This newspaper marks its 29th anniversary today, curiously at a time of both uncertainty and certainty.
The uncertainty stems from the coming May elections where, a recent survey says, a good percentage of voters have not yet made up their minds on whom to support for the top post.
Given the issues faced by this nation on all fronts and at all levels of governance, electing the next batch of national and local leaders and making sure the votes are counted properly are at the top of our concerns.
How will the candidates’ promises measure up to what they would actually accomplish when they have secured their election? Over the decades, we have become painfully aware of the disconnect between campaigns and reality. How can we arrest the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the continued absence of opportunities, the poor infrastructure and the life-altering threat posed by climate change?
Finally, how can we even be sure that the supposedly technology-based vote counting and canvassing system will be safe from those planning to rig the results?
What will the next months and years look like and will these translate to an improved life for most of us?
Despite these, some things remain certain.
Foremost is that Filipinos still prefer to evaluate their candidates on the images, they project rather than the substance they can potentially bring to the table. Perception remains key, despite exhortations on the voting public to deliberate before they make their choice.
As a result, candidates’ handlers resort to catchy messages that appeal to emotions rather than encourage people to compare and contrast the officials running against each other on objective measures. What a convenient way to keep voters unintelligent.
The Standard enters another year—nay, another decade—of bringing news to its readers. Here’s to reporting better developments more effectively.