TEN THINGS THAT A FILIPINO POLITICIAN WILL NOT SAY (AND DO)
Tomorrow is Election Day (May 13, 2013), and I believe that most voters already have their lists of whom to vote. Because of this special occasion, I am inspired to write about TEN THINGS THAT A FILIPINO POLITICIAN WILL NOT SAY (AND DO). I only got until number 4 in my list; that's why I asked the help of a few friends and students to complete my list of 10. Here they are: (This is not in any particular order)
1. "For every poster I put up, I will plant a tree." As we already know, paper is from trees, and just looking at the gazillion paper posters being put up during the election period, you can just imagine the millions of trees being murdered. Thumbs up to the politician/candidate who used recycled paper.
2. "I will personally clean every street that my campaign vehicles pass through to ensure the cleanliness of our city." To make up for the noise pollution that campaign vehicles contribute to our already noisy city, it would be great if the candidates can bring along street sweepers that would roam around the city during the election period.
3. "I will not use money or material things to persuade people to vote for me." Vote buying is rampant in the Philippines. I watched an investigative show last week, and there, a person openly admitted that "team leaders" get P500 for every vote, and every voter gets P300. This is a great improvement to the P50 that is being distributed in my hometown.
4. "During my last term, I personally planted 1,000 trees, and I campaigned for the recycling of 50 tons of waste." Can you imagine a politician personally planting trees? Carrying a spade or a seedling for pictorial purposes is not included. Can you imagine a politician carrying a big sack filled with plastic bottles for recycling?
5. "Since my term is ending, I will contribute my pay this year to livelihood and housing projects; I will also include my full pork barrel." This is contributed by my student Christobell (https://www.facebook.com/onideemoon). The politician who will say and actually do this must be some sort of saint.
6. "I will pay the debt of our country." This is contributed by my student Jan Patrick (https://www.facebook.com/JonSnow12). Some might think that is too far-fetched, but I understand the wisdome of this statement. It is impossible for one person to pay the debt of our country, which I think, is already in trillions of pesos. The point of this statement is that this student might be looking for a politician who is actually selfless and contributes to the betterment of our country. This is a very idealistic viewpoint. In most cases, people want to join politics to take advantage of the "guns, goons, and gold" that is "inherent" in the position. Of course, most of them (in power) will vehemently deny this. Please do not exaggerate your denials because you might appear too defensive.
7. "During my term, I will minimize, if not totally eradicate, poverty and corruption in our society". This is contributed by my student Renell (https://www.facebook.com/renell.bruma). Most of us have already heard a politician or two said this. But the question is, have these been done? There are always the promises of stopping corruption, of solving poverty --- but nothing seems to be happening. Even some of the good candidates that we believed in, once they are in office, the rot sets in. As the saying goes, "One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel". What if the whole barrel is already rotten? What can one good apple do?
8. "I will grant scholarships for the poor students." This is contributed by my student Kim (https://www.facebook.com/poi70415). Another statement that we might have heard some politician say, but never do. Even the House of Representatives admitted that the number of out-of-school youth in our country is increasing, and the main reason for not going to school is the high cost of education (http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=6343). This statement contributed by my student is more than just the youth asking for help in their education, but more of a cry against the high cost of education. In the national budget for 2013, Education got the biggest chunk P292.7 Billion (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/235627/education-gets-biggest-slice-of-proposed-budget). If this is the case, where did this budget go? Probably, most of it vaporized into thin air. After all, DepEd is included in the Top Ten Most Corrupt Government Agencies in 2004 (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=10_Most_Corrupt_Agencies), and this might still be the case until now. I cannot say for certain since there seems to be no updated list online. And lastly, despite this huge budget, Philippine Education is still ranked as "poor" amongst the Asean nations (as of 2009 - http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/14/11/philippine-education-ranked-poor).
9. "I helped fix your roadways so that I can put up large road signs with my name on them". This statement is contributed by my husband, and it is rather odd compared to the other statements given above. Nevertheless, this statement embodies the "makapal ang muhka" politicians in our country, and we are all witnesses to this. For instance, we see a street or road being fixed, and then right there, there is a sign that says: "Made possible by Mayor So-And-So". Really? Did that Mayor donate his personal funds to have that road fixed? Even during the days of a certain president, we saw her face all over the highways because of her Strong Republic Nautical Highway project. Can't a politician do something positive for our country without being recognized or praised for it? These "good deeds" are EXPECTED of them since it is [allegedly] the Filipino people who placed them in that position. But, of course, no politician is crazy enough to admit that he is doing good deeds for the sake of popularity and future votes.
10. "After elections, I will personally remove and oversee the removal of all the posters and banners that I and my campaign team put up during the Election Period." I borrowed this idea from a musician friend of mine named Mark Breva. I've already discussed the VISUAL POLLUTION caused by the Election Period in my previous blog (http://koolkolourz.blogspot.com/2013/05/election-period-in-philippines.html). I believe it is pretty acceptable to see a horrendous amount of posters being put up during the election period, but it is already unacceptable and reprehensible if these posters are still there after election. I hope that the politicians/candidates are sensible enough to have these posters and banners removed after election.
1. "For every poster I put up, I will plant a tree." As we already know, paper is from trees, and just looking at the gazillion paper posters being put up during the election period, you can just imagine the millions of trees being murdered. Thumbs up to the politician/candidate who used recycled paper.
2. "I will personally clean every street that my campaign vehicles pass through to ensure the cleanliness of our city." To make up for the noise pollution that campaign vehicles contribute to our already noisy city, it would be great if the candidates can bring along street sweepers that would roam around the city during the election period.
3. "I will not use money or material things to persuade people to vote for me." Vote buying is rampant in the Philippines. I watched an investigative show last week, and there, a person openly admitted that "team leaders" get P500 for every vote, and every voter gets P300. This is a great improvement to the P50 that is being distributed in my hometown.
4. "During my last term, I personally planted 1,000 trees, and I campaigned for the recycling of 50 tons of waste." Can you imagine a politician personally planting trees? Carrying a spade or a seedling for pictorial purposes is not included. Can you imagine a politician carrying a big sack filled with plastic bottles for recycling?
5. "Since my term is ending, I will contribute my pay this year to livelihood and housing projects; I will also include my full pork barrel." This is contributed by my student Christobell (https://www.facebook.com/onideemoon). The politician who will say and actually do this must be some sort of saint.
6. "I will pay the debt of our country." This is contributed by my student Jan Patrick (https://www.facebook.com/JonSnow12). Some might think that is too far-fetched, but I understand the wisdome of this statement. It is impossible for one person to pay the debt of our country, which I think, is already in trillions of pesos. The point of this statement is that this student might be looking for a politician who is actually selfless and contributes to the betterment of our country. This is a very idealistic viewpoint. In most cases, people want to join politics to take advantage of the "guns, goons, and gold" that is "inherent" in the position. Of course, most of them (in power) will vehemently deny this. Please do not exaggerate your denials because you might appear too defensive.
7. "During my term, I will minimize, if not totally eradicate, poverty and corruption in our society". This is contributed by my student Renell (https://www.facebook.com/renell.bruma). Most of us have already heard a politician or two said this. But the question is, have these been done? There are always the promises of stopping corruption, of solving poverty --- but nothing seems to be happening. Even some of the good candidates that we believed in, once they are in office, the rot sets in. As the saying goes, "One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel". What if the whole barrel is already rotten? What can one good apple do?
8. "I will grant scholarships for the poor students." This is contributed by my student Kim (https://www.facebook.com/poi70415). Another statement that we might have heard some politician say, but never do. Even the House of Representatives admitted that the number of out-of-school youth in our country is increasing, and the main reason for not going to school is the high cost of education (http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=6343). This statement contributed by my student is more than just the youth asking for help in their education, but more of a cry against the high cost of education. In the national budget for 2013, Education got the biggest chunk P292.7 Billion (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/235627/education-gets-biggest-slice-of-proposed-budget). If this is the case, where did this budget go? Probably, most of it vaporized into thin air. After all, DepEd is included in the Top Ten Most Corrupt Government Agencies in 2004 (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=10_Most_Corrupt_Agencies), and this might still be the case until now. I cannot say for certain since there seems to be no updated list online. And lastly, despite this huge budget, Philippine Education is still ranked as "poor" amongst the Asean nations (as of 2009 - http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/14/11/philippine-education-ranked-poor).
9. "I helped fix your roadways so that I can put up large road signs with my name on them". This statement is contributed by my husband, and it is rather odd compared to the other statements given above. Nevertheless, this statement embodies the "makapal ang muhka" politicians in our country, and we are all witnesses to this. For instance, we see a street or road being fixed, and then right there, there is a sign that says: "Made possible by Mayor So-And-So". Really? Did that Mayor donate his personal funds to have that road fixed? Even during the days of a certain president, we saw her face all over the highways because of her Strong Republic Nautical Highway project. Can't a politician do something positive for our country without being recognized or praised for it? These "good deeds" are EXPECTED of them since it is [allegedly] the Filipino people who placed them in that position. But, of course, no politician is crazy enough to admit that he is doing good deeds for the sake of popularity and future votes.
10. "After elections, I will personally remove and oversee the removal of all the posters and banners that I and my campaign team put up during the Election Period." I borrowed this idea from a musician friend of mine named Mark Breva. I've already discussed the VISUAL POLLUTION caused by the Election Period in my previous blog (http://koolkolourz.blogspot.com/2013/05/election-period-in-philippines.html). I believe it is pretty acceptable to see a horrendous amount of posters being put up during the election period, but it is already unacceptable and reprehensible if these posters are still there after election. I hope that the politicians/candidates are sensible enough to have these posters and banners removed after election.
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