Rocking The Vote Through Social Media

CEBU, Philippines - Filipinos have never been very involved in elections as this year’s elections. What really impressed me are the youth whom I never expected to be very passionate in support of their respective candidates. The youth’s participation in society has improved a lot which just shows our concern for the future of the country.

Social media is one of the avenues that the youth has been utilizing to express our support for candidates. Through the social media, we make new friends and even make enemies, especially in very heated political discussions.

National politicians have been adding us up or we add them up as friends on our Friendster and Facebook accounts. Some are on Twitter, too, sharing daily activities or blog about their stand on different issues. This medium has made a virtual connection between us and them, who are running for posts in the coming elections. It’s like they are also one of us. But, we know for a fact that not all of them are personally using these social media because of their hectic schedules. Some of them task their staff to update their Facebook status or tweet on what they are up to or blog about the campaign sorties.

Not to be outdone, local politicians are also tapping the social media. It’s a good thing but it has a different dynamic. Local politics is really person-to-person unlike national politics wherein you can’t really meet all the 90 millions Filipinos within the 90-day campaign period.

The youth has a chance of making the right choice in every election for we comprise a big percentage in the voting population. If we make a mistake, it would take us another 6 years to set it right. The 2010 elections is a different one for we are about to use the Precinct Count Optical Scanners to read our votes. Our involvement should not be only before and during the Election Day but also after. Be sure to vote early, guard that vote and make sure that your vote is counted.

Here’s one thing that I have observed: Elections will always divide the people. We share a common vision but we have different leaders to guide us and different ways to achieve it. But at the end of the day, after the elections, we are still Filipinos.