Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

What with the constant party-switching and flip-flopping of the senatoriables, it’s not a wonder why the “United” Opposition isn’t as formidable as it seemed going into the new year. Inquirer columnist Rina Jimenez-David hit the nail right on the head when she noted that the opposition’s lack of identity hurts them; while the administration slate can be dismissed for being a bunch of opportunists (here’s looking at you, Sotto, Aquino-Oreta and Angara), I held out hope for the opposition to attain a measure of unity of purpose, if not credibility. As a group, the UNO slate isn’t even hard-line anti-GMA, or anti-CHACHA, or whatever. With no defining principles among political party members, unqualified personalities being asked to join just to helpo boost the party slate, and particularly with the culture of turncoat-ism, voting along party lines is, if not outrightly ridiculous, then, simply not right.

Instead, we should focus on the issues important to us, and push for progress in that area and keep track of what happens after the elections. If, say, Manny Villar — who is riding on the pro-Women platform — gets elected, then we should expect progress in that area. I remember Mar Roxas presenting himself as Mr. Palengke — and while I consider myself one of his biggest detractors — I do acknowledge his part in sponsoring Senate Bill No. 2263, which will translate (hopefully) to better public access to cheaper medicines.

Ask your candidates what they stand for. What causes do they support? Being pro-poor isn’t enough, but having a well-formed plan to alleviate poverty is. This is why I consider people like Pacquiao and Goma as just an order above amoebas: they can go on and on about how they’re anti-drug abuse, or pro-poor, but they are never really able to put forth a solid program: maybe because they can’t think that far ahead (if at all), or they’re just paying lip service. This is why I have nothing but loathing for Mike Defensor, whose latest ad campaign is as shameless and self-serving as it is without content: I don’t need a ‘Tol’ in the Senate, I need a lawmaker that can address my concerns:

1. Universal access to cheap medicine, hospital care and Social Security. This is a soft spot; just recently a friend died while receiving inadequate care from the hospital he was admitted to; they didn’t take care of him right away because he didn’t have money, and his injuries proved too much for his constitution. The aforementioned Senate Bill No. 2263 is, I think, a step in the right direction (re: cheaper medicine), but it should not stop there.
2. Transparency and anti-graft and corruption. Strangely enough, Ping Lacson has a good idea about this. Read the de Quiros article, or the Political Junkie’s post.
3. Poverty alleviation and employment. I find the focus on being an outsourcing/offshoring hub as well as being a mass exporter of human labor, while a boon in the short run, will be detrimental in the long run. It worries me that a graduate’s first choice is often to go the call-center route, and that talented doctors go abroad to be nurses. Not that you can blame them, with our economy being what it is.
4. Domestic violence and spousal abuse. Note that I don’t just mean violence against women, or merely physical abuse.
5. Continued support for the social sciences. With the laser-like focus on turning a profit, most private universities offer only the most mainstream of courses; you know, the money makers like medicine, business, law, etc. It is only with universities like UP that you can get a degree in a course like anthropology or a community development. The social sciences have never been known to make people rich (unless you go into politics), but they do serve an important purpose, particularly since I would not want to live in a society of only nurses, lawyers and contact center agents.
6. Impeachment. I don’t want another GMA lapdog. At least let it be open for consideration.
7. Charter Change. Tell me again why the system is wrong when it’s the people in it that are making such a mess of things?
8. The VFA and international relations. Because I need us to stop being their obedient little dogs.
9. Repeal the anti-smoking ordinances in Makati and Pasig. Because.

I encourage everybody to make a list of the issues you are concerned with the most, and examine the people who profess to support your advocacy. Then maybe, just maybe, things willl change.