Stabbed by the truth.

If you think the brouhaha has ended once elections has come to a conclusion, think again. Aside from complaints with the accuracy of the count of votes, accusations of cheating left and right, and issues with the PCOS machines, people not involved in politics directly also get engaged in the spat as well.

The latest has to be the one between model Georgina Wilson and Jake Ejercito, son of Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada. The spat started on Friday, where Georgina tweeted:

“ugh i hate politics – but I only have one thing to say: Anyone that votes for Erap is a f***ing idiot.”

Georgina’s tweet refers to Erap’s win in Manila over Alfredo Lim. In reaction, Jake gave a lengthy reply to Georgina’s tweet, saying:

“Ms. Wilson, social media might be a free world but I think it’s quite irresponsible to express such an opinion unless you are well-versed with the current situation of the city of Manila and how the present local administration has failed to handle it. Moreover, to call 325,288 Manileños, including the 9.4 million Filipinos who voted for him in 2010, “f***ing idiots” is harsh and truly uncalled for.”

Not siding with any one of them, the spat exposed the harsh realities of Philippines and its politics. Although Georgina was frank enough to say that Filipinos did not learn their lesson by voting an ex-convict, it is unfair to say that these people who voted for Erap are bobo or uneducated, and that only the upper / educated class has the right to vote for who deserves to be duly elected.

*an article in Rappler explains about the “uneducated” voter here. In addition, CRUSADA’s “The myth of the bobo voter” is also a good read. Check it here.

One cannot blame that majority of Manileños voted for Erap for being merely stupid. They voted for Erap because they believe that they can relate with Erap with their struggles in contrast to Lim’s administration which has been admittedly lackluster. One should accept the fact that in a democracy, people have the freedom to choose whatever candidate they think deserves the post, no matter how bad the candidate’s credentials is (which is why Nancy Binay won).

The Philippines by itself lives through a culture of popularism: people would vote for who they think is popular, who they think is influential, whether that candidate is a veteran politician, a neophyte, or someone who is from showbiz and suddenly decides to join politics. We have lived in this system for the longest time, and correcting it will take a while and not just one night alone. Yes, a lot may disagree with me on this, but Jake is actually right when he said that no one has the right to criticize the voter who chose Erap over Lim in spite of the background of both individuals.

But one should remember this: no one, and not even the intellectual, educated middle class, can possess the objective truth as mentioned by Plato in the figure of the philosopher king. No one in this world knows the objective truth, and we should also be faced with the fact that even the intellectual, educated middle class makes big mistakes as the masa who we call stupid, idiot, and bobo.

Case in point? Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001, 2004, and 2007.

Now do not tell me that Manileños are stupid for voting for an ex-convict, because we were all stupid enough to vote for a tyrant.

Or let us make it more blatant: The bigger flaw Filipinos made was voting for an intellectual who eventually became a tyrant for 20 years, and that intellectual is Ferdinand Marcos.

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UPDATE: Rappler reports that the tweet Georgina made was dated almost four years ago. I guess Jake just make the fire grow again.

How did they do it? The case of Grace and Leni.

To start off, I would like to congratulate all the candidates that have been proclaimed as winners (whether it is a candidate I like or I do not like). I hope all winning candidates will do well in their respective duties, and fulfill their promises to their constituents.

For this entry, I have this sudden interest in analyzing on how some candidates made it through, with some being real dark horses to the competition.

For the national elections, I chose the case of 2013 senatorial candidate topnotcher Grace Poe-Llamanzares, daughter of the late action star Fernando Poe Jr.

The former censors chief made a grand finish, landing at the top spot in the elections, in which people were never expecting that she will be the most favored senatorial candidate (people were thinking that reelectionist senator Loren Legarda will garner top honors in the 2013 elections). Even survey companies did not expect Grace to top the ranks. So curiously, how does a former censors chief made it to the top?

First, it lies on how she campaigned. Being the daughter of action star Fernando Poe Jr., who lost to former president (and still Pampanga congresswoman) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections, people had this “sympathy vote” for Grace as they remember how FPJ was cheated by GMA’s camp back in 2004 with the well-known “Hello Garci” Scandal. Her win is a vindication of with was done to her father back then, and people were convinced that she is the key to legitimizing the fact that the true winner in the 2004 elections is indeed FPJ. Although she denies that her win is a vindication of her father’s loss, she does agree that carrying her father’s surname is her edge, and that is not all, as I will explain further.

Second, while few people know, Grace carries two degrees: A degree on Developmental Studies from the University of the Philippines, and a degree on Political Science in Boston College. These credentials are not well-known to the public, unless one does a stringent research on Grace’s background. Add to the fact that after her father’s death, she became a strong advocate for truth and accountability, calling for clean and honest elections. Also, her stint as censors chief made significant changes in improving standards in the television and movie industry. Given these credentials, she, in fact, proved to be a strong contender for the senate seat by attending all debates and forums in the duration of the campaign (while she is not present in some her campaign sorties, her son, Brian, takes care of that and he did well in persuading the people why they should vote for Grace her mother). Attending debates and forums is not enough; she gave articulate answers to questions asked to her, and has concrete plans on what she will do should she be elected senator.

Third is on how she packaged herself to the people. Although her family is well-off (with her husband Neil an established businessman), she knows how to relate with all classes of society. In addition, I give major plus points for Brian too as he knows how to relate to various classes of society, even the masa crowd, despite being a conyo kid and a more English speaking individual (plus points too for his effort in speaking in the vernacular during the times he represents her mother in campaign sorties). Because of this image Grace portrayed to the people, the people are convinced that a person like Grace will heed to their needs. The way she package herself makes people trust her more as an aspiring politician.

In the local elections, I chose the case of the widow of the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo, Atty. Leni Robredo. Her decision to run for congress was a product of clamor to continue her husband’s legacy, who unfortunately died in a plane crash. Although initial surveys showed that her elder rival Nelly Villafuerte, wife of legislative veteran Luis Villafuerte Sr., was leading consistently, things were different during the elections, as Atty. Leni managed to defy all odds, beating Nelly with a landslide victory.

Unlike in the case of Grace, where it was unexpected of her to top the polls, a good number of Filipinos, especially residents of the third district of Camarines Sur, really wanted Atty. Leni to triumph over the elder Nelly despite the odds. In the case of Atty. Leny, it is very evident that people did not want to believe in surveys that the elder Villafuerte will win over Atty. Leni. So, how did the humble husband of the late DILG secretary did it?

First, she had the same “Cory magic” that then-Pres. Noynoy Aquino had when former pres. Cory Aquino died in 2009. In the case of Atty. Leni, people believed that she had her own version of the “Cory magic” known as the “Jesse magic”, and that people had faith in Atty. Leni that she is indeed capable of continuing the legacy the late DILG secretary has left not just as the mayor of Naga city for almost 20 years, but on how Jesse set an example in good governance. It is logical that Atty. Leni can continue her husband’s legacy, as she herself is looked upon by her fellow Nagaueños, sharing the same characteristics with her husband.

Another factor pushing Atty. Leni to triumph is her way of setting an example to the public eye. Like her husband, Atty. Leni set a good example on not just being a good mother to three daughters, but also she set foot a more humble persona, being very approachable to her constituents, a characteristic of her husband more known and the tsinelas leadership. Just like Grace, the way Atty. Leni packaged herself in campaigns made people more trustworthy of her as a political aspirant.

The third factor happens to be the most obvious factor, and that is the people of Camarines Sur want to put an end to political dynasties, and in this case, the Villafuerte dynasty. Proof of Camarines Sur residents clamoring for change? In the 2013 elections, all Villafuerte candidates lost except for the young governor-elect Migz, who I see represents a new generation of politicians even though he is just as old as me (and is the youngest governor in Philippine History). In a province where political dynasties prevail, Atty. Leni’s triumph marks a new start for residents of Camarines Sur, particularly those residing in the third district. This new start is a blossoming of the achievements Jesse made during his role as mayor of Naga for almost 20 years. If Naga was able do to it, so does other towns of the third district of Camarines Sur (and eventually, the whole of Camarines Sur). 

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I chose these two winners of the 2013 elections because they are examples of true change in how Filipinos choose their candidates. Most Filipinos may have stick to the status quo, but there are a few who choose to defy it and clamor for change. It is a hard process, but I believe we are getting there.

Some people still do not have faith that change is possible in the corruption-laden country, but I want to tell them that they should keep on hoping, because no dreams are impossible as long as you want them to be possible in reality.

 

Changing times.

The other day, I got myself shocked upon seeing a female officemate carrying a condom in her wallet. Normally, I believed that it should be the guy who would carry condoms and not the girl.

Being the curious person I am, I ask my friends (both guys and girls) on how they would react if they encounter something similar. I got mixed reactions.

For most of my guy friends, such sight would mean that the girl is ready for “anything to happen”, hence being well-prepared at all times. Also, they presume that girls bringing condoms is a sign of them being no longer a virgin (meaning, they did it before that’s why). In fact, they would consider it a “red alarm” for them should they encounter one, marking them to be more cautious.

However, one of my high school friends (we were all-boys back in high school) told me that there is no need for worries, as it is considered a norm in today’s society. In general, my guy friends do share the same sentiments I have regarding the situation, that they do find it a bit strange on why it has to be the girl who carries a condom in her wallet.

As for the girls, they likewise do not feel exactly comfortable with such situation. My BFF (who I have been close to since college days, and is a relatively conservative girl) felt a bit dismayed upon hearing my story. Her initial reaction was that the girl is wild, and that is why she brings one with her.

Another friend, however, said that although it may seem not right for a girl to bring a condom, she said that she’s just playing it safe and would not necessarily do the act. In addition, she added that girls bringing condoms is among the effects of a male-centered society. She also questioned the fact that a girl may be bringing one because she is unsure of what will happen to her when she hangs out with her friends. Quoting her, “anong nangyari sayo para mapunta sa situation na yan in the first place?”

In both genders, the general opinion I am sensing is that although it is supposed to be the guy who should be carrying a condom and not a girl, the case of girls bringing condoms is a sign of modern times that girls want themselves to be protected, and that with modern times sex is not taken as some act that is simply for fun and games.

With this sense of curiosity I have had that day, I am more convinced about the need for the RH Bill, which is long contested and opposed by the Catholic Church. Sure they may contest on contraceptives, but the conservatives tend to fail to understand the changing times in this modern era. Priests and bishops fail to understand that abstinence to sex is not really the solution to population control when they would preach during masses to “go forth and multiply.” How can you go forth and multiply if you cannot even support your children as they grow up, and instead resort to abortion or abandonment of their children.

That said in mind, I now agree that there should be nothing really wrong with girls carrying condoms on their wallets these days. Whether one may be conservative or not, people should not judge such people; in this modern age, it is better to be smart and safe than to regret in the end, which normally leads to unplanned pregnancies, unwanted abortions, and unloved children. 

One must understand too at in the modern times, women are becoming smarter and more aware of their rights and know more how to protect themselves from any scenario. In this male-centered society, I do hope that the RH Bill eventually will be able to correct the stereotypes implemented in this society.

We no longer live in the middle ages. Times do change, and stereotypes do not apply anymore in this era.