2010 Philippine elections

I was wondering how to contain myself after I read a phrase from a local news article, wherein a junior senator commented “It’s too far away to talk about 2010.” That was his answer after being asked if he had any plans to run for presidency in the country’s next presidential election. WTF! It’s already 2008! And still a senator has no plans for the next two years? Even me and my husband – earning a combined annual income of barely $26,000 and paying tax at that - has plans for the next five years! How could a supposedly responsible senator, whom we voted to supposedly think about the nation’s future, be saying it’s too freaking early to talk about something happening in the next two years??

Okay, so I’m just overacting. We know for sure he already had his plans set but he’s not divulging it to anybody, especially to potential opponents. But, really, until when do we Filipinos just accept what we are being served with? I mean, until when do get to know the people who are eyeing on “serving the country” before they start to “serve the country”? A month before the election, or I guess we don’t care at all…

Back in 2004, I have received through email a list of biographies of electoral candidates. That was very lucky of me because I had Internet access and an email account to further get to know the candidates. But what about the remaining 94 percent of Filipinos who do not have Internet access and/or email accounts? How else would they be informed enough to be able to decide on whom among these men and women is fit to serve the former?

Information today is gathered through TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, Internet, and word by mouth. I was glad about what the people from the TV industry, a medium which two-thirds of the Philippine population get their information from, did on last year’s senatorial elections. They were able to invite senatoriables to more or less prove themselves on national television. The problem with that program though, is that it is shown during the very late waking hours of the night, when most of the working population – paying religiously their tax dues – are already trying to get some sleep to prepare for the next day.

The radio is also a great tool to distribute information to the mass. Radio is heard by people at home and even at work. I like it when I get to ride on a bus or a jeep, which tunes in to this morning program with two radical DJs who talk about daily life. They’re very refreshing, makes me want to listen to their talk, which is a cross between matter-of-fact and silly, throughout the ride. They don’t usually talk about politics, but they drive people to reality. That’s one step!

People in our country are mostly inclined to the twilight zone, where they dream of winning the lotto, reside for free in streets and railways, avoid tax, sell and profit from untaxed goods, receive allotments from our relatives slaving themselves abroad without doing anything, listen to or watch teleseryes that remind them of how miserable life is. Shows like this make us wake up into reality where we have to pay bills and tax dues, and get to know our leaders.

The newspaper, which according to the same report, is read by about 47 percent of the Philippine population, is on the third spot. Very useful this tool, however not everyone has the luxury (of time and paying the subscription fees) to read it.

The Internet and magazines are also gaining followers, when it comes to choice of information medium. People aged between 20 and 40 comprise mostly its readership. Word of mouth, the oldest among all medium, is still strong, especially in the very, very remote areas. But we can still take advantage of this old system, if we had very reliable TV, radio, and newspaper sources.

Okay, so I’m just another brat who keeps ranting about things I don’t like. But I’m also just one of the very few citizens who care, I guess. And if I deserved a wish, it would be that TV stations come up with a program that details the capabilities and exposes the intentions of the presidentiables. I wish that should be done starting early 2008 and be aired when most (tax-paying, and thus, conscientious) people will be able to watch it. It should also be aired on huge billboards during rush hour to further inform commuters, public utility vehicle drivers, sidewalk vendors, people in the petty crime business – who may add up to the 40 percent (comprising small-scale companies and individual taxpayers) of the entire tax-paying community. Come on, let’s face it. We really don’t know much. Here’s a nice link, if you fancy stats.

There will probably be more of those wishes as we approach the elections. But for now, that’s all I would want. Whew, at least I was able to contain myself.