In choosing the next president of the country, the Filipino electorate should now learn to veer away from the traditional way of voting for politicians based on sheer personalities and popularity. We should now start to grow and learn to decide on the basis of substance of candidates' platforms of government. The problem with the three leading presidential candidates is that all of them do not have clear plans of what they could and would do to the nation and to the people. Mar Roxas, Jojo Binay and Grace Poe all seem to be contented with "pa-nicey, nicey" and "pa-guwapo, guwapo." These are not enough. They have to show substance.
First of all, where do Roxas, Binay and Poe stand on the top nagging issues of poverty, population, unemployment, and economic progress which are not inclusive. How does each one plan to achieve national development which truly impacts on the masses of people? How do they intend to address the ceaseless the endless Diaspora of Filipino human talents? How would they really help the OFWs who are compelled by necessity to accept dirty, difficult, dangerous, degrading and deceptive jobs?
Second, how do these presidentiables intend to address the worsening crimes situation, the frightening drug crisis which has already afflicted at least three million addicts, the pervasive illegal gambling, the trafficking of women and children, the open and endemic prostitution and sex tourism, and the daily killings, murders and kidnappings, rapes, carnapping and hold-ups? They cannot even address the horrendous traffic mess, how can they solve the bigger and more prevalent criminal syndicates?
Third, what are the candidates' plans concerning the increasing encroachment by China into our territories? How would these presidential bets solve the Mindanao problem, the secessionist movement, and the growing insurgency movement in the southern hinterlands? How would the next president solve the tribal wars and the Jamiya Islamiya the IS and the upcoming uprising in the south concerning the Mamasapano and the BBL issues? These candidates should not be contented with sloganeering and hash tags. They must show substance.
Fourth, how would the candidates address the relentless ravishing of our natural environment? The peoples' vulnerability to natural disasters, and the government's proven incompetence in disaster preparedness, its demonstrated mediocrity in rescue, relief and rehabilitation. What is their plans on housing for the millions of homeless poor, on quality education that should be affordable to the masses and medical health care that should be accessible the millions of poor Filipinos?
There should be a nationally-televised presidential debates, whereby the candidates should present to the people their concrete programs of government. They should not humor us with promises of the moon and the stars. They should at least respect us by presenting viable programs of government. Otherwise, if they only exhibit their trapo styles of entertaining us with overly ambitious programs, without any timetable nor any indication as to where they should get the funding. The people may be foolish at times, but they are not stupid. They know which bet to vote for based on concrete platforms.