"Political awareness goes beyond social media posts."
By Louise Coleen Magahis
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte began his term on June 30, 2016. Four years ago, Filipinos hoped for a better government to manage national concerns and affairs. Prior to his presidency, Filipinos saw his potential to lead the country and actually make changes to build a stronger nation during his six-year-post.
In February 2016, months before the election, The Omnibus Election Code (OEC) of the Philippines announced that the campaign would start on the 9th and will end three months after, on May 7. During those months, five presidential candidates competed to prove to the Filipino people their potential and willingness to make a better Philippines.
Jejomar Binay, Mar Roxas, Grace Poe, Miriam Defensor Santiago, and Rodrigo Duterte: These candidates had their unique set of strengths and shortcomings. Filipinos, on the other hand, only saw how these five embodied the qualities of their preferred leader.
President Duterte drew the utmost attention due to his history of strictness and commitment to making his city, Davao, one of the safest communities in the world. The one contender who first showed minimal interest in the presidency and led people to believe that he had no intentions to control the entire country.
But why did a plurality support him more than any other candidate with, in fact, a more defined platform?
Years ago, the youth began calling for people to become more involved in politics. Many of us hoped for a more defined governance and wanted a better administration. It is possible that all of the presidential candidates want to make the country a safer place for their fellow citizens, but it is also true that the person with the biggest mouth, not the loudest brains, will attract the most interest.
PRRD made it a point to portray himself as the type of loud revolutionary who is capable of reigning in a country rife with criminals and abolishing rampant corruption. Duterte’s directive was to provide a hasty and unimaginable solution for the Philippines; a three-month-rule of anti-crime campaign that includes drugs and corruption, and his vow to use jet ski.
In May 2021. President Duterte labeled his people “stupid” for having faith on his “bravado,” a campaign joke involving him riding a jet ski to the West Philippine Sea to declare it a Philippine territory.
Duterte’s campaign was almost too good to be true, yet Filipinos fell for it. After all, who can resist a fairytale? Citizens were dying for a better president who could put an end to the decade-long agony. However, in politics, everything should be done according to the laws and must undergo a drue process.
Given all that is going on, crimes on crimes, the pandemic, the national debt, and financial mismanagement, people should be able to see the difference between a president who has plans for the country and a president who has good intentions for his people.
With the next election taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people should be politically aware of what is actually going on behind every candidate’s rhetoric. The current administration should provide a good example for the youth. Voters should examine a candidate’s work history before embracing his or her promises.
It takes more than being a registered voter or being politically engaged on social media to be politically aware. Being politically informed should involve our fellow Filipinos’ struggles under the administration, as well as understanding of a politician’s accomplishments.
Everyone wants someone who can effectively manage the entire country, but not everyone knows how to choose the best candidate for the most important post a man can obtain. Before getting involved in politics, make sure that one is fully aware of everything beyond the field of politics.
Being politically aware goes beyond posts and tweets. This is a step closer to having a better Philippines. And in order to achieve this, loud minds are needed as much as big mouths.
The author is a fourth-year journalism student at the University of Santo Tomas.
