COUNTER POINT

Bucket List For 2013 Elections

by RECTO I. VIDAL

Two Saturdays ago, Sept. 8, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño announced his senatorial bid through the Kapihan Sa Aklan, a weekly media forum of the Aklan Press Club, Inc. Thereafter, he launched his candidacy at the Acevedo Farms, Buswang New, Kalibo, Aklan in the afternoon where he was endorsed by Aklan’s political leaders.

I would like to share with you my wish list for the May 2013 as follows:

1. For political aspirants not to view elective offices in the poverty-prone provinces as opportunities for the elite to shore up and consolidate their economic fortunes.

In many parts of the Philippines that are removed from metropolitan centers of power elective and political offices are sure tickets to economic and self-aggrandizement.

2. For Imperial Manila to stop perpetuating such an arrangement so as to make the provinces dependent on the center, on its budget releases and on its whims and caprices.

No wonder, there are hardly big industries in the provinces and if there are, like minerals, energy and agriculture, its fruits are first channeled to Manila that distributes them to the rest of the country, with the provinces in the end paying twice for the resources that in fact came from them. 

3. For law enforcers to maintain public safety and order before, during and after elections. Loose firearms increase potential for political violence and crimes of passion. We don’t want to watch a situation go from bad to worse, a scenario that could blow up on everybody’s faces.

4. For candidates to stop putting down their rivals to build up oneself. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth more so if the problems also afflict the aggressor. Truth be told, the voter is not stupid not to know the difference. Question is: Are they trying to cover up for their own inadequacies?

5. Although their right are recognize to make fools of themselves, candidates must stop acting like clowns by the way of their lousy songs and dances dished out during the campaign sorties. Their performances are plain torture to watch and are far from entertaining. This is somehow akin to prostitution, with their slips showing and with their fly’s unzipped. It is best to have decency and sense of propriety while wooing the “masa” votes.

6. For the inept and ineffective candidates to stop nursing their delusions of grandeur. Some aspirants like to play it dumb. Others are confused while some candidates choose to pretend that they are qualified to seek an elective post. Because of arrogance and ego tripping, they seek and accept various elective posts far beyond their competence. I still go by the philosophy that you can still better serve the public even without entering the rough and tumble world of politics. 

7. I fervently pray and wish that more progressive candidates like Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, who will run for the Senate, will usher the best and the brightest of servant leaders who can inspire, influence and move us forward.

8. For the poor-spirited voters to banish the impression that they are blissfully wallowing in shallowness and glorifying traditional politicians by having the willpower to rise above the bowels of poverty. When will they ever learn and come to their senses?

9. To the re-electionist legislators who have nothing to claim, “I wrote and sponsored this Republic Acts or conceptualize and implement projects to completion” better step down.

10. To those elective officials whose family members are all in elective public offices, please limit yourselves to only ONE member of the family. Help distribute to as many citizens public offices to allow as many people participate in public governance to give true meaning to democracy. Avoid being greedy. 

In the end, my point is, we should all be the best we can be. We owe it to ourselves and to everyone around us.

It’s time for us to start acting at our best. Let’s rise to meet that challenge and heed the call of the times. Let’s make change of our lives. To say that courage is empowering and liberating is an understatement.

Only we can make things possible. Not the government. Certainly, not the politicians. /MP