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OPINION // THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
Election 2022: More than a Numbers Game RPTD // Renz Bautista
Last
May 9, a very DECISIVE numbers game was played. The game would determine the fate of the country in the next six years and would likely influence the next election (or should I say, numbers game). With 67.5 Million Filipino voters, comprising of 13.11 million those belonging to the Generation Z (18-25 years old), 23.94 million belonging to the millennial generation (26-41 years old), 16.77 million belonging to the Generation X (42-57 years old) and the remaining 11.92 million belonging to the “boomer, silent, senior citizens and greatest generation” (58 years old above), how was the game played? The numbers game has even started long before the campaign periods and the filing of certificate of candidacies (COCs) which was last February 8, 2022 and October 1, 2021, respectively. Each move of every political personality, big or small, was monitored and was known to the masses. Long history of campaigning, revisionism and mind conditioning was rampant even before the campaign period. You may say candidates and political parties made a very bold move. Some opted to campaign under famous personalities, some opted to join forces with other political parties, some just relied on surveys, and some chose to run independent and rely on their volunteers and supporters. I pondered upon the hypothetical results of the elections and a lot of what-ifs crossed over
when this certain candidate wins for a national position. As of this writing, the actual result was the worst case of all my what-ifs. I did not sleep the night while the partial and unofficial tallies are being transmitted while watching multiple election coverages simultaneously and chatting with my friends and peers regarding the results over what could I term the elections, a popularity contest. I was overall disappointed but not surprised. Honestly, I think that the recently held elections were not “successful” contrary on what the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) have said over a press conference. The faulty vote-counting machines, election-related violence, election violations (e.g., vote buying, campaigning by giving of sample ballots), the non-extension of voting hours and non-compliance of health protocols, and other anomalies before and during the elections show the cracks the 2022 Elections had. As what Karen Davila has said, it is not the fault of the people and the pandemic to have very long lines due to the broken VCMs and people have the right to safeguard their votes and be present in the votation process, from registration, receiving of the ballot, until to the insertion of the ballot to the VCM and voter’s receipt generation. “Basically, this election has written the way elections are won in this country. Hindi na kailangan maglatag ng plataporma sa mga
debate, hindi kailangan mag-grant ng interview. Kailangan mo lang siguro ng tanyag na apelyido, solid ang machinery mo and social media, and long history in politics.” This is what Vicky Morales insighted over an interview with University of the Philippines political science professor Ranjit Rye. It is saddening that our country who dreams of being progressive and to be on par with the likes of well-developed countries like Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, chose a leader who just happened to have the same surname of a previous president of the country without any in-depth and careful analysis with his vague and generalist platforms. Other countries, personalities and even international media has branded a very “ideal” and the “best possible” candidate, but well, it seems that we have forgotten our history lessons back in elementary. With the Elections concluded and proclamations happening, all we have to do is accept the results and move on with life. I can really relate to what Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, a UP political analyst said over an ABS-CBN interview, “Good luck na lang talaga sa Pilipinas.” Nonetheless, we must still continue to show empathy and patriotism by striving and fighting for what is right, moral, and just for the welfare of our fellowmen over the next six years, even if things did not go our way. [R]
