Pupils are more reliable than today’s older voters in choosing the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of their class.
Here is the rub: In a biblical commentary, one prominent website assumed that in the Greek culture during apostle Paul’s time, a child from a rich family had limited freedom. Although he would eventually inherit all the family’s possessions and hold authority over them, he had no control over when to go to bed and other daily routines. The child’s status as the heir granted him no real independence until he reached a specified age.
That is the same assumption held by men and women of God that I meet. Quo vadis, mature, young adult and adult voters in the Philippines? And do they know where their children and their children’s children are going?
The age of majority refers to the legal age at which an individual is recognized as an adult and gains the full rights and responsibilities of adulthood, including the right to suffrage. It is typically set at 18 in several countries, whose citizens can register to vote and participate in elections. (This is with exception to youth polls of Sangguniang Kabataan, formerly called Kabataang Barangay during Imee Marcos’ appointment as chairperson of it… Or was it by election done by her father?)
There are debates around lowering the voting age. The point is simple: Maraming tumatandang paurong lalo sa kanilang pagboto, while the arguments about youth engagement and civic education, or whether young people are informed enough to participate meaningfully in electoral processes are to be decided “paurong” (backwardly)? If it is not toward a worse state, then what is? The worst? It is a rhetorical question of what else it could be. We have heard the resounding “Pilipinas, bakit ang hirap mong mahalin?” expression of grief from our college students and fresh graduates. When they go back home, their parents’ staying power is what matters. On the other hand, the power of these would-be professionals would just be turned on when they access their social media accounts, ridiculing trapos (traditional politicians) and fighting a lot online because they face troll armies.
It is considered worse because Robinhood topped the recent senate polls and worst because the Yoracs, the Aquinos, the Dioknos are losing. Another worse to worst: two senate slots per political family (including Camella).
The Constitution provides in Article II Section 26: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” That charter is betrayed by congressmen and senators for 37 long years and counting. They would continue raising their right hands, defending the Constitution the way they want to and the way their dynastic clans used to be.
However, God keeps on reminding people to love their children. Divine chastisement is always at the back of their minds if they do not plan and give them a better future. Now that they heard those who filed their COCs, with persistent ones videotaping themselves to let their FB, X, and IG followers know and understand what their political platforms are — except for Revillame, who would let us know and understand such serious matters once he wins a spot in the Magic 12 as Show Thor Senator of the Republic come 2025 — mature voters, perhaps, need to take time to listen carefully to their sons and daughters and ask the honest and moral requests like: “Anak, since you choose good leaders in your class, help me decide who deserve my vote next year?”
Or better ask them: Who should we not vote for? Recall that even the persuasion of the insertion or “singit na pakiusap” also works. Enough of that. We are our children’s pride and honor.
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar serves as a member of the steering committee of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He was part of National University’s community extension project that imparted the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities in a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with a master’s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines Open University in Los Baños. He recently defended a dissertation proposal for his doctorate degree in communication at the same graduate school under a Philippine government scholarship grant. He was editor-in-chief of his high school paper Ang Ugat and the Adamson News.
