“ELECTION IN THE PHILIPPINES”

Election is fast approaching and we are again on the process of choosing the right

candidates for the position.

Election, both local and national, especially in the Philippine context, has been a very

controversial issue for the longest time. We have heard of different cases such as vote buying,

presence of deceased/flying voters, and taking of ballot boxes among others. This only

decreases the credibility of the choices of people we can put into power. The most likely

outcome would be the discouragement of the public to vote for the different candidates since the

winner would most likely be a product of injustice.

As the country develops to keep up with the modern world, the political system also

becomes more complex and in addition, the people become more difficult to control. This is why

there has been an ongoing rise for civil society groups, many of which assume the functions and

processes normally associated with governments to try and compensate with the current

situation.

Citizen activism in the Philippines has been generally caused by our deteriorating

socioeconomic conditions, the corruption which goes on in different parts of the political system

and the failure of the government to address and mend them. Citizens have then come together

and organized different civil society groups in response to these circumstances to either

compensate for the state's failures or to pressure the state to correct its policies.

The Philippines, being a democratic country, needs citizen organizations to participate

in the election process to help educate the masses about the importance of elections and the

urgency of voting and also to be there to monitor every aspect of the voting process.

In rallies and miting de avance, politicians desperately double as singers, dancers, and

sometimes clowns. The night before the elections, the country transforms into the world’s

biggest palengke, where trading votes for thousands of pesos has unfortunately become the
norm. Then, after proclamation, everyone forgets each other and get on with their lives. The

poor go back to being poor and winning politicians work on recouping their election expenses.

With these, everyone has to bear in mind that the real battle in the coming months is not

on Twitter or Facebook, but in the voting precincts. Liking or posting a status do not count and

never counted. It can never shake things up or change the status quo, but this coming election

can. It can potentially be game changing, either for the better or a further slide to

the kangkungan.

Let’s be reminded how important this election is. Let our voices be heard.