Candidates to vote for

I had the privilege of being asked by some local broadcasters to appear in their radio programs in the past few weeks. Aram Gines of dyRF, Wen Celen of dyFX, Dr. Emy Bustillo and Cesar Albor of dyKC, and Boie Cagalitan and Dr. Ondo Mantilla of dyLA wanted to discuss an aspect of voter education. I could not refuse their invitation. During the introductory part of their programs I surprised them with the information that, in the distant past, I was partly employed by their radio stations doing beat patrol and hosting music programs.

After setting forth the humble credentials that probably merited my guesting in their shows, we plunged to somehow serious work. It was purely academic as we explored social-political formulations without ever mentioning any known political personalities or political parties. To prevent airtime monopoly, we resorted to the ways of Socrates where loaded questions were calmly raised and I had to provide plausible answers as best as I could.

Our discussion centered on some parameters in choosing the men and women who will run for senators and congressmen in the 2022 elections, opting as we did, not to talk about the executive department of our government. We started our discourse by quoting a part of Article VI, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Legislative power, according to the fundamental law, is, as we all know it, vested in the Congress of the Philippines. Senators and congressmen have, in their hands, the power to make, alter or repeal laws.

In choosing a senator or congressman from among the many candidates, we need to adopt the aspirants’ demonstrable capacity to understand the law as the first criteria. While being a lawyer makes the candidate stay at the front, other professionals cannot be discriminated against. Understanding concepts, even in law, is not the sole domain of lawyers.

Whether a lawyer or any other professional, it is ideal that his intelligence quotient must be considered. We need to put in the Senate and the House of Representatives brilliant men. In times past, we had Arturo Tolentino, Lorenzo Tanada, Jovita Salonga, and Jose Diokno. Their brilliance, demonstrated by their topping the Bar examinations, was obvious in their dramatic crafting of substantive bills. The points they raised during legislative debates showed the depth of their minds. Were they not granted Latin honors upon graduation? For the 2022 elections, let us scan the list of candidates and find out who finished at the top of their class. Who among the candidates graduated Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude?

The next criteria we took up with the profound broadcasters was “heart”! It is the most difficult test to find. A candidate’s way of handling his domestic helper is a good litmus paper for his heart. Does he change helpers as often as changing his shirt? It is a test. It is his heart in looking at public issues. What is his stand on the problems affecting informal settlers? Of course, we hear, every now and then, sweeping generalizations. Voters must be able to discern from a candidates’ body language the truth behind his verbiage.

Morality was the third criteria that the host radio personality and I dwelt on. This is important because a person who leads an immoral life is not deserving of our trust.

Like the time I spent with radiomen sharing their broadcast hour with me, this space is limited. I will take up this matter next time.