Be a wise voter

THE election period is on its homestretch. Alalaon baga, last two minutes of the last quarter if it’s a basketball game. Your choice of the country’s next leaders matters. The power of one vote! It is indeed dangerous if we elect leaders who cannot make our country move forward. Against a backdrop of neighbors in Asia accelerating, the wrong leaders whose agenda is self-aggrandizement will make development goals remain static.

In my years of watching from the sidelines of presidential elections, first time I witness how people polarized. Red vs Pink. BBM vs Leni. Marcos vs Robredo.

Payabangan kung sinong maraming dumalo sa kanilang rallies. Even in malls, supporters chant the name of their bets. Parang Crispa vs Toyota noong araw. Parang Ate Vi vs Ate Guy. Vilmanian vs Noranian. Vilma Santos vs Nora Aunor. Is it good for our country when people response is too passionate for a candidate without really checking background, capability, and platform? This is the environment, the climate, and the atmosphere since the hustings began in February.

You will be picking a maximum of 12 senatorial bets. The list of senatoriables is long. Bring your codigo before going to your precinct. Be informed. Be discerning. Be selective. Be a wise voter. I hope you’re not among the voters who keep sending square pegs in the hallowed halls of an institution reserved for the intellectuals, statesmen, and patriots. Earlier, during the commonwealth period, there were names like Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmena Sr. whose voice reverberated in the four corners of the session hall. OMG. please no more film stars. Robin Padilla showed so much action in his movies like Lapid. No action in the senate. Lugi ang taumbayan kanila.

Don’t our people miss senators likes Miriam Defensor Santiago, Nene Pimentel, Blas F. Ople, Joker Arroyo, and Juan Flavier? And earlier, there were members of the upper house like Arturo Tolentino, Ambrosio Padilla, Lorenzo Tanada, Lorenzo Sumulong, Gil J. Puyat, Raul Manglapus, Roseller Lim, Alejandro Almendras, Benigno Aquino, Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Helena Benitez, Eva Estrada Kalaw and more. You should hear how they debated on issues that concerned all of us. They were not there for the pork barrel and insertions which some present senators I know became billionaires even though they have only wax between their ears.

Hopefully, on May 9, voters will be more discerning and elect those most qualified. Repeat. Candidates who are intellectually prepared, statesmen, and patriots. They really love our country. Not those perks and privileges of a senator. /