Counting Potatoes

Wasted Vote

Life is unfair.. and sometimes the sheer injustice of it can make you cry..

It's two months away from elections and this year we got 2 of the 3 political people I admire the most running for the 2 highest seats in the government.. Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando for President and Vice President respectively.. For the longest time, I've been saying that should these 2 tandem up, we Filipinos, who are so pessimistic about our country, will find it easy to believe in our leaders again.

Like those from Olongapo and Marikina, I grew up in a city where people believe in their leaders. Where stories of improving economic conditions are not just on the papers and in the news, in political rallies and radio ads during elections but tangible all around the city. Everyone here has literally seen the city transform from a sleepy little 3rd class town to a first class city with malls, airport, first class hotels and national food chains. Everyone here has literally heard the wheels of progress turn as more schools, more banks, more businesses and more opportunities came to build their roots in our place. Contrary to what the other political critics here are saying, this phenomenal growth is not normal, you just have to go outside the city limits to see towns and nearby cities still stuck in their 1980's version. As such, Naguenos are one of the few groups of people in the country that not only constantly wishes for better political leaders but has seen the effect of having one.

Our mayor - Jesse Robredo though isnt the one running for president or even vice president, it's Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando. Two political leaders that have also transformed their cities into something the people are fiercely proud of.

Dick Gordon was the Mayor of Olongapo city when the Americans left Subic Naval base. Add this to the fact that Mt pinatubo erupted not long after and covered the city unders meters of volcanic dust and you can imagine the devastation and desperation the people of this city crawled out of. With nothing behind him but the support of his people and a vision, Dick Gordon, against all odds, was able not just to put the city and its people back to their feet but to make the city one of the richest and best cities in the country. How many political leaders do we have that can lay claim to this kind of success using only the meager resources that was available?

Bayani Fernando inherited a city that was considered the rape capital of Manila. In the years that he has been a leader of this city, he has transformed it to one of the most business friendly and peaceful cities in the country. In fact, Marikina today competes neck to neck with Makati and Cebu for the top spot. He became the MMDA chairman of Manila sometime after I began college in Diliman. Some critics may claim that Bayani hasnt done much to alleviate the traffic condition in Manila. I beg to disagree, I was there. I saw how much the traffic was improved and of all the people who handled MMDA, he was the only one I saw that had tangible projects to handle the traffic - barricades, one way streets, U-turns, overpasses, sidewalk widening, etc. The thing I admire most about him is his dogged determination to do his job no matter what the cost - even his popularity. When he saw that sidewalk vendors were one of the main causes of traffic and road accidents, he undertook a manila wide campaign to demolish them. You can be rich or poor he wouldnt care, if your business or house encroaches upon what was lawfully the easement of the city's streets, it will be demolished. While other politikos were so busy running around gaining pogi points while essentially doing nothing, he was doing his job.

Here are two political leaders that have tangible proof that they can lead their people out of the muck. Two leaders that have tangible proof that they have the vision to build and make prosperous a place. Two leaders that care more about getting their jobs done rather than getting additional pogi points from the people. Two political leaders who let their considerable achievements speak for themselves rather than resort to the same old emotional tactics to gain points.

Sadly, the Filipino people couldnt care less.. These two proven leaders are lagging way behind the polls. We couldnt care less that these leaders could get things done and have proven it countless of times already - we care more about one politician's story about being dirt poor in the past coupled with the nice jingle about how the poor will be given houses, jobs and education. We couldnt care less that politicians who had no tangible track records and proven achievements almost always make terrible presidents. We care more for excellent sob stories and dramatic shots showing how much this politician's family suffered for our country in the past - never mind the fact that he has passed 0 laws or has not received any awards / distinguished himself in any way in all his years in the government.

Maybe we deserve to be a poor country..

Maybe we deserve to rot in this Godforsaken place and watch presidents after presidents bleed our country dry. Maybe we deserve to watch our children grow up to the same shithole that we find ourselves in.. Maybe the poor deserves to remain poor and the politically jaded remain jaded..

Maybe we deserve it all.. seeing as we put as much effort in choosing our next presidents as choosing TV channels or movies to watch..

They say voting for someone who's lagging behind the polls is a waste of a perfectly good vote..

I say its voting for someone you dont really know much about or really believe in in the first place that's the wasted vote.

	Wasted Vote