Gimme five, high five

On May 9, we are going to vote to fill up more than 18,000 positions from the president down to municipal councilor. Out of 18,000 posts and tens of thousands of candidates vying for these posts, I’m asking that you “gimme five” and let’s do a “high five” for:

Leni Robredo (#10) for president Kiko Pangilinan (#7) for vice president

Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog (#37) for senator

Neri Colmenares (#16) for senator Anakpawis (#154) for partylist representative

They are all impressive, honorable and incorruptible. They want to serve us, and to do what’s best for the country: build a trustworthy government (Leni and Kiko), pursue patriotic change (Labog and Colmenares), and give voice to the poor (Anakpawis).

If you’re still looking for a president, a vice president, two senators, and a partylist to vote for, this could be the sign you’re waiting for.

The most consequential choices are those for president and for vice president. We’ve seen how important and powerful the country’s top two posts are in the past six years. Why vote for someone who’s lazy and who does not have his own set of achievements? Why vote for someone into either thievery or thuggery?

Are you going to ride a plane commanded by an untrained pilot, even though his dad was great?

Leni and Kiko would be inspirational and sensational. They seem to compete with our people on being hardworking and committed. They have a plan of action worthy of our trust.

Labog and Colmenares are presenting themselves to us as viable alternatives to the cast of clowns infesting the senatorial race. They have two disadvantages that we could identify with: They’re outsiders to a corrupt political system, and they are gung-ho in pursuing pro-people reforms through lawmaking. They also give hope to the workers, farmers, the marginalized and the professionals from whose ranks they come from and have sworn their entire lives to serve. Their candidacies signify these sectors' readiness to be part of our national political leadership.

Progressives are asking for two seats out of a total of 24. That’s not a lot, right? We’ve elected mutineers and coup plotters, then why not veteran activists and street parliamentarians as senators?

Maybe after we elect Labog and Colmenares to the Senate and they turn out to be truly superior to traditional politicians, we could ask more progressives to run for senator and elect more of them.

Then, there’s Anakpawis, the partylist of farmers, workers and the poor. The House of Representatives would be a better place if Anakpawis is re-elected, because the sectors they come from should really have a voice in Congress. Those of us concerned about vegetable and rice farmers, the perpetually contractual workers, the jeepney drivers and the homeless, should turn this concern into votes for Anakpawis.

There are many other posts to fill up in our ballots, and I understand the difficulty in filling them all up. There are few or no choices in many posts. We see the same names.

Perhaps a good POV would be to reject and get rid of the worst and vilest ones. Let’s punish the most corrupt, the most incompetent, the most brutal and the most deceitful. Then, let’s reward those who do good, who provide us viable alternatives, and dare to run in races that feel and look rigged in favor of traditional politicians and dynasties.

But nationally, by voting for and electing Leni, Kiko, Labog, Colmenares, and Anakpawis, we would be sending them a message that we support their causes and their platforms. We would be sending a message to the nation that “gobyernong tapat,” “makabayang pagbabago” and “inclusive politics” are important. They’re collectively a most courageous choice.

Some of you may ask: Do I know these candidates in the first place?

Although I don’t personally know Leni and Kiko, some of my friends have vouched for them. I’ve known Ka Bong and Neri for many years now. I also personally know the top nominees of Anakpawis: peasant leader and former DAR secretary Ka Paeng Mariano and feminist firebrand and labor leader Lana Linaban. They are good, funny, principled, committed and ready to serve and fight for us in government. Walang tapon.

Leni, Kiko, Labog, Colmenares and Anakpawis are worthy of our votes. Let's elect them.

Out of 18,000 posts and tens of thousands of candidates vying for these posts, I’m asking that you ‘gimme five.’