By: Abdullah R. Sirad
Do you ever hear these statements from candidates at the national television towards their rivals in the politics?
"Don’t vote for mentally ill candidate…!"
"Don’t be fool by babaeros…!"
"Don’t vote for anomalous candidate… (road scandal and land conversion)!"
These are just few of the different types of mudslinging among competing candidates that created more conflict and caused tension among followers and supporters. Such mocking rebuttal rapidly spread throughout the campaign period and distract many from selecting who among the candidates has credibility.
Vilification and not verification deftly describe this current trend of campaigning. Every party keeps on looking blot against rivals whether such taken information is authentic or fabricated. When a single flaw is seen, heard or observed from some members in a certain party, rival would instantly exaggerate it over media to denigrate other and gain fame out of it regardless of its authenticity. Supposedly it’s not fair to generalize a certain party just because of the flaws and lapse in management of some individual within it. Every party, as I believe, holds on to their reputation and morale for their better direction to serve the people at their best. No one is perfect as we know it. Mistake is inevitable but it doesn’t mean that the fault of some will reflect the image of the party as a whole. But this is the trend in our political arena. Fault of one is fault of all. The more you refute other, the famous you would become. The better you fabricate information, the more intellectual you would be called.
Why demeaning one another served as usual practice among competing candidates to advance from the others? Do they understand that the whole world is observing them? Is this the image they want to project and be called of? Honestly, I was embarrassed when one time I was bragging to my Indian officemate that we Filipinos (in the office) does not backbite and drag down one another just for one’s own interest. He just looked at me with a smile and replied “are you watching TFC or reading news paper about your country?” your leaders are throwing mud to one another!. Though I was able to justify such scenario, I was deeply shame and told myself that this is really how the image of the country was brought for. Candidates are too verbose of refuting one another but in action, they did not prove anything but to aggravate the ridiculous status of the country.
In just few days from now, we are going to vote for leaders whom we believe can help the country to recover (if not advance) morally, spiritually and economically. But how ready we are for this very important decision we are going to undertake once again? How sure we are that mudslinging, vote-buying, and hello Garci tactics will not impair our hope to elect leaders whom we consider credible and trustful? Or are there credible and trustful leader among the candidates? Can we trust this first ever automated election in the country?
I am not sure of anything from now. The PCOS trial poll didn’t give the exact result of the votes which connote that cheating is still possible. Revealing stinks from each candidate worsen as May 10 is getting closer. It’s truly difficult to trust anyone at this time. The very frustrating result of the 2004 national election still reminded everybody that people in “super power” can possibly twist the result of this (2010) election and the same leaders as of present will continue to lead the country. In my case, I am still doubtful of whom am I going to give my vote. I had once casted my vote to the late Senator Raul Roco and to all his party members in 2004 election because I believed that of all his rivals, he and his members have the credibility and capability to lead the country. But like many, I was dismayed that GMA’s magic worked in distorting the real result of the election. This is what I am worrying for. My history teacher had once told us that history repeats itself. Will such history repeats at this year’s election? May God have mercy on us!
