Sincerity and madness

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has a new record in receiving certificates of candidacy (COCs), which in the presidency alone, reached to a total of 19 hopefuls for vice president, 172 for senators, 213 partylist groups, and the most coveted post – the president – which had a total of 130 COCs filed.

But many of these candidate aspirants come from the unknown void of public consciousness and so many were quite surprised because they dared to be the next president regardless of apparent fund sources for future campaigns.

The public, and partly the media, already tagged these “fresh” faces as “nuisance” candidates and the Comelec said it will eliminate out the nuisance candidates from the list before December 10.

But wait, do all these people deserve to be called as such?

There can be no sadder reality that we have in the name of politics than some people who had the sincerity to

Thanks to the mobile phone technology the act was reported in seconds to the governor who was shocked as if he was hit by a thunderbolt. Because there was no more time and because he will be running without a vice mayoral bet he directed Amit to quickly file a COC for vice mayor. Amit I understand is actually no pushover because I heard he is a technocrat. Only his unshaven beard betrays that credentials.

The two incidences make up for what is described as “lobotomy.” These political acts of betrayal are as foul as the jargon (‘lobot’ is anus) but many politicians resort to this because when, in desperation, none else work.

A line in Dean Martin’s song aptly describes this political development in Davao del Norte: “How could a love that seemed so right goes wrong.” serve the people and introduce plausible changes, but because of the lack of political backing through established parties and the campaign machinery that goes along with it, they might end up labeled as “nuisance.”

While those rich and privileged enough to have political parties and funding, they can whimsically proclaim that they are the messiahs of this illdriven nation and that is why it is by destiny to be there in the public office. They may be sincere, but they have bigger agenda and priorities beyond public service – their own selves?

Whoever candidates who are not popular in the public, should they pass from Comelec’ screening, we should have find time to get to know these people, and since this is also part of a citizen’s responsibility to carefully look at their backgrounds.

The media can also play a crucial role in disseminating information that was not there before. ***** Typhoon Lando may hit directly in Mindanao but it sure left devastations in the North of Luzon, not to mention a sudden 5.4 magnitude earthquake felt even before the storm could finally leave the country.

But here we are finally being visited by the haze from our neighboring country in Indonesia. Some people might mistake it as a mere fog, but it can be harmful if exposed too much to it.

Indeed, such series of events before the year ends, and we can only hope that whatever actions the government will take, it will not be used as an opportunity to fuel early campaigning for their political ends (but because it’s the Philippines, it’s a 95 percent inevitable).

We can only wish for a better future, for the safety of our children. We can only wish not that much. If only.