Sem Pablo R.

Mateo
Oral Communication in Context
Speech Evaluation Paper

Philippine Politics and Governance

Good day! My name is Sem Pablo Mateo; you can call me Sem for short. Democracy
comes from the Greek words demos meaning people, and kratos, meaning power. Why am I
here? Could democracy bring change? Let us discuss Philippine Politics and Governance.
Despite decades of democratic government and momentous efforts at economic reforms ever
since several downfalls, the Philippines remains bedeviled by hunger, poverty, corruption, crime,
and insurgency. Traditional exemption of the ruling class conserves this exemption of the ruling
class from the rule of law, which encloses disbarred the unresponsive and inefficient governing
elite from the electoral competition that could force meaningful reforms in the country. The
Philippine government's persistent inability to bring the elite within the rule of law is a pervasive
obstacle to progress that can only be removed by focused, sustained political pressure from the
Filipino people.

The national election, which occurs every six years, mandates all registered Filipino
voters to vote for a governmental reform that could potentially settle the country's problems
once and for all. However, the candidacy couldn't avoid several controversial rallies; that is why
we Filipinos should do research upon voting for the most deserving candidate to rule the
country. Although the mindset of many Filipinos is based on popularity and not on credentials,
be it a namesake or a historical figure. While the Philippine democracy is similar to other
presidential forms of government, the system of choosing its leaders holds some nuisances that
reveal the deeply-rooted problems.

Personally, whenever picking a candidate to vote for, I thoroughly research their

background, credentials, and what they have done before filing a candidacy to deserve the
highest position in the government. In every election, there are qualified candidates to get the
job, but democracy doesn't do it as it should. Citizens choose someone who hasn't done
anything exemplary, am I not right? For several elections, many senators and other government
officials have been elected to their respective positions, but only a few pursue the promise they
made during their campaigns. This situation in the Philippine government proves that these
officials only talk and don't do anything. Albeit candidates running for their desired positions may
seem convincing as it looks, we should never vote just because of their namesake, social
status, heritage, and fame. We should look more into their credentials, background, and what
they plan to do to improve this country as it was many decades ago.

Democracy is a system of government in which the people of a country can vote for
elected representatives to be their leaders. This type of system could empower the rights of
every single citizen in their means of changing the country and what they want to happen.
However, most citizens are oblivious to the background of the elected representatives, be it a
dictator, a corrupt official, or a known controversial figure. Sometimes, the problem is not within
the elected representatives but also in the voters. If we want what's best for our country, we
could educate those who are heedless of the future of their motherland because the ignorance
of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. The spirit of this system is not a
mechanical thing to be adjusted by the mechanical abolition of forms; it requires a change of
heart.

The controversial parts of the Philippine national elections, which occur every six years,
give us an insight into how to vote correctly and wisely, not for our future but for everyone else's.
If one's reason is the validity of their "opinion," then maybe one should consider their opinion
could entirely affect another one's future. It is within the Filipinos whether they want to change or
not because democracy gives every man the right to be his oppressor, as one thing can change
everything.