EDITORIAL - April 8 - 14

Fellow Ilonggo

Congressman Juan Miguel "migz" F. ZUBIRI, while in Kalibo, Aklan stressed his being an Ilonggo. "My parents are form Negros Occidental and I have so many relatives in Panay," Zubiri said.

Zubiri was in Kalibo on April 9 to campaign among the Aklanons to vote for him in the senatorial election on May 14. He spoke Ilonggo while in Kalibo to prove his being an Ilonggo. Zubiri is an incumbent congressman of Bukidnon, a province where Ilonggo language is spoken widely.

Zubiri campaigned on the basis of his accomplishment as congressman for nine (9) years. He also campaigned on the basis of his being an Ilonggo. He emphasized his sense of belongingness and stressed the point of giving priority projects to Aklan and Western Visayas if elected senator.

HOW TO VOTE RIGHT

"How to vote right" is being taught in the grade school. It teaches the pupils how to choose the most qualified and fitted candidates for the specific position. It teaches that a person to vote is not enough that he/she is a relative, member of the clan or a close friend. How to vote right teaches the students to vote candidates who are the best and the brightest, the candidates most qualified, capable and with proven integrity and morality.

Shall we choose a man/woman who left his/her spouse and live with another man/woman? This is dishonestly to another person. If he/she coveted another person’s wife/husband, will he/she also covet public resources such as public funds, misuse government facilities like vehicles and others? It is difficult to gamble or vote for those candidates whom the public knows are dishonest to their spouses, children and other members of the family.

EL SHADDAI

Mr. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai announced his congregation will come out with a long list of 18 senatorial candidates from where his group will select 12 to vote on May 14 election. Mr. Velarde did not tell what are the factors he will use in the selection of the 18 senatorial candidates.

THREE (3) C’s

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines suggested to consider the three (3) C’s of the candidates to be voted. The three C’s are: 1. Conscience, 2. Competence, and 3. Commitment. These three C’s are very common and simple words readily understandable to everybody, and among Filipino voters.

Conscience refers to one person’s knowledge or sense of right and wrong. It is one’s moral judgment that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt if one violates such principles.

Voters have the duty to God, country and people to elect officials who can distinguish the "right" from "wrong" and choose the "right" action to take on matters demanding action . Voters must consider that "public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiently, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives." Voters must vote persons who can obey this provision in the Philippines Constitution.

Competence – this is the ability of a person or officer to fulfill commitments. This is the ability of a leader to find and solve problems of the community, the nation or his constituents. In Kalibo, there is a candidate who propose scholarships for students. There are candidates who promise jobs, to stop graft and corruption. Since the 1950’s, promises to stop graft and corruption are repeated during elections, yet until today graft and corruption are here and it had gone to worst. Vote for competent persons to lead solve our problems and realize people’s aspirations.

Commitment is a pledge or promise to do something. Is that candidate for an office committed to improve the welfare of the people and the place? Many candidates will commit several things, even the moon and the stars, matters so unrealistic. He will commit and forget.

So that for a voter to "vote right" he may consider to vote candidates to the respective office who have conscience, committed and competent to fulfill proposals, responsive to the needs, problems and aspirations of the people. /MP