Even if no one has been officially proclaimed, the majority has spoken: The administration bets dominated the Top 12 senatorial list. Since last night’s televised partial and unofficial results, netizens are already taking their disappointment to social media, that #RIPPhilippines even became trending on Twitter.
I won’t lie. Seeing Alyas Pogi in the Top 12 is giving me a mild coronary. Among all the candidates, it is with him I am most frustrated for obvious reasons.
But it is one thing to be disappointed with the results and another when you resort to name-calling other people just because you didn’t share the same views or voted for the same people. I see so many posts on my timeline from friends calling those who voted for the likes of Revilla, Marcos, Lapid, Bato and Estrada “bobo” or “tanga”. I know most of us are triggered, I simply don’t see such remarks are necessary and how it would make the situation any better.
I think these people are more uninformed than “bobo”. Besides, who gives one the right to think that he’s smarter and better than everyone else? That their choice is the choice? That their pick would change the state of the country with utmost certainty? Don’t you think that—in itself, is just as arrogant? It’s easy to hurl insults at people who we differ in opinions, but we refuse to look hard on ourselves that perhaps we have our shortcomings too.
Like how I only realized last night over dinner that a family member voted for Revilla. Of course, this came as an utter shock to me because here I was being very vocal to anyone who cared to listen on how I wouldn’t like pogi back in the Senate, not knowing that someone close to me actually voted for him.
I asked her, in between facepalm and self hair-pulling, why she did it—when Revilla was already detained for four years for plunder (for the embezzlement of P224 million in discretionary funds). She simply answered: “Hindi napatunayan!” (It wasn’t proven!).
That’s when it hit me: I have my fault too. I mean, if I had enlightened her on why Revilla shouldn’t be given a seat in the Senate again instead of cursing in front of the TV whenever I see his “Budots” campaign ad, then maybe she was able to weigh it more. If I had reminded her that this is the same person who was in cahoots with Janet Lim Napoles, who she hates, then maybe she will not vote for him anymore.
I have participated in a number of elections since I hit the voting age more than two decades ago. I started like everyone else: hopeful and patriotic. For all the years of my early adulthood, I was very much involved in every election. I was a PPCRV volunteer more than once and was present in meetings, youth assemblies and live political debates (this was long before the age of social media).
Like everyone else now who’re frustrated that the likes of Chel Diokno didn’t make it, I believed that my candidate then was the “savior”. I was idealistic more than realistic; I thought my “intelligent vote” could turn things around and steer my country to prosperity. Eventually, some won, some didn’t. But those who won disappointed me in the long run, as they didn’t turn out what I hoped to be. Most of them started as the “young bloods” the youth look up to, and ended up a TRAPO over the years after being eaten by the system.
Then came the next election, and I was as fervent as the last, I continued choosing for the candidates who I think will make this country great—only to be let down again. It became a never-ending cycle of big expectations vs. disappointing reality, but here I am, still believing in the power of the vote.
I guess what I am saying is that our “intelligent vote” is not a guarantee that our country will be better if they get elected. If the people we voted for didn't make it, then let's keep on trying until things change. We can only hope, and that’s the best we can do.
I have seen people posting online on how, after the initial results, that there is absolutely no hope for the Philippines anymore. Some even expressed how they want to leave the country as they do not want to be a part of a “sinking ship”. Someone even said, “Maybe the Big One is already coming and the Philippines will be no more.” — which is just a terrible thing to say. I have friends who wouldn't stop expressing their disgust online over the results, only to find out that they didn't even vote. When asked why they'll say they no longer believe in the system and they knew something like this is going to happen. It got me scratching my head that they profess their so-called love for their country, and yet they didn't even try to do something and got contented just watching in the sidelines.
Why can't they see the little victories in the city-level positions? Years of political dynasties in Manila, Pasig, San Juan and Makati finally ended. Isko Moreno beats former president Joseph Estrada for the mayoralty of Manila. Vico Sotto wins over Bobby Eusebio ending the 27-year hold of the Eusebios in Pasig. After 50 years, another Estrada lost to Francis Zamora for mayor in San Juan. Jejomar Binay lost to Kid Peña for the Congressional seat for District 1 in Makati. How can some say this election is hopeless when some, albeit not all, are gradually taking a stand against political dynasties?
When the dust settles and all this is over, let’s just continue praying for our country. That is far better than wishing for the country’s fall just to prove to people you once disagreed with that you were right all along.
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| Screengrab from GMA News |
I won’t lie. Seeing Alyas Pogi in the Top 12 is giving me a mild coronary. Among all the candidates, it is with him I am most frustrated for obvious reasons.
But it is one thing to be disappointed with the results and another when you resort to name-calling other people just because you didn’t share the same views or voted for the same people. I see so many posts on my timeline from friends calling those who voted for the likes of Revilla, Marcos, Lapid, Bato and Estrada “bobo” or “tanga”. I know most of us are triggered, I simply don’t see such remarks are necessary and how it would make the situation any better.
I think these people are more uninformed than “bobo”. Besides, who gives one the right to think that he’s smarter and better than everyone else? That their choice is the choice? That their pick would change the state of the country with utmost certainty? Don’t you think that—in itself, is just as arrogant? It’s easy to hurl insults at people who we differ in opinions, but we refuse to look hard on ourselves that perhaps we have our shortcomings too.
Like how I only realized last night over dinner that a family member voted for Revilla. Of course, this came as an utter shock to me because here I was being very vocal to anyone who cared to listen on how I wouldn’t like pogi back in the Senate, not knowing that someone close to me actually voted for him.
I asked her, in between facepalm and self hair-pulling, why she did it—when Revilla was already detained for four years for plunder (for the embezzlement of P224 million in discretionary funds). She simply answered: “Hindi napatunayan!” (It wasn’t proven!).
That’s when it hit me: I have my fault too. I mean, if I had enlightened her on why Revilla shouldn’t be given a seat in the Senate again instead of cursing in front of the TV whenever I see his “Budots” campaign ad, then maybe she was able to weigh it more. If I had reminded her that this is the same person who was in cahoots with Janet Lim Napoles, who she hates, then maybe she will not vote for him anymore.
I have participated in a number of elections since I hit the voting age more than two decades ago. I started like everyone else: hopeful and patriotic. For all the years of my early adulthood, I was very much involved in every election. I was a PPCRV volunteer more than once and was present in meetings, youth assemblies and live political debates (this was long before the age of social media).
Like everyone else now who’re frustrated that the likes of Chel Diokno didn’t make it, I believed that my candidate then was the “savior”. I was idealistic more than realistic; I thought my “intelligent vote” could turn things around and steer my country to prosperity. Eventually, some won, some didn’t. But those who won disappointed me in the long run, as they didn’t turn out what I hoped to be. Most of them started as the “young bloods” the youth look up to, and ended up a TRAPO over the years after being eaten by the system.
Then came the next election, and I was as fervent as the last, I continued choosing for the candidates who I think will make this country great—only to be let down again. It became a never-ending cycle of big expectations vs. disappointing reality, but here I am, still believing in the power of the vote.
I guess what I am saying is that our “intelligent vote” is not a guarantee that our country will be better if they get elected. If the people we voted for didn't make it, then let's keep on trying until things change. We can only hope, and that’s the best we can do.
I have seen people posting online on how, after the initial results, that there is absolutely no hope for the Philippines anymore. Some even expressed how they want to leave the country as they do not want to be a part of a “sinking ship”. Someone even said, “Maybe the Big One is already coming and the Philippines will be no more.” — which is just a terrible thing to say. I have friends who wouldn't stop expressing their disgust online over the results, only to find out that they didn't even vote. When asked why they'll say they no longer believe in the system and they knew something like this is going to happen. It got me scratching my head that they profess their so-called love for their country, and yet they didn't even try to do something and got contented just watching in the sidelines.
Why can't they see the little victories in the city-level positions? Years of political dynasties in Manila, Pasig, San Juan and Makati finally ended. Isko Moreno beats former president Joseph Estrada for the mayoralty of Manila. Vico Sotto wins over Bobby Eusebio ending the 27-year hold of the Eusebios in Pasig. After 50 years, another Estrada lost to Francis Zamora for mayor in San Juan. Jejomar Binay lost to Kid Peña for the Congressional seat for District 1 in Makati. How can some say this election is hopeless when some, albeit not all, are gradually taking a stand against political dynasties?
When the dust settles and all this is over, let’s just continue praying for our country. That is far better than wishing for the country’s fall just to prove to people you once disagreed with that you were right all along.
Nakakalungkot talaga ang Pilipinas sa lahat ng aspect. Economy, weather, politics. Hay san ka pa.
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