What advice can you give voters and candidates?
March 4, 2007 | 12:00am
By now we have all been bombarded with the news of the coming May elections. We have to try to get involved in any way we can; after all, this is our chance to contribute and make a difference and a better future for us and our kids. Elections give us hope; let’s not waste the exercise. Whenever I hear people complain that election time is so magulo, I always take the opportunity to remind them that it only takes us two-and-a-half months to make great changes that could last a lifetime. If we don’t lift a finger and do our part, then we have no right to complain when things don’t seem to go the way we want them to in our country.
PHYLLIS ZABALLERO, visual artist, painter: I would urge all the players in this vital democratic exercise to do some painfully honest self-examination about what exactly drives them to run for office. What are their lawmaking capabilities or lack thereof and what motives, selfless or otherwise, drive them to seek a career in politics? Is that too much to ask? We don’t expect saints but neither do we want sinners.
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ, vice chairman of the board, Equitable PCI Bank: Candidates should never make the mistake of underestimating the Filipino voter. We have an electorate that is wiser, more discerning and very much aware of the issues. Choosing whom to vote for is a personal act that cannot be taken from them through force, intimidation or bribery. Ultimately, the voter will make his choice based on what his conscience dictates.
WEENA LIM, badminton Olympian: I would advise voters to first check the quali-fications and track record of the candidates, and vote for the qualified individuals who they think will truly and honestly serve their constituents.
For the candidates, I would just want them to play fair and be good sports, and if they win they must first and foremost love our country. I hope their actions and decisions will be guided by patriotism above anything else.
ANTONIO ABAYA, chairman, Tapatt Foundation: Be open to the possibility of postponing the elections to November 2007, for the following reasons:
1. It creates the time necessary for Comelec to proceed with the much-postponed automation of elections. Automated elections  with built-in paper trails for verification in case of disputes  reduces the avenues for cheating. That is why the trapos and their handlers have done everything to prevent it from happening.
2. It would also provide time for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution, and allow changes in the rules of electoral engagement. In particular, we could do away with political dynasties, as called for in the 1987 Constitution; institute qualifying exams for all elective candidates, to discourage the stupid and ignorant from running for public office, no matter how popular they may be with the masa; permanently bar convicted criminals from seeking public office; ensure that senators are elected on a regional, not national, basis, and that all regions are represented all the time in the Senate (in the present senatorial line-ups, no Muslim is likely to win enough national votes to merit a seat in the Senate); ban political ads on radio, TV and billboards; instead, government-owned Channel 9 and Channel 13, and their radio networks, should be turned over to a constitutional body during the electoral campaign, which will give all parties and all candidates free and equal air time.
Without these changes, the 2007 electoral exercises will just be a repeat of previous elections and will lead to further deterioration of our political life, with even more cheating and stealing, and the further entrenchment of idiot candidates and idiot voters in our political culture.
HOWARD MACEDA CALLEJA, legal counsel, PPCRV: My advice to the candidates for the forthcoming election is to respect one another and to ensure a high-minded campaign. Second is to follow and abide strictly to the election laws and guidelines.
As to the voters, five points for consideration are the following:
• Vote in accordance with your conscience.
• Respect the decision or opinion of others in their candidate.
• Don’t sell your votes.
• Don’t vote for candidates who operate with guns, goons and gold.
• Have God and country in mind when choosing your candidates.
JOHN MARCELO, businessman, sportsman: Rather than electing personalities, choose a candidate who is God-fearing, one who can keep his promises based on a previous track record, and someone who sticks to the issues.
BABY ANTONIO, entrepreneur: My advice to candidates: be honest, be sincere, and fulfill your promises. Serve, serve and serve the people. My advice to voters: know your candidates, select well, go out and vote, protect your vote!
AI AI DELAS ALAS, actress, comedienne, TV host: For the voters: vote for who they think could really, really, really serve the country. For the candidates: Really, really, really serve the country, not yourself!
ENCHONG DEE, champion swimmer: My advice is to ask the voters themselves. EDSA revolutions have passed… we saw the flaws of certain politicians, we saw their performances, are they still worth it? For candidates, the country needs help… serious help! Not an infrastructure with names below.
CONEY REYES, actress, TV producer, co-host, 700 Club Asia: I pray that every voter and candidate will have the fear of the Lord upon them because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). God is looking for people whose hearts are loyal to Him through whom He could display His power. May we seek God, honor Him in all our ways that He may restore our people and our nation! Nothing is too difficult for Him! But first our hearts have to be devoted to Him in spirit and in truth.
PHYLLIS ZABALLERO, visual artist, painter: I would urge all the players in this vital democratic exercise to do some painfully honest self-examination about what exactly drives them to run for office. What are their lawmaking capabilities or lack thereof and what motives, selfless or otherwise, drive them to seek a career in politics? Is that too much to ask? We don’t expect saints but neither do we want sinners.
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ, vice chairman of the board, Equitable PCI Bank: Candidates should never make the mistake of underestimating the Filipino voter. We have an electorate that is wiser, more discerning and very much aware of the issues. Choosing whom to vote for is a personal act that cannot be taken from them through force, intimidation or bribery. Ultimately, the voter will make his choice based on what his conscience dictates.
WEENA LIM, badminton Olympian: I would advise voters to first check the quali-fications and track record of the candidates, and vote for the qualified individuals who they think will truly and honestly serve their constituents.
For the candidates, I would just want them to play fair and be good sports, and if they win they must first and foremost love our country. I hope their actions and decisions will be guided by patriotism above anything else.
ANTONIO ABAYA, chairman, Tapatt Foundation: Be open to the possibility of postponing the elections to November 2007, for the following reasons:
1. It creates the time necessary for Comelec to proceed with the much-postponed automation of elections. Automated elections  with built-in paper trails for verification in case of disputes  reduces the avenues for cheating. That is why the trapos and their handlers have done everything to prevent it from happening.
2. It would also provide time for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution, and allow changes in the rules of electoral engagement. In particular, we could do away with political dynasties, as called for in the 1987 Constitution; institute qualifying exams for all elective candidates, to discourage the stupid and ignorant from running for public office, no matter how popular they may be with the masa; permanently bar convicted criminals from seeking public office; ensure that senators are elected on a regional, not national, basis, and that all regions are represented all the time in the Senate (in the present senatorial line-ups, no Muslim is likely to win enough national votes to merit a seat in the Senate); ban political ads on radio, TV and billboards; instead, government-owned Channel 9 and Channel 13, and their radio networks, should be turned over to a constitutional body during the electoral campaign, which will give all parties and all candidates free and equal air time.
Without these changes, the 2007 electoral exercises will just be a repeat of previous elections and will lead to further deterioration of our political life, with even more cheating and stealing, and the further entrenchment of idiot candidates and idiot voters in our political culture.
HOWARD MACEDA CALLEJA, legal counsel, PPCRV: My advice to the candidates for the forthcoming election is to respect one another and to ensure a high-minded campaign. Second is to follow and abide strictly to the election laws and guidelines.
As to the voters, five points for consideration are the following:
• Vote in accordance with your conscience.
• Respect the decision or opinion of others in their candidate.
• Don’t sell your votes.
• Don’t vote for candidates who operate with guns, goons and gold.
• Have God and country in mind when choosing your candidates.
JOHN MARCELO, businessman, sportsman: Rather than electing personalities, choose a candidate who is God-fearing, one who can keep his promises based on a previous track record, and someone who sticks to the issues.
BABY ANTONIO, entrepreneur: My advice to candidates: be honest, be sincere, and fulfill your promises. Serve, serve and serve the people. My advice to voters: know your candidates, select well, go out and vote, protect your vote!
AI AI DELAS ALAS, actress, comedienne, TV host: For the voters: vote for who they think could really, really, really serve the country. For the candidates: Really, really, really serve the country, not yourself!
ENCHONG DEE, champion swimmer: My advice is to ask the voters themselves. EDSA revolutions have passed… we saw the flaws of certain politicians, we saw their performances, are they still worth it? For candidates, the country needs help… serious help! Not an infrastructure with names below.
CONEY REYES, actress, TV producer, co-host, 700 Club Asia: I pray that every voter and candidate will have the fear of the Lord upon them because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). God is looking for people whose hearts are loyal to Him through whom He could display His power. May we seek God, honor Him in all our ways that He may restore our people and our nation! Nothing is too difficult for Him! But first our hearts have to be devoted to Him in spirit and in truth.
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