Lent provides proper elections atmosphere

Lent is a 40-day period of spiritual preparedness for the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. This year, it falls within the 90-day period of elections that should help the candidates for office and the voters to make better decisions pertaining to the coming elections. The best performers always start with themselves.

The 10-kilometer human chain that was supposed to be formed by Fernando Poe Jr.’s followers from the Bonifacio monument in Kalookan to the Supreme Court in Padre Faura, Manila never took place. If it did, the Guinness Book of World Records may have been interested in the event, but it would not have impressed the Supreme Court. Elections are decided by the number of votes the candidates get. But the question as to whether Poe is a natural-born citizen or not is a matter of law. Human chains cannot decide that issue. Poe has already stated that he will abide by the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter. Let the Supreme Court decide.

In the meantime, we really hope that the Lenten period will help both candidate and voter decide what the utmost best they can do for their country is in these coming elections. Presidential candidate Raul Roco has urged Church and civic groups to arrange televised debates among the four presidential candidates. Fernando Poe Jr. has agreed to participate in such a debate but he has stipulated that it be held in any depressed community. By sheer coincidence, both Roco and Poe went to the same school, San Beda. So San Beda has the distinction of having two former alumni, one in college, the other just in grade school, running for the highest elective national position this coming May elections.

This is the most interesting presidential election we have ever had. First, because it has more candidates that the other past elections. Second, because they all come from different backgrounds. And up to this point, we are not even certain if one of the most popular candidates meets the qualifications for running for office. The Supreme Court should decide soonest, but it should give all parties concerned time to present their views.

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission has asked Fernando Poe Jr. to submit his birth certificate, his own and his parents‚ marriage contracts in connection with its investigation of dismissed National Archives Director Ricardo Manapat who is facing a falsification of public documents charge before the Office of the Ombudsman. Those documents will also be pertinent in deciding the case as to whether Poe is a natural-born or a naturalized citizen.

One advantage that Gloria has over the other candidates is the fact that she speaks fluent English, Spanish, Visayan, Pampango, Ilokano and Pangalatok. There is no substitute for addressing people in their own dialect. You immediately identify yourself as being one of them. Language, in short, is the key to a nation’s heart. It is the apparel in which the candidates’ thoughts parade before the public. We speak alike, we think alike.

The expression – "We speak the same language," – means "we agree". The medium is the message.