Watching and listening to the speeches and interviews of the current set of political figures aspiring to be President of the Republic of the Philippines vis a vis the comments of political analysts and ordinary observers, one can easily say who is the smartest, perceptive and insightful among them. A brief comparative study of their individual narratives and how they answer questions thrown to them show the kind of vision(s) they have for the future of this country.
With the aid of modern technology using the cyberspace – google, e-library, Facebook, etc., a person can easily access, check and counter-check the stories of every aspirants including their respective accomplishments. Fake news can easily be rebuffed and thrown away to the trash bin like what most people do to the reports of Rappler and Vera Files.
Since politics is an intricate game not only of minds and physical strength but of strategies and tactics, the players must be prepared all the time. This game is not for the faint of heart, nor for the onion-skinned, nor for the stupid and unwise but for the smart, perceptive, strident and aggressive, lest you will be eaten alive. Look at how the contenders and their respective supporters move and flex the issues to earn advantage in their favor. But unlike before, you can barely fool the people now. Thanks to the internet.
With the pandemic still haunting many parts of the country, it is unlikely that political wannabes would resort to the usual mode of campaigning – house to house visits to people in the countryside, visiting family reunions, sponsoring basketball leagues and dance parties for the elderlies and other stratagem they used in the past to draw crowd. They have to think of a plausible and acceptable means to gain the support of the people. The best device available to everybody, candidates, voters and observers alike is the social media. This is the most accessible playing fields where the people can observe, evaluate and educate themselves to what is actually happening around them from the ground to the top.
The social media is the perfect venue for the: battle of the wits, clash of ideas, display of legal acumen and unquestionable intelligence and yes, it could also be the showroom of sheer stupidity, lack of foresight, ineptitude, and the apparent disregard to the welfare of this country and its people. A wise voter is someone who is not easily swayed by colors, or easily influenced by promises of a good life but someone who prudently weighs the potentials and the actual accomplishments of the aspirants.
The battle of partisan politics has begun. The clash of ideas and philosophies is inevitable and we can expect more as the election comes near. Tons of ugly skeletons will be revealed. The stinking smell of corruption will fill the air. Mansions and expensive cars which are all products of fraud and dishonesty will be shown. Be wise voters! The future of this country is in your hands.
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
