And so goes another major milestone in the lead up to the 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections. Manny Pacquiao — the next big Pinoy celebrity to make a bid for an office in the Philippine Government. Considering that this guy once famously lodged no less than 20 applications for exemption to a firearms prohibition back in 2007 (“I approved it myself!” crowed Nicodemo Ferrer, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner, to reporters. “Aprub Agad!“), this is an ominous development indeed. It puts into perspective what Pinoy-style elections really are — an exercise of betting a significant chunk of the future of the Republic on the thinking faculties of the Filipino electorate.
Considering that the principles around how one must responsibly wield the power and right to vote are so simple, it remains a monumental headscratcher as to why Pacquiao and those around him who encourage him could actually conceive of such a scary notion of a role for him in Government.
Pacquiao has the right to run for office. Filipinos will have to decide whether or not he is fit to lead them. It is time yet again to reflect on the soundness of this simple equation and look back on our sorry track record of putting democracy into practice.
Why do Filipinos suck at democracy?
Monday of this week, Manny Pacquiao had already provided the first half of the answer to the above question. The second half of the answer is up to the Pinoy voter. And we can only hope that is is an intelligent response.
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I just hope that the fact that Pacquiao lost by a landslide in 2007 is a sign of a good, discerning voting population (at least in General Santos City).
They say the main reason he lost in GenSan in 2007 was because the constituents wanted to watch more Mannnny Pacquaioooooo boxing in Las Vegas than change their incumbent rep. Not that Madame Darlene Antonino was doing bad. If that falls under good discerning, why not?
In a democracy, sometimes even the other guy wins.
In other news, Batangeños tell me that Governor Vilma Santos Recto was actually the best thing that happened to Lipa and Batangas in recent memory. Apparently the former best actress took the politics business seriously (with the prodding of her husband’s family, no doubt!) and took up public administration courses during her stint as Lipa Mayor, and effectively got Lipa’s economy moving.
Can someone from Batangas verify that impression?
I guess we really, really have to learn to give credit where credit’s due.
What I do know is that if some presidentiable picks Vilma as VP, nobody would go Governor Recto Who?
He has my vote!
Jon, that’s fair enough. Then again, that is an after-the-fact assessment. It’s a different exercise to before-the-fact evaluation (i.e. the part that goes with candidacy, campaign, and election).
My point being that Vilma was elected primarily because of her celebrity AND THEN had happened to perform well (so far) in office.
haha! I loved Migz Zubiri’s advice to Manny Pacquiao: “Don’t let the politicians use you. You will lose all your money.”
I have a vision that Noynoy Aquino will be the next President of the Philippines. The same vision I had with his mom former President Cory Aquino. I had a vision of seven coup in the clouds at Santo Domingo Church. I had also a vision of Laban sign in the clouds at Cordillera Street in Quezon City. I had also a vision of Jesus Christ at Jollibee Restaurant. I pray that Gov.Vilma Santos-Recto will be elected again in this coming election. I hope and pray that my vision will be pushed through and my prayer will be answered by God. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.