The curious case of the SK elections

IAM perplexed at the low turnout of candidates for the coming Sangguniang Kabataan elections that the deadline for filing of candidacies had to be extended. As of April 17, only 386,206 have reportedly filed candidacies for the 335,584 positions at stake – clearly, an almost one-to-one ratio. Either not all positions have been aspired for, or a great majority of them are uncontested.

Really, now? After the repeated shelving of the elections, I imagined droves of aspirants and their supporters trooping to the filing centers with great fanfare, much like in elections past. I am disappointed.

What gives? Tired of elections? Or have our Kabataan simply lost steam? Where are they, the supposed hope of the country? Why are they shying away from their one great opportunity to start a political career and public service?

I venture two impacting factors: political immaturity and the ban on political dynasties. The first reflects the sad state of our political literacy; the second, our deeply rooted culture of patronage and personality-based politics.

Consider: a would-be candidate was disqualified because he was not a registered voter. Another couldn’t make heads or tails of why he wanted to run for office, nor the responsibilities of the position. Their ignorance of the delicate and burdensome requirements of governance exposed early on — good for us — but alarmingly pathetic. How many of them stand on the same boat? Is it due to a simple dearth of literacy, or because elections have been regarded this way for the longest time – foist yourself on the electorate; sing, dance, and entertain to win; and thereafter simply enjoy the perks and spoils?

Sure, winners are mandated to attend, as a precondition to assumption of office, a training on their duties and responsibilities. As the examples above show, this is not enough; it should be made pre-election, not post, or better yet, included in the K-12 curriculum. This way, our Kabataan may be sufficiently prepared to make an informed decision on whether or not to take the plunge, if at all. Serving the barangay is as accountable as any other elective office, and youth and inexperience are no excuses for ignorance of its demands for competence and integrity.

Money, particularly the lack of it, is aggravating. Elections, even for the SK, cannot do without tarpaulins, posters, “collaterals,” and other logistics. With funding from entrenched political families, it did not quite matter to candidates from their own stables. The ban on political dynasties, however, has either narrowed the field of nominees, or made proxy candidacy a notso-profitable proposition anymore.

Raising the minimum age for candidature from 15 to 18 has likewise limited the kingpin’s ability to cajole and entice proxy candidates from the most vulnerable and pliant Kabataan age group. Less puppets on a string that can be manipulated by the mighty, but nonetheless a disqualifying factor for those willing and able to serve even at a tender age.

In any case, it would be well to remind the candidates that public office is a public trust; and the electorate, that suffrage is a solemn privilege to be exercised responsibly. May the SK elections rejuvenate us anyway.