Pick your flavor. But how do you choose from such a rich and colorful selection this coming May 2022? Elections in the Philippines should evolve beyond personalities and faces and instead towards the intangible values, principles, and ideals each choice represents. Philippine politics needs to grow up from face and name recall, clans and dynasties to one based on a genuine party-based system, without the annoying turncoatism and ship-jumping that are prevalent in today’s chaotic playing field.
Nowadays a group can just create a new party at a popular politician’s whim and accept politicians of any flavor to join at their convenience. That is why the political landscape resembles a messy nursery school play area riddled with toys where toddlers are allowed unfettered freedom to do whatever they want. Meanwhile Leni brings politics to new lows by persisting in the tired-old playbook of using a color to attract followers, as if Filipinos can be duped like kids to follow a clown with balloons and cotton candy.
On the road to getting to a genuine principles-based party system, a giant step forward would be to associate our choices with the ideals they represent. So let’s drop Leni the clown and let us consider just the more credible candidates in the race.
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Bongbong for Prosperity:
The thrust and direction of the Marcos clan have always been geared towards the revival and glory of the Maharlikans. Their underlying motivation for Filipinos to regain respect among the league of nations is a most basic ingredient for nationalists. That is why Marcos Sr.’s two decades in power had been characterized by nation building and large-scale projects for equipping and empowering Filipinos to be technologically and intellectually advanced. The formula of education, industrial prowess, military might and food security for prosperity has always worked wonders in bringing a nation on its feet. Bongbong is expected to pick up from where his father left off by pursuing the programs and strategies that were abruptly interrupted by the Yellow widow.
Isko for Decency:
Coming out from eating pagpag and sporting just underwear for magazines to make a living, Isko has come a long way with even Oxford and Harvard education under his belt. He speaks with calculated precision and has showcased plans of grandeur for the City of Manila, with a goal of making it a Singapore-class city through beautification, modernization and clean-up projects. Isko projects an image and persona of being polished, well-informed, and clean. Hardly using the foul-mouthed language we had in Digong, it will be a breather for many Filipinos to have a decent and good-looking Isko as top official for the next 6 years.
Manny for Integrity:
Anti-corruption is Manny’s key campaign slogan. As a Bible-trumping born-again Christian, he is not ashamed of quoting verses from scripture to back up his simple logic: if the Bible says it, let’s obey it to ensure all will be well for us. For the only majority-Christian nation on this side of the planet, Manny will probably best represent many Filipinos’ yearning for a moral recovery that the spiritually drought-stricken society badly needs. The fact that he has been sharing his wealth rather than stealing from state coffers is a testament and guarantee that he walks his talk. Putting dishonest officials behind bars (or even on death row) takes political will, and its once in a lifetime that a man who represents honesty is the best policy will grace the political landscape in a country bereft of true and genuine leaders. Honesty is such a lonely word, but here’s Manny to the rescue.
Bato for Order:
To guarantee no letup on the war on drugs and crime, you can choose Duterte’s right-hand man behind the war. Law and Order is what the Police force stands for and what better nation needs policing more than the Philippines? The Philippines has too many rules – that’s because Filipinos are by nature disobedient and will always find a loophole or crack to bypass any law or policy. Discipline can be learned but it takes repetition (enforced if needed) for any behavior to get ingrained into one’s coconut. Bato as the name implies gives Filipinos that much needed tough pounding to bring them in line. Law and order once established brings peace, and peace eventually brings prosperity.
Note: Ping as a choice would be similar to Bato, being himself a former police chief.
We’ll leave it to the readers to reflect on what Leni represents. It’s quite difficult to squeeze anything of value out of a Tweety Bird who thinks she’s now soaring as a Chilean Flamingo.
Zealous revolutionary advocate of bringing back common sense for the common good in a land of dysfunctional and delusional zombies.
Bongbong for Prosperity, Isko for Decency, Manny for Integrity, Bato for Order
Source: Filipino News Bulletin
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