Today, May 11, is the last day of the campaign period for national and local candidates for Monday’s election. All of them will make that final push to ensure their victory.
The past period was a whirlwind of events for these aspirants, as well as their funders and supporters. Surveys and mock polls showed the supposed preferences of particular groups that have acted as respondents. Candidates tried to get on the good side of religious and other groups perceived powerful enough to sway their supporters’ choices. They employed political advertisements, popular endorsers, witty phrases to increase their likelihood of winning. Some went to great lengths to smear their rivals, or, in extreme cases, eliminate them from the race altogether.
Many candidates exploited some voters’ propensity to see elections as a way to make money by going for the highest bidder.
Some aspirants benefited greatly from the power of machinery, given the support of the powers-that-be. They started the race with hardly anyone being aware of their names, but now the likelihood is all too high that they will sport the word “Honorable” come July.
Some participated in debates, to varying performance results. Some showed themselves knowledgeable of pressing issues and aware of what they intend to do once they get elected. Others banked on mere bravado, or popularity, or even good looks.
On this last day, these candidates already likely know deep in their hearts whether they would win or not. They likely know, too, what they would do—gloat or be humbled by their victory, or reject defeat and claim that they were cheated.
But this last campaign day is all the more crucial for voters, not for candidates. It’s the voters who have a real stake in the elections. It will be our future that is shaped, or mangled, by the choices we will make on Monday.
Depending on the quality of one’s connections, social media feeds these days tend to be full of commentary and endorsements or rejections of this or that candidate.
There are saving graces. There are helpful tools shared online that can help voters make issues-based choices and shun the noise surrounding political personalities. Such tools also allow us to see through the candidates beyond whoever is endorsing them, and despite their well-funded campaign ads that project them to be men and women of service.
It’s the last push, indeed, for Filipinos to assert that their right to vote is coupled with the obligation to choose wisely and deliberately.