The Philippine Online Chronicles

Playing dirty tricks or resorting to black propaganda has never been this vicious in Philippine history, Monmon Mitra, a Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate, pointsed out to Blog Watch. Rene B. Azurin says that “Mr. Aquino’s 'dirty tricks' operators are admittedly slick and they are succeeding in making this election not about what Mr. Aquino can do for the country but about whether Mr. Villar was indeed very very poor or merely very poor."  "Politics is, as usual, an end in itself — utterly disengaged from the whole point behind it," according to Benign0.  The thing is there is actually lots to face together as a people -- poverty, building a strong economy, improving our democracy, etc. But look at what's occupying our time: Petty Politics.

Do we really want to engage in petty politics in the next 33 days?

While the source of black propaganda provides half-truths, it takes us away from the more important realities of our future. Aren’t we forgetting something?

Issues.  Platforms of the candidates.

How can our candidates best address the problems facing our country?

What do you think is the top issue that the next president should address?

An April 5 nationwide survey by Campaigns and Images gives insights into the preferences of the electorate.

• Voters hold issues around poverty alleviation, graft and corruption in government, balanced national growth, and domestic peace important to their lives. They indeed serve as decision motivation factors in voters’ presidential preference
• Voters fed up with promises are looking for candidates that could embody their aspirations and deliver reforms.

Poverty alleviation is the critical issue in this March 20 survey followed by corruption, a balanced RP growth and peace and development.

In contrast, a web poll from the community members at Yahoo! Answers show more specific issues. Corruption is the number one issue that the President should address, followed by education, jobs, health care, poverty reduction , peace and order, economy,  population control, and more.  It is interesting to note that a few members didn’t think there is a top priority.  Everything about the country should be addressed with the same urgency as the rest, which is why selecting the best among all candidates is very important. The Philippine bishops agree that corruption and poverty are the main election issues. Corruption is unlikely to be the main cause of poverty, Walden Bello says.  “Wrongheaded policies are, and clean-cut technocrats have been responsible for more poverty than corrupt politicians.”

• Corruption – 101
• Education – 61
• Job security/job creation – 29
• Poverty reduction -19
• National security/peace and order –18
• Health care – 15
• Economy – 15
• Population control - 11
• Agriculture – 7
• Infrastructure – 7
• Environment/climate change – 4
• Others - 31
• None- 24

Source: Multiple Responses of 268 replies from Yahoo! Answers. What do you think is the top issue that the next president should address?, as of April 6, 2010

The sentiments of the internet population may be quite different from nationwide polls. Corruption is the top critical issue from internet users, compared to poverty alleviation from all sectors of society. Though corruption and poverty alleviation are made aware to us by media or the pastoral letter, the question remains: do the candidates actually get to feel the pulse of the citizenry.  With the tools available in social media sites like Yourpurplethumb.com, a large community of internet users get to have a voice that merit attention from our presidential candidates.

Let's take a look at some of the views on corruption, jobs, education, and other issues.

Corruption

Graft and corruption... How can the country stay on its two feet if our [politicos] abuse their power to enrich themselves? Poverty alleviation depends on funds available. If those in power do not use their position to administer the wealth of the nation appropriately, honestly, according to law and with the welfare of their countrymen in mind, who will? Health and education are also important but with leaders who cheat and allow others to cheat in the exercise of their power all... other important issues will not be solved. Graft and corruption is simply cheating and it is done in the dark. Where is the honor of a true Filipino leader?- Angie

Education

Education and Economy should be the priority, graft and corruption can never be eliminated as long as long as we Filipinos [possess] free will but it can be minimized through proper accountability and awareness, Japan and South Korea has its share of corrupt politicians and yet they are prosperous. Why? because most of our elected officials abuse their position without doing their job while Japan and South Korea's [politicians] make sure that they do their job as elected officials before they steal (if they will), Improved Education will allow our younger generation to spot and prevent (checks and balance if you will) these flaws or malpractices in the government thus corrupt officials will think twice before participating in such corrupt activity. – Storm

Jobs

Jobs, jobs, jobs! The people need jobs to earn a living and make our best and brightest less tempted to moving to different countries. Economics should be first and foremost so we can create a vibrant and powerful middle class to battle poverty and corruption.

The "Anti-Corruption" platform has not done anything for the country. It is becoming a baseless campaign ploy, meant to trap the politically inexperienced into emotional fever. Remember, GMA battled corruption when she became president. Erap is corrupt therefore GMA is the solution. Before that, President Garica's administration is corrupt therefore Diosdado Macapagal is answer and then President Marcos is corrupt therefore Cory is the one. Now, it's GMA is corrupt therefore Noynoy is the solution. The country has been corrupt since Spain ruled our country. G-best answer

Other issues

Kelly Villanueva does not think there should be a top priority. Everything about the country needs to be addressed with  the same urgency as the rest. Kelly believes that selecting the best among all the candidates is crucial.  That candidate “must be capable to work on everything all at once, utilizing all government sectors as extra hands through efficient leadership. Past accomplishments cannot be disregarded: it will display the ability of the candidate to work under great pressure and stress. Taking the highest government seat is not like anything they've experienced before, but it cannot serve as training grounds! The elected president must know what to do from day one!”

• Strengthening the justice implementation program in the country
• Starting a moral revolution and overhaul the broken system in government agencies.
• Removing the pork barrel to remove the root of all evils and corruption
• Changing the ideology of the Filipino.

Anne says, “I find we blame too many things on others and do not take responsibility for our own actions.”

Presidential candidates and their programs

The platforms and concerns of our presidential candidates address corruption and poverty alleviation. Though their platforms may look good on paper, it is always wise to check the feasibility of programs based on track record, competence, and vision for the country.

The programs of three front-runners and a dark horse are identified by Campaigns and Images.

• BENIGNO AQUINO III has built a formidable ascendancy on an anti-corruption program of government, which is meant to refresh the public mind about the wrongdoings and shortcomings of President GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO. He has forcefully explained that the continuity that’s being sought by her surrogate in former defense secretary GILBERT TEODORO JR will do the Philippines no good.
• MANUEL VILLAR JR espouses poverty eradication as the central theme of his campaign, presenting himself as a rags-to-riches story that can be duplicated in any one who works hard among the country’s 51 million voters. He is gaining higher public trust ratings on a poverty elimination initiative that he plans to implement within a year of taking his oath of office.
• GIBO TEODORO represents the hybrid conservative-progressive argument, highlighting the gains the country has maintained as far as the economy is concerned.
• Former president JOSEPH ESTRADA emphasizes domestic issues, especially peace and order, as the cornerstone of balanced economic growth and pre-requisite to massive inflows of foreign investment and capital.
• RICHARD GORDON heads the Philippine National Red Cross and was one of the country’s highly regarded city mayors. Education is his top priority.

Enough of petty politics

While the focus is diverting us to the black propaganda, it is utterly useless to go on with the debate after all has been said and done from all sides.  Some people will always want to believe what they want to believe. For those who rather look forward to solutions, let’s hear our candidates tell us how to get out of the mess.  Fighting corruption is not enough. Walden Bello points out  corruption is not the principal cause of poverty  and cautions us about believing “anti-corruption crusades provide the main response to the country’s economic ills."  He believes that “the main source of our lack of economic dynamics is a wrong policy paradigm that we have allowed ourselves to be straitjacketed into.”

We need real leadership and a candidate that's out there listening to the critical issues, who refuses to engage in  petty politics. Every other candidate now needs to make a case for why they are the best person for the job who is able to address the critical issues of our country.

It is important to check the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses (here is a a SWOT analysis). A rational information-based process is needed in order to make a wise choice. Let's not waste our time reading these propagandists-aka-columnists.

Challenge to our candidates

BongV challenges Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Erap Estrada, Gibo Teodoro, Dick Gordon, JC de los Reyes, Ed Villanueva, Nick Perlas, and Jamby Madrigal.

If you had just 10 words to describe why people should vote for you instead of another, what would you communicate?

I'd like to add the rest of Bong's questions to our candidates.

What is your value proposition?

What are the policies that you will pursue, how will you implement it, how much will it cost taxpayers if you were to achieve the change we seek?

What is in it for our country?

What’s in it for our public agents?

What’s in it for our businessmen?

Stock image from Blog Watch