PAULA MAKES A POINT...
Let's start with 'WHAT IS A VOTE?'
A vote is a decision. It is first and foremost a privilege to exercise one's right to choose. And let it be said that since a democratic election is won by capturing the majority number of votes, it is, in essence, a RATIONAL DECISION.
We can vote for many different things. Yes or no. This party or that party. This person or that person. Voting is supposed to be all about rationality.
In this case, we are voting for a PERSON. We are voting for a PERSON who is POTENTIALLY PRESIDENTIAL.
When voting for a presidential person you are voting for the POTENTIAL of that person to lead an entire country. We don't know yet if that person will be the greatest president ever or the worst, or if he/she will be a mediocre one. So a vote in a way is a gamble. You're placing your bet on somebody.
Presidential candidates are job applicants. They are vying for the highest, most powerful and also the most complicated job in the land. As presidentiables present themselves, they are opening themselves up to our judgment, our instincts, and our REASON. They are asking us, "Who do you think is potentially the most presidential among us?"
That is the essence of a presidential election. NOT who is the most popular, who is the most powerful, but who is the most presidential. It is a matter of fulfilling human potential.
To be presidential is to have the inherent, innate talents and capabilities to preside over governing 90 million people. To be presidential is to have statesmanship, courage, vision, and a deep, unerring sense of justice. To be presidential is possess leadership qualities that not just your countrymen, but people from all over the world, can look up to.
According to our constitution nearly anybody can be a PRESIDENTIABLE. But not everybody is truly PRESIDENTIAL.
And it GOES BOTH WAYS. If you look for certain qualities in a president, then YOU, as a voter, must have the QUALITIES OF A GOOD VOTER. You vote using your mind, your heart, and your love for your country. You vote upholding the sacred principles of democracy. You vote with reason and with passion. You vote because you want to take things to the next level, as every change of government should. And a good voter is one who CAN RECOGNIZE TRUE POTENTIAL IN OTHERS BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN THE TRUE POTENTIAL IN HIMSELF.
As a citizen of a democratic country YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO FULFILL YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL, just as you have the privilege of helping others fulfill THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. And yes, that includes the President. We are all in this together!
Take a step back and immerse yourself in the essence of a democracy and the sanctity of the vote. Quiet the noise and wipe away the mudslinging that mar most political campaigns. Think. Reflect. Ponder. Research. Ask questions. And hold in your mind the highest vision you can possibly have for your country, your president, and yourself.
And then... choose wisely.
- Paula Nocon
A vote is a decision. It is first and foremost a privilege to exercise one's right to choose. And let it be said that since a democratic election is won by capturing the majority number of votes, it is, in essence, a RATIONAL DECISION.
We can vote for many different things. Yes or no. This party or that party. This person or that person. Voting is supposed to be all about rationality.
In this case, we are voting for a PERSON. We are voting for a PERSON who is POTENTIALLY PRESIDENTIAL.
When voting for a presidential person you are voting for the POTENTIAL of that person to lead an entire country. We don't know yet if that person will be the greatest president ever or the worst, or if he/she will be a mediocre one. So a vote in a way is a gamble. You're placing your bet on somebody.
Presidential candidates are job applicants. They are vying for the highest, most powerful and also the most complicated job in the land. As presidentiables present themselves, they are opening themselves up to our judgment, our instincts, and our REASON. They are asking us, "Who do you think is potentially the most presidential among us?"
That is the essence of a presidential election. NOT who is the most popular, who is the most powerful, but who is the most presidential. It is a matter of fulfilling human potential.
To be presidential is to have the inherent, innate talents and capabilities to preside over governing 90 million people. To be presidential is to have statesmanship, courage, vision, and a deep, unerring sense of justice. To be presidential is possess leadership qualities that not just your countrymen, but people from all over the world, can look up to.
According to our constitution nearly anybody can be a PRESIDENTIABLE. But not everybody is truly PRESIDENTIAL.
And it GOES BOTH WAYS. If you look for certain qualities in a president, then YOU, as a voter, must have the QUALITIES OF A GOOD VOTER. You vote using your mind, your heart, and your love for your country. You vote upholding the sacred principles of democracy. You vote with reason and with passion. You vote because you want to take things to the next level, as every change of government should. And a good voter is one who CAN RECOGNIZE TRUE POTENTIAL IN OTHERS BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN THE TRUE POTENTIAL IN HIMSELF.
As a citizen of a democratic country YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO FULFILL YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL, just as you have the privilege of helping others fulfill THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. And yes, that includes the President. We are all in this together!
Take a step back and immerse yourself in the essence of a democracy and the sanctity of the vote. Quiet the noise and wipe away the mudslinging that mar most political campaigns. Think. Reflect. Ponder. Research. Ask questions. And hold in your mind the highest vision you can possibly have for your country, your president, and yourself.
And then... choose wisely.
- Paula Nocon
Labels: elections 2010, paula nocon, vote vote vote
posted by carlosceldran @ 9:34 PM
18 Comments:
nice post. thanks.
Voting only works in a truly democratic and disciplined society where people respect the constitution no matter what class you belong to.
In the Philippines, voting is useless and meaningless. The majority of the people are easily hoodwinked and bought. Those with the power and means to run for office bend the laws and bribe law enforcements from top to bottom.
Voting in the Philippines is not only a world of make believe, it's a living nightmare.
I can already tell what will happen:
1. A candidate will cheat, win and the losing party will file a protest and by the time judgment is handed down the cheating candidates term is over.
2. Murder, murder, murder.
3. Corruption, corruption, corruption.
4. Same old faces and families in government positions.
5. Noynoy will win by borrowing Obama's mantra of change and hope. After he wins, the media will brew this fairytale wedding of a bachelor president and it's gonna be dubbed as the wedding of the century...and so on and so on and so on...
Ka-artihan at drama. 'Yan po ang ating binoboto sa Pilipinas kanya watak watak ang bansa.
Cynical much?
Take a walk.
Anyways, that's why I thought democracy doesn't work for us. But then again, what choice do we have.
Smile, man. Some things in the Philippines does get better. I really wish you could see that.
Useless to vote here in Pinas... the masses make up the majority of voters... the likes of which vote for Erap...
Just the fact that you are online means you are not 'masa'... your measly one vote cannot override tens of millions of ignorant choices..
Give up the dream of a non-corrupt country.. it's too deep-rooted in our culture... you can't change the game, you're just gonna have to play it...
i think we should make the best of the system because it's there. but there might be a better way of choosing leaders for a country like ours.
Why did you switch carlos,from noynoy to gibo?
Mr. Anonymous has a point and takes his thoughts from real life experience of how elections have been conducted in the Philippines. Having said that, I don't think we should stop believing that we can still get up from the abysmal plight of our country at the hands of our corrupt leaders. And now we are being offered choices as to who could best serve the nation.
I also do not believe in popularity and celebrity endorsements as basis for who is the most presidential. Above all, my vote goes to the one who will bravely support the RH bill and never fears the bully and sinister RCC.
Oh! where Oh where, do you get your optimism Carlos?
At the risk of being accused elitist - which if it happens would be an accusation that is so far from the truth for I consider meself to be a left leaning non religious guy who is very fluent in the mother tongue - I think that piece you posted should be translated to every language in the Philippines.
Just to make it more accessible, you know?
Josemaria.
I switched because I think Noynoy will not make a good president. I don't think he has what it takes. Full stop.
I just think Gibo is smarter and has better ideas and the drive to pull it off. That's all.
Hey Why not Viliar Erap Bro Eddie Jamby and JC delos Reyes?
Josemaria
Josemaria.
Bro. Eddie and JC? Anybody who is overtly too religious is not even an option.
And Jamby. Um. No thanks. Really.
and about viliar and erap?
and I forgot to mention gordon
The reason why elections are futile is because Filipinos since People Power 1986 have not punished corruption. The point of having a revolution is change and punishment. Neither of this happened.
Have any of the Marcoses and their cronies gone to trial, served jail time and returned the money since they were ousted? I guess the Marcoses and Company should not have been overthrown because to this day they are innocent, right?
Second example. Estrada was overthrown because of corruption. And then what happened? Another president pardoned his crime meaning it's okay to steal.
It does not really matter who runs and who wins, who steals and who lies. Our problem is as simple as NOT PUNISHING LAWBREAKERS.
Many countries followed our People Power movement. It's a shame that most of these countries finished and followed through. We on the hand did not. It's like nothing happened. Nothing really changed. Unpunished corruption. The only thing that keeps changing are the hands and faces of these thieves in Malacanang from the same clique and clan.
Punish corruption. That is the key to prosperity in our country.
Thanks Carlos! Very nice post. I hope more people in our country read this and be reminded of their responsibilities as a voter.
pumili ng mahusay. bumoto. bantayan ang boto. suportahan at bigyang pagkakataon ang mananalo. kung may gagawing katiwalian, ihayag at tutulan.
maging parte po tayo ng solusyon, hindi ng problema.
hindi ikauunlad ng ating inang bayan ang pagka-negatibo at cynical natin.
I enjoyed reading your post.This upcoming election,we should not waste our privilege to vote,choose for the right candidate.Think first before we vote,because the future lies on us.
Vote wisely!
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