Amarila, Jan-Rhada I.

December 05, 2022

ADT 112 Memorized Speech – PT1

How to choose a deserving political candidate?

Your life is at stake for the following years or even decades. And it is not because of COVID-19, Global
warming, or Climate change. We are talking about our lives being placed at a serious bet when we elect
candidates in the government. Seeing that different politicians had already resided in the government in our
age, it is unbelievable that our country's issues get bulkier, such as our debt, in an astounding 13.52 trillion
pesos as of end-September 2022. As students, we are subjected to numerous problems of this country, such
as the education crisis, red-tagging, the revival of mandatory ROTC, historical distortion, and more. And take it
from University of the Philippines - Department of Political Science professor Jean Encinas-Franco, "the
Philippines really is in dire need of leaders who will lead us out of the pandemic." To have great leaders, we
also must have great voters. That is why today, I want to discuss with all of you, who are future voters for the
next Philippine General Elections in 2025, how to choose a deserving political candidate by going in with three
factors that a voter must consider. It goes by the acronym HiPlaSt.
Before proceeding with the discussion proper, let's have a golden rule. And that is, we make sure it is the
truth whenever we inquire. In the survey conducted by Ateneo Policy Center in Manila last August 2021 to the
24,625 young Filipinos (aged 18-29) from its 25 partner colleges nationwide, the youth's capacity to detect
fake news is strikingly 21.5%, lower than the% passing rate. So we better not contribute to these numbers
anymore.
Now, Let's get in. First, what is their history? To do this, we will not go to the History Tab in Google. By
doing this, we can have track records on them. We should see their significant accomplishments, prior
experience, and educational background to see if they are even graduates, and the like. According to a study
by Mr. Simon and Uscinski from the University of Miami last 2012, more significantly, their research findings
present a larger narrative that leaders' histories substantially impact how they rule. So, remember when a
candidate said, "Ako ay para sa mahihirap!", don't get easily fooled and know first if they were there, in the
past, for the poor.
Second, we need to know their plans or platforms! And to discern if their platforms are solid, we have two
things to consider. According to Professor Coronacion from the University of Santo Tomas — number one,
ensure that the platform they present is doable, and see if it is realistic and fundable. Number two, ensure it's
filled with details for it to impact our lives.
Third and last, we need to know their stance or stand on vital issues. We have the right to know their
stand. If there is none, we should demand the candidates to state their stance. We are all involved in at least a
few to numerous problems in this country, such as what I mentioned earlier; ROTC revival, red tagging, etc. —
and it is vital to know if they are "pro" or an "anti" on these issues as this will affect our lives as students. We
should know the things behind their Yeses, Noes, and other responses to various topics.
At the beginning of this speech, I said that our lives are at risk, and this is not a joke or exaggeration; but
we are not helpless. The real power belongs to us, the people of this country. One of our powers is the ability
to elect. And I have shared three factors that a voter must consider to choose a deserving political candidate
under the acronym HiPlaSt. It is by knowing their history, knowing their platforms, and knowing their stance.
Let us not choose someone with a good surname, someone who is absent in debates and interviews, someone
who relies on social media propaganda and machinery, and incompetent ones. I hope we can make the violet
ink on our fingers ink a better future for all of us. Thank you very much.