QUEZON City, Philippines (March 23) – If I’ll be given a chance to ask one question to the presidential candidates of the 2016 elections, I will ask them “Why would you choose the chaotic life of politics more than your simple life?”
Since I became aware of politics and became a certified voter, I always wondered why a person will want the messy life of politics compared to a simple and peaceful life. I assumed that maybe it is because of the money. I feel sorry for our country because almost all who was declared as the President became a crocodile. They tasted money and craved for more of it, although they’re already have a full tummy…Their greediness lead those Presidents to their broken promises, their pledge that they will first think of the country and the people in the country before themselves.
I don’t want an answer like “Gusto kong paglingkuran ang ating bayan” .. Jeez.. booring!.. Everybody can serve our country even the poorest people can do that. Even a child can serve his or her country in a simple way.
Or maybe one will answer “Gusto kong tulungan ang mahihirap, dahil naging mahirap din ako” ..oh really?, the answer is overused!! I know a lot of politicians that started as poor then eventually the magic happened, in just a blink of an eye they became rich, got a lot of properties through questionable means. In that case, what happened to their promise that they will help the poor? The poor people are still poor because the budget that was reserved for them was already in someone’s greedy pocket. Hmmm!
“Gusto ko ng pagbabago”, yes of course!, everyone wants change, especially in our not-so-good economy and in our corrupt government. Actually, I already heard a lot of that answer in all previous presidents and presidential candidates, but the thing is, nobody was able to deliver the promised “change”. I want someone that will prove it, not in words but in actions.
Whatever their answers will be, I want something that will make me and everyone realize that the only intention of the presidential candidates is to serve and help the people and the country with all their heart and soul, not their greedy mind and pocket. I need to hear something that will make me say that “Yeah! You deserve to run as a President and you ought to win!” Lastly, I want someone that will change my perspective, that a person is not running for the position of a President for the reason of their greediness but something more positive for our country. I hope that one of the presidential candidates this 2016 will show optimism and something different from the past presidents.
(written by Mia Caragay, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
