Political developments in the past few days have left many Filipinos outraged, confused, and exasperated.
It is tempting, even comforting, to think that the surprises and plot twists will all end today, the deadline for the substitution of candidates. And then we can all go back to our individual businesses, wondering whether the recent positive developments in our fight against COVID are here to stay, whether our students can look forward to resuming face-to-face learning, and whether the reopening of the economy and the coming holiday season would translate to better income prospects for many.
The more realistic picture, however, is that the politics will get noisier, messier, and more frustrating even after today and as we enter the campaign period.
The wiser response would be to step back and let the politicians wrestle and wrangle among themselves. Ultimately their moves will betray their own values – or the perversity of them. Their words, no matter how well crafted, will tell us if they truly intend to serve the people or their own egos.
It is an utter waste of time and emotion to get caught up in what is happening, or not happening, and to wonder what the outcome of the current circus will be. Let us consciously stop ourselves from speculating, and work instead at perfecting our own set of criteria for what we want in our leaders.
Didn’t a previous survey tell us that Filipinos want a leader who is concerned for the poor, who is not corrupt, and who is honest? These qualities remain supreme, and can serve as a guide in our decision-making.
So let us go about our business, do our work conscientiously, care for ourselves and our families, continue to observe health protocols – and imagine a Philippines where, as a product of our prudent, thoughtful decisions, we no longer have to second-guess anybody’s intentions and doubt their sincerity to serve.
Let us remain calm and work on thinking critically instead of merely adding to the noise. The really big event is not in knowing what each candidate will do next, but in exercising our right and obligation to vote only the most honest, most deserving candidates who will lead us for the next six years.