Why I am staying in the Philippines (7): Prescription for change

Prescription for Change:
4-C Victory For Ang Kapatiran,
Foresee Victory for the Filipino

Over the last 90 days, we have been bombarded with information, lavished with promises, threatened with doom if we vote for these candidates or those candidates. As the candidates parade before us, as records of past achievements and glaring failures are put to the fore, it is so easy for us to be eaten up by jadedness and cynicism, forcing us to just sit on the sidelines and opt to not vote. “What’s one ballot anyway?” is a sentiment expressed by frustrated veteran voters and suspicious first-timers. Pessimism and doubt are sinister conditions that, like airborne bugs, can easily be passed on from one person to another.

In several days’ time, we will again troop to our election precincts, fill up our ballots, and chart our country’s destiny. In the midst of the political noise, one group has campaigned for the Senate based on a solid platform for good governance, economic development, peace and order, improvement of the political climate and foreign policy. Ang Kapatiran’s Zosimo Paredes, Adrian Sison, and Martin Bautista will definitely be on my ballot and will most likely be only names which I will write down.

So what is the prescription to combat jadedness and cynicism? Like the equally commonplace colds virus, loading up on Vitamin C- specifically the brand Ang Kapatiran possesses- can do the trick.

C- Christ-centered leaders
Bring God back in the center of Philippine politics. No one among the contenders in these elections have come out clearly and consistently as Paredes – Sison – Bautista have with regard to this principle. If a group of men are looking to Christ as their aim, idol, and mission, Christ the Good Shepherd, the Just God, the Merciful Lord, the Divine CEO- that group more than deserves our vote.

C- Conscience and competence
Paredes – Sison - Bautista are relative novices in the political realm, not beholden to any political backer or kingmaker. They are running on the principle that ordinary citizens can and must reclaim the country’s leadership from traditional politicians. They have lived full lives immersed in what is real and not just soaking the view from their ivory towers. They willingly sacrificed their individual lives and careers because they believe that looking after the Filipino people’s welfare supercedes all personal concerns and interests.

C- Consistent quality campaign
Paredes – Sison – Bautista campaigned consistently, steadily, assuredly direct to the masses minus the distractions of celebrity endorsers and excessive advertisements. They’d rather spend money on basic campaign materials- flyers and leaflets explaining their platform for governance- rather than splurge obscene amounts on TV and radio ads that hardly talk about issues. They would rather spend the P300,000.00 needed to place a 30-second ad in TV Patrol to build classrooms.

Paredes – Sison – Bautista ran not as mere personalities or stooges of a powerbroker but as candidates espousing clearly spelled out platforms, which include: working for a gunless society; putting in place mechanisms for a dynasty-free political environment; instituting debt payment limit to free up budgetary allotments for health; setting up fixed terms for the AFP Chief of Staff and appointment of civilians as head of the Defense Department to professionalize further the military and lessen patronage politics in the AFP; and scrapping of the pork barrel, among other advocacies and items in their legislative agenda. (More details from http://www.angkapatiran.org)

C- Collective community empowerment
As Paredes – Sison - Bautista campaigned in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and in cyberspace, they have created a community of Filipinos whose faith in the electoral process, faith in the Filipino, faith in themselves, and faith in God have been rekindled. They have inspired a new legion of Filipinos consciously working for change, choosing to do good rather than fall prey to evil, stoking back to life the dying embers in the hearts of a jaded, cynical, wounded nation. From well-placed Makati executives to public utility vehicle drivers in Misamis Oriental, Filipinos from all over now have new and sufficient reason to hope and believe that the Philippines can rise again.

In several days’ time, we will again troop to our election precincts, fill up our ballots, and chart our country’s destiny. In the midst of the political noise, one group has campaigned for the Senate based on a solid platform for good governance, economic development, peace and order, improvement of the political climate and foreign policy.

I will definitely vote Ang Kapatiran’s Zosimo Paredes, Adrian Sison, and Martin Bautista for senator. They are the prescriptions for change that each Filipino voter must write on May 14 to heal our land.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! God bless us all!