Different Choices, One Desire

CEBU, Philippines - The youth has been very involved in this year’s elections. I am very proud of the volunteers, especially the students, who took time to give their efforts and contributions for their respective candidates despite their obligations to their family, school and to their community. I was an active volunteer of the Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas campaign, both online and offline. There were times that I had to sacrifice something for the campaign but I always reminded myself of my responsibilities in life. As the campaign period started to roll out, I found new friends from different walks of life. I also found myself in a position where I disagreed with some of my friend’s bet for president. But still, I respected their decision. We have different standards and we have the right to be respected on our decision.

This election was a milestone for our country as we had the first automated elections delivering results so fast that a day after the elections, some of the candidates – Gibo Teodoro, Manny Villar, Dick Gordon, already conceded to the frontrunner Noynoy Aquino.

It will also a memorable event for me because I, together with thousands of other youth, volunteered our time and services for our candidates.

Arth Alfajardo, who succeeded me in our high school’s student government presidency, is a Manny Villar campaign volunteer. He was very active in the campaign despite his responsibilities as a student. Andrew Lopez, my colleague in our college’s student government, supported Gibo Teodoro’s campaign. He stood by what he believed in when he supported his candidate. My college schoolmate Artemio Masbate III who supported Dick Gordon for President also demonstrated passion for his choice of candidate.

Together with me in the campaign were volunteers Mark Razonable, Federico Miguel Monte, Rhonpete Belgida, Flora May Casipong, Randolf de Dios, Alfel Benvic Go, Alvin Dalion, Marc Joseph Estenzo, Irvin Paul Pastoriza, Jay Almero, Giovanni Basilgo, Erwin Andaya, John Ray Limbaga and Christian Cuenco. There are still many of them who gave all their best for the campaign and I wish them all the best. We never imagined that our paths would cross for one goal. And now that we are about to trace our own paths once again, I look forward to work with all of you again.

I congratulate the incoming President Noynoy Aquino and I am hopeful of the next administration to do its job. Let’s start picking up the pieces that were broken during the campaign season. Let’s seek our commonalities beyond our differences.

In the campaign period, we were on different teams: Team Yellow, Team Orange, Team Green and Team Red. But now that we are about to close this chapter, we are all after Team Philippines, united under one nation and hopeful of the road ahead as we rally behind our new leaders for the good of our country. I am also aware that some of those team members are still not ready to accept the results. I understand them. I commend them for holding on to their principles. We may have different choices, but we have one desire: a better and prosperous Philippines.