Vote Wisely, Philippines.

Today is the PH Midterm Election and as always, I am going to exercise my right to vote.

While I wasn't saying with absolute certainty that my choices are the right ones, at least I know I have put a lot of thought to it and I wasn’t influenced by anyone. I am going to vote for someone who I think would make a difference for my country. That is, even if their likelihood to win is very slim.

The result of the latest survey for the senatorial race frustrates me as I see the names of convicted plunderers and TRAPOs (traditional politicians) on the Top 12. A rush of hopelessness coursed through me, like we will never get out of the political situation we are in. For a while, it made me not want to vote anymore. But then I realized that if I don’t, I will have no right to complain if our country’s gone to the dogs because I didn't do my duty as a citizen.

I don’t know why Filipinos never learn, and why they still vote for a candidate with a questionable track record. Why would you elect someone who was charged over the misuse of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and was dancing like a loony in his TV campaign ad? Why would you elect someone who will be a centenarian in five years? (Will you hire a 95-year old for ANY job? Why should Philippine senate any different?) Why would you elect someone who's known to be either corrupt and unqualified?

Sad to say, Filipinos still vote whoever is popular. People still vote straight because of “bandwagon appeal” or affiliation—be it with “Otso Diretso” or “Hugpong ng Pagbabago”—without even thinking if everyone in that list is competent. People still vote for someone because a family member or a friend persuaded them. People still vote for a candidate because they were given 500 pesos. People still vote for a candidate that was endorsed by a popular celebrity.

I don’t see this going away anytime soon because Philippine politics has become a big circus over the years. Expect political families to win again. Expect the same faces, the same ol' crap. That is because the majority of voters don’t care about platforms anymore. Why would they? Most politicians don’t even bother about it. What’s important to them is a good endorsement, and they’d think that will be enough to assure a win. Victory by association, in other words.

But then maybe, just maybe, it will be different this time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Now more than ever, voters should demand integrity from their candidates. Let us not make the same mistakes we made before. There were candidates that I truly regret ever voting in the previous elections, but that’s it — I learned from my mistakes. Shouldn’t all of us do?

To vote is your absolute right but to vote wisely is a responsibility. I pray that we all take that to heart when we go and cast our votes today.