A matter of right
A tricycle driver, a farmer, a home economics graduate-they are all ordinary people aspiring to be the most powerful person of the Philippines. They may sound like traditional politicians, their ambitions, promises and assertions range from leading "an exodus to the promised land of tomorrow", proposing a law to have the 4 seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall in the Philippines, pushing for an "absolute monarchy with unlimited power from God", establishing a "divine government", claiming to have been told by a "master to lead the country to pushing for a sultanate government."
As of Tuesday, according to the poll body, 32 persons have filed their certificates of candidacy for president. But still the Comelec spokesman considered this as "a manifestation of democracy."
Most of them have presented out-of-this-world platforms, such as legislating 4 seasons in the Philippines but still some of them echo a deeper yearning to lead the country despite being ordinary. Some of them may sound ridiculous but others have offered views from their own perspectives and experiences. They may just be ordinary persons but they represent valid views from ordinary people who have seen a draining hope from the way they are being led. For some even had high hopes with those who graduated from top universities but ended up corrupt, futile-and mismanaged the government, leaving our beloved country just the same for many years.
Understanding where they are coming from and what made them think they can change our situation is important in understanding the entire situation. Let's put our judgments aside and pick out the sensible problems they would like to address because these problems may be important and come from other perspectives we fail to see.
And for some reasons, as the previous filings of certificates of candidacy indicate, they will eventually be considered nuisance candidates. The Omnibus Election Code defines a nuisance candidate as someone who files a COC "to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the certificate of candidacy has been filed, and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate."
But who would ascertain the sincerity of one's intention to lead? Though anyone can just simply promise to lead the country to prosperity but it is the sincerity of one's intention that is difficult to uncover. Others may have the experience in leading but they don't have the experience of hardship.
The bottom line here is just like you, they are also driven for change. The change that is genuine and inclusive. A change that is not only for the few and the privileged. True change will really occur when their voices are also heard-the voice of the majority.
At first glance, it's funny when there are people who know that eventually they would be turned down of their intention to lead the country mainly on the basis of their inability to wage a national campaign. They do not have the much-needed machinery that would back them up for a rigorous political battle. It's like saying to be the president for them is a dream. Though there is an equal access for all to lead this country but at the end it is still a privilege-and in most cases this privilege has been enjoyed by the influential and moneyed few. And this is the every reason that for others to be in service of others does not necessarily in the political arena.
Unless the economic scenario would not change, still there will be drivers, security guards, farmers who would aspire to be the President. It is a leader who would truly bring their issues and concerns to a wider forum of discussion leading to a long term solution.
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