The results and the conduct of the coming elections will be crucial in Philippine history. As we enter the demographic sweet spot, the period wherein we expect high and sustained economic growth due to the rising proportion of young, productive population of the country, we have to make sure that we get our acts together.
Election seasons are usually characterized by high emotions. Mudslinging here and there, pressure to raise funds for the candidates, raging emotions even among supporters expressing their respective opinions on the candidates and even killings in hotly contested areas.
Whether we admit it or not, we usually end up voting based on emotions. “Ay hindi ko sya feel, I won’t vote for him.” “Even if they say he’s corrupt, okay na rin at least kilala ko sya, mabait naman sya, kaysa sa iba, baka ganon din!” “Okay sya, pero sino ba ang nakapaligid sa kanya?” Oftentimes, we hear, “Pare-pareho lang silang lahat, magaling lang mangampanya, pero pag naka-upo na, wala ring gagawing matino. Hindi na lang ako boboto!”
All these frustrations may make the citizens feel hopeless and not bother to participate in the exercise. And when the election dusts have settled, some would go through the same routine of complaining about the incumbent again. I always say, “You don’t have the right to complain about our elected officials if you yourself didn’t even exercise your right to suffrage.”
Today, I wish to add this, “You don’t have the right to complain about our elected officials if you didn’t even take time to study the candidates you voted for.” Honestly, it’s not easy. What we usually get are just the sound bites from the candidates, what we see on tv, online, or in their campaign sorties if you have the inclination to attend them.
This is the reason why when I attended the db Access Philippines Conference 2015 on October 7-8, 2015 where the three main presidentiables were the keynote speakers, I really made sure that I’d carefully listen to their speeches, observe them on stage, how they deliver their platforms before the audience, how they answer the questions, how they react and interact with people. In order to keenly observe all these and the nuances of their actions, I went to the venue early and sat near the tables reserved for the keynote speakers. Of course, I also did a bit of research on all three of them in order to appreciate their individual circumstances.
It was a privilege to observe Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Grace Poe up close and personal. When I realized it was such a privilege, I decided to share it with my readers. I wrote about each of them in my weekly column in PhilStar.com and FQMom.com. Because of the warm reception to these long articles, and because I wish that each and every voter would really take this elections seriously, I decided to publish these articles in an ebook that can be easily passed on from one interested voter to another.
How to use this ebook? I suggest you first come up with your vision of your Dream Philippines. What kind of country are you wishing for? (I hope not one with four seasons because the presidential candidate who wants to legalize winter, spring, summer and fall is not included in this ebook.
Bear in mind these characteristics that you’re looking for as you read the chapters of this book. Get yourself a scorecard and try to give each one a score as you read on. Go beyond this ebook. Continue using your scorecard as you do your additional research, as you watch them debate (hopefully, about issues). This way, you are able to give your decision making process more chance of coming up with a rational conclusion. You will not only feel good about yourself, but it will also be better for our country.
Let’s add humor: One of our biggest assets as a people is our ability to put humor in everything. This is not to make fun of a serious endeavor, but just something to spice up the situation and make it more fun and sustainable as we face the coming months of heated campaign. This song has been playing in my mind as I wrote about the three main presidentiables. It's LSS (Last Song Syndrome) brought about by the long hours I devoted to the three. The song was composed by Louie Ocampo, lyrics by Alan Ayque and sung by Marco Sison. I wish to share with you this short minus one clip we prepared with some lyrics altered to add fun to your decision making process. Sing along with it.
So did you enjoy singing? I hope you did.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
- I will speak at the ADMU John Gokongwei School of Management during their JGSOM week on October 30, 2015.
- I will speak at the Knowledge Community, Inc. on How to Raise and Nurture Children to have High FQ on November 19, 2015 at the Crown Plaza Hotel.
- I will speak at the 6th PANA (Philippine Association of National Advertisers) Foundation IMC Youth Congress on November 27, 2015 at the Philippine Trade Training Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. cor. Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.
Rose Fres Fausto is the author of bestselling books Raising Pinoy Boys and The Retelling of The Richest Man in Babylon. Her new book is the Filipino version of the latter entitled Ang Muling Pagsasalaysay ng Ang Pinakamayamang Tao sa Babilonya. Click this link to read samples of the books. Books of FQ Mom Rose Fres Fausto. She is also the grand prize winner of the first Sinag Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards.
ATTRIBUTIONS:
Thank you to Deutsche Regis for inviting the three main contenders of the Philippine presidential elections scheduled on May 9, 2016 as keynote speakers to the dbAccess Philippines Conference 2015.
Photos used in the ebook were taken by the author during the dbAccess Philippines Conference 2015, Peck Imson and images from mrcheapjusticefiles.wordpress.com, philstar.com, thefilam.net, e.lected.blogspot.com, csmiravite.blogs.hubpages, en.wikipilipinas.org, philembassy.no, fotosearch.com, tropasociety.altervista.org, dreamstime.com. Music from Youtube - ClassicKaraoke, Original song Si Aida, Si Lorna, Si Fe written by Louie Ocampo, lyrics by Alan Ayque sung by Marco Sison.
This article is also published in FQMom.com and RaisingPinoyBoys.com.