enriquez, Mel Tiangco, Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales-the "Five Pillars" of the GMA News and Public Affairs. The program will seek to make voters focus on issues of good governance and not on the personalities of the candidates. It will simplify complex issues in a comprehensive manner but in a way that voters can relate to.

Exciting right?!

I also spotted Balitang Bisdak's Bobby Nalzaro at the trade event. He was sharing the table with Ratsada's Jonathan Gellangarin and Charlotte Baterina-Tan and Davao's Tek Ocampo.

It was a pretty sight, seeing the pillars of GMA regional news coming together. With these hardworking men and women at work, we can expect the most comprehensive election reports that will help the public cast their votes intelligently by providing viewers with election specials designed to present and discuss the most important political issues.

Because on a personal level, this coming May election is more than just getting your thumb inked with the purple dye.

It's all about our future and the kind of change and progress we would like to happen.