Who is the next?

This year’s election, set for 9 May, is another personality-based popularity contest for the
presidency. Except for Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson, who are banking on their
government experience, presidential candidates are emphasising their stardom and family
connections to get elected – international boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, former movie
actor Isko Moreno, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of and namesake of the former dictator.

The campaign period is supposed to start in February although the Omicron surge has made
this uncertain. Some are even petitioning for the election to be postponed or canceled. This is
unlikely to happen, but the scope of election activities is expected to be narrowed down. This
will affect the interaction of candidates and voters, which could benefit incumbent officials
since they have the authority to move freely even if the election campaign has yet to start.
Elections are the means to s/elect leaders and governments. Through elections, we can hold
leaders and governments accountable, although with varying success. Through elections, we
can ensure that citizens’ interests and needs are represented in the democratic process,
although not all the time. Most importantly, through elections, we get to exercise our right to
vote, although we don’t always choose to cast our vote.In elections, political parties usually
play an important role. A political party fields its candidates during elections and ensures its
candidates win. Winning an election means seizing power in government. The more seats a
party wins, the greater its control over the decision-making processes.

I wish the next successor had a stance like this, people’s empowerment: focusing on the needs
of the disadvantaged, particularly, women, youth and children; Accountable governance:
focusing on people’s participation in decision-making as well as transparency in government;
Poverty Alleviation:  focusing on the needs of the more vulnerable sectors in society so that
those who have less in life are given more protection in law. 

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippine-elections-and-politics-behind-it
https://www.rappler.com/voices/rappler-blogs/2022-year-to-be-political/