Insanity

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” – Albert Einstein

Perhaps the same thing can be said about Philippine elections where we do the same thing over and over again and still hope to get better leaders, a better government and a corruption-free Congress. Clearly, we have all lost our minds, falsely expecting a different result!

Even worse, Filipinos know a hundred things that need to be changed, beginning with the basic qualifications of candidates, issues on actual residency of candidates, misrepresentations in the party-list system where many are nothing but force expanders and extension offices of politicians and political dynasties, defects of the campaign rules and period that are too short and therefore too expensive, and the need for age limits, psychological profiles and medical history and physical fitness to serve.

We all know what needs to be corrected and changed but year in-year out, no one does anything about it. No NGO, no civil society, no one pushes and pursues the matter with single minded focus. And like hamsters, we all jump into the wheel every election season.

Sadly, we are once again in that season of madness and so many well-meaning individuals are searching the land for “prophets” and wise men who could impart wisdom and lessons on how to choose a leader and who to vote for. I was recently asked to join an online YouTube program where the host had invited different personalities to give their inputs on the same topic and I had to scratch my head because not too long ago I was reading from the Book of Samuel, an Old Testament prophet who was on speaking terms with God, literally. That was in a time when God had his chosen people, walked and talked to them, fought and provided for them and protected them from their enemies.

It was so ironic because that particular chapter in biblical history narrates how the Israelites were afraid of communing with God or hearing his voice, much less experiencing his presence, and at the same time resented the God-appointed leadership role of corrupt priests or righteous prophets. Instead they wanted what their enemies had: they wanted a king of their own. How stupid is that?

There you are with God the Almighty but instead you want an inferior version of a leader. In fact, Samuel the prophet went out of his way to explain what kings do to their subjects and the cost that comes with being subjugated by fleshly royalty. But the Israelites insisted on having a king instead of God. I don’t think they even realized how offensive that choice was to God. And right now, that is what we are about to do as well. We turn to man instead of God.

As I considered the invitation and what I had just read from the Bible, it brought me back to a column I had written many elections back, where I suggested that people may elect candidates from the vice president down to barangay captain but when it comes to the president of the Philippines, I believe that it is singularly the decision of God on who is elected.

In that column, I pointed out that every president beginning with Ferdinand E. Marcos, Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Erap Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Noynoy Aquino and Rodrigo Duterte individually had a God-given role to play and a social issue to address.

FM stopped the communists from taking over the Philippines during a time that communists took over Southeast Asia. Cory Aquino provided the moral ascendancy and faith-based leadership that resulted in a bloodless People’s Revolution. Fidel Ramos brought a work ethic and inspiration to get the economy back on its feet. Erap served as the reminder and hope for the poor who had been forgotten by politicians and economists. Gloria was in one part good for the economy but also a punishment for those who manipulated and orchestrated the regime change against Erap. Noynoy Aquino was placed to restore decency in government and economic improvement and Rodrigo Duterte, in spite of himself, has changed our drug-crazed landscape where women no longer felt safe to take taxis or go out at night and is the President we needed to impose all of the COVID-19 policies and protocols.

In short, God continues to pick and choose who sits in Malacañang because whether or not we deserve it, God clearly cares and loves this country and our people.

Having said all that, I now find myself uninterested in being a prophet or a guide on who or how to choose a candidate or national leader. The selection process is almost always dependent on or subject to our individual expectations and moral compass or the lack of it. Instead, I would tell people not to rely on others for tips or suggestions on who to vote for. Let’s do things differently if we want a different outcome.

Don’t go to man – go to God! I am not being hyper-spiritual or overly religious. We all go to God to pray for help, favors, provision of healing, etc. Why can’t we go to God to ask for his guidance on the matter? While you are at it, go and pray for God to give us the right president as well as all the other public officials that are needed to bring true and lasting reforms for the country.

A number of churches of different denominations have started including the elections in their weekly masses or services and prayer schedules. But not many of us are openly out there among family, friends and even on social media advocating and asking everyone to go to God in prayer and inviting him daily to be our King and not just the Kingmaker.

Crazy? No, we were already insane before I wrote this, remember? To quote Jesus Christ: “Let your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

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