After the Commission on Elections has eliminated the nuisance candidates from the presidential race, we now have a few candidates for the highest post of the land. But still the number leaves a wide array of choices. For certain standards of the Comelec, these are the very presidentiables who have the necessary machinery that can sustain a nationwide political campaign and can draw a sizeable following.
Though we can see some resemblances of the candidates in terms of their advocacies and positions in various national issues, still we are trying to size up who among them would stand out. I have come to realize that if we only have two candidates, the effort of choosing wouldn't be such exacting. With more than two candidates, for ordinary citizens, a candidate must present a clear platform that would respond to their needs.
Let's accept that who we want to win is oftentimes not popular. And those who are popular may not necessary those who possess the necessary attributes of a good leader. It's now between quality and popularity. In other words, quality does not guarantee popularity nor winnability, because those competent candidates are measured by the kind of the electorates. And this is so as we have the majority who can be swayed easily by emotional appeal and greased money. Beneath their beautiful facade, one can see the frills of ill-gotten wealth and smell the rotten odor of corruption. This has nothing to do anymore with one possessing certain qualifications and characteristics who can deliver the promises but more of a popular appeal.
The great possibility of having a number of candidates for president results to having a minority president. A president who has been elected by the largest number of votes cast but not by a majority of the electorate as votes are distributed among the candidates such as the cases of former president Fidel V. Ramos in 1992 and George W. Bush in the 2000 election.
In a country where the highest position of the land requires only minimal qualifications, practically uncomplicated for an ordinary citizen, like a college dropout, to run for office. And even to those who seemingly do not possess the necessary requisites would find ways just to run for office. Making one doubt such motive of whether it is really for public service or for anything else, much more in a country where a politician becomes rich after years in the office.
Yes it is better to have many choices so we can see who can really present better alternatives. However it becomes disadvantageous when some of them do not offer quality platforms, when one is just a duplication of the other.
Even long before the start of the campaign period has started, concerned groups and individuals have issued some criteria and guidelines in choosing the right candidates. And for now let's give these candidates the chance to say their pieces and be heard. Because at the end of all these, we need to exercise our right to vote. Our votes have a power to change the future of our country. That power is our privilege as Filipinos. It's a privilege we inherited from our heroes in the past who sacrificed their lives to ensure that our generation can enjoy the freedom of choice, especially the freedom to choose the people who will lead our country.
In the end, an intelligent vote could bring peace and prosperity while a wrong vote could bring poverty, corruption and layers of layers of man-made disasters to our nation.