Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Lessons From US Election For Filipinos

by JOHNNY C. NUÑEZ
Guest writer

Despite our supposed homogenous political culture with the United States where Filipinos learned their art of politics and politicking and we have virtually copied their government structural framework and institutions, there seems to be a world of difference in how we practice politics from the Americans.

Compared to how we practice our politics, the American version is decidedly more mature and cultured. The just concluded presidential elections in the US paints a striking contrast to our own elections and should be instructive to Filipinos.

As was shown by television and wire reports, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain never engaged in ugly name calling and distasteful character assassination. Their supporters never engage in overt partisan violence, common sideshows in Philippine elections.

Obama and McCain traded sharp tirades and passionately defended their respective positions on various domestic and global issues but they never got any calling one another stupid and other derogatory names in a condescending and patronizing manner. As is well known to all of us Filipinos, long before the 2010 national elections, our presidential pretenders are already deeply engaged in vicious innuendos and insidious character assassination exercises to destroy one another.

The US voting system and mechanics were enviably systematic and efficient so that after a few hours following the close of voting, and despite the huge territory the US covers and the number of votes to be tallied, the results of the elections are already known. Our own Comelec (Commission on Elections) must learn how the Americans do it. Congress must craft the necessary laws and provide the needed support to upgrade our electoral system.

As has been demonstrated time and again, candidates in the US are true statesmanship and are candid to accept defeat. McCain said enough when he called Obama his "former opponent who is now my President." Here at home, no candidates, even the most nincompoop among them, never believe, let alone admit, they lost an election. Always, they declare, they have only been cheated of victory.

Like what McCain said on television, he as the losing candidate told his supporters, his loss in the presidential contest "is not yours but mine alone." Losing Filipino candidates, from the presidential down to the barangay council levels, always blame everybody except themselves for their defeats.

Filipinos have cogent reasons to welcome the incoming Obama presidency.
Records show that Democrats have traditionally been biased in favor of Filipino interests. The Philippines got its best deals with the US under a Democrat President than a Republican. No historian or political analysts has attempted to explain why such has been so. Hopefully, Barack Obama, a Democrat, should be similar unless of course the Dmocrats’ bias for the Philippines is one of the changes, he pledged to carry out.

One concrete case Filipinos can perhaps expect sympathy from Obama is the Philippine veterans equity bill long pending in the US Congress. The measure seeks to provide equitable pension benefits to Filipino veterans who fought under the US flag in World War II. Obama supported the bill in the previous sessions of the US Congress. There is no compelling reason why he should change his view on the matter now that he is President-elect.

I convey my heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Connie N. Helgens, the owner of Red Coconut Resort Hotel where I was billeted during the Boracay Media Summit. Connie, a Bicolana married to a French national, was most solicitous of my needs and comfort throughout my stay in her establishment.

For the successful holding of the Boracay Media Summit, I congratulate PAPI president Johnny Dayang, Presidential Assistant on Culture and NCCA Executive Director Cecil Guidote-Alvarez and Aklan Press Club president, Dr. Ambrosio Villorente. /MP