President Marcos declared October 30 a special non-working day to enable Filipinos, especially the youth, to participate in the upcoming Barangay and Sagguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). And yet, this also signals the mark of hitting the alarm as we cast our votes for the next leaders of our local communities.
As voters will hold their pens on election day, we should be awakened and reminded of the great responsibility and the immersive decision we would make. No matter what politicians do, the most considerable responsibility still lies in the hands of the voters. Without people and their votes, they cannot win.
How would casting votes affect you? You might ask. You are trying to be as popish as the pope. You might say: But isn’t the election everybody’s concern? Who we vote for is what we get! It is our decision to make, but it is our future at stake.
With the influence of social media, where we can get information and have the chance to air our voices, we should utilize this profound platform wisely to discern better, separate facts from speculations, and educate ourselves about the candidates.
Governance is not a game of monopoly but of public trust. With many platforms that we can use to educate ourselves, we must set aside motherhood statements and prevent ourselves from falling into the trap of electing someone based on empty promises, utang na loob, grandstanding, glamor, and family name that seems to be a parcel of Philippine politics.
So vote for a responsive candidate who is aware of issues concerning our local communities. Vote for the candidate who will grant scholarships to deserving students and outlay opportunities for growth and development like sports and academics. Vote for a candidate who will visit school and extend support and messages to youth like us, who has a brave soul to face, and who will empower and challenge us to become morally upright citizens.
Think not of the fair face but of the clean conscience. Think not of the money they bid but of the coffer they would most likely snip. Think not of sweet words and smiles but of an honest heart to serve. Think of the one whose heart is close to the youth, the old, the vulnerable, and the marginalized.
We need someone who can react promptly and with good judgment when an alarm about local community concerns rings. Because in the nick of time, our votes will be crucial to charting our community’s roadmap to progress and stability, we will not only be thinking of ourselves but also the welfare of our younger cohort.
Credits to the Editorial Cartoonist!
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