It's Been More Than 30 Years Filipinos Are Told To "Vote Wisely" But Did It REALLY WORK?

Having been born in the late Marcos Years means one thing - I had passed through MANY PRESIDENTS already. I passed through the late Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph "Erap" Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the late Noynoy C. Aquino, and outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte. It's the same campaign to vote wisely. Suffrage is the right to vote. However, I felt it should be a PRIVILEGE instead of a right. Rights are given to everyone without legal denial such as the right to religion, right to limited free speech, right to have a job, and the right to enjoy the fruit of your labor. However, a privilege is granted to certain individuals such as a driver's license, owning a car (if you do have a garage), and even VOTING. Unfortunately, there are so many dumb voters because voting has become a RIGHT instead of a PRIVILEGE. I think voting should be a privilege, especially that allowing people with very little education will keep the vicious cycle.

I remembered a lot of stuff since Erap's time. Ramos, not too much, except there was the power crisis late in his term. Cory had a power crisis too which I believe could've been remedied if the Foreign Investment Act of 1991 wasn't so restrictive either. People were told to vote wisely but what did we get? Sure, one can always argue that Ramos, Gloria, Noynoy, and Duterte had done something but what about the legislators? People have been prone to voting for celebrities and athletes because they're popular even if they have NO PLATFORM whatsoever. Merely asking people to vote wisely and exercise their suffrage has become futile. People do have a free choice to vote for any candidate they want. 

Unfortunately, presidential systems are almost like beauty pageants. Outgoing Vice President Leni Loud Robredo's campaign is almost comparable to a celebrity event. Why should I even be surprised that beauty queen Catriona Gray endorses Leni Loud? I'm not surprised that Shaina Garcia Magdayao (who I think is prettier than Catriona) even endorses Leni Loud. Toni Gonzaga endorses Bobong Marcos. Neri Colmenares did get his hot aunt-in-tow, Angel Locsin Colmenares-Arce, to get him endorsed but it fortunately FAILED. Celebrities tend to be used to endorse candidates as if they're commercial products. In fact, I even have to laugh when Leni Loud got "crowned". 

The current system really encourages stupidity among voters. Presidential system are popularity-based and personality-based politics. It's always been a winner takes all scenario so people will do anything to win within what's allowed. Sure, cheating is technically not allowed. However, it's NEVER been illegal to get a celebrity endorsement. Toni endorsing Bobong and Shaina endorsing Leni Loud isn't illegal. What becomes illegal is when acts of lasciviousness or indecency such as if Bum Aquino (hypothetically) hired striptease dancers to campaign for Leni Loud. That act, if it happened, can call for Leni Loud's disqualification. 

It's been more than 30 years. EDSA ended and the Marcos dictatorship ended. However, some problems still persist to this day. One of the biggest problems is that no matter how we tell people to vote wisely - they don't. I complained about bobotantes then I realized that it's the SYSTEM that really is the problem. If your definition of the system is of who's in charge then it's a very shallow definition. Did voters get smarter under Noynoy and Duterte? Did voters get smarter under Gloria? Did voters get smarter under Ramos? Did voters get smarter under Erap? The same cycle has allowed more and more stupid people to run and win.

That's why I feel the Philippines should go FULL PARLIAMENTARY. It's because meritocracy becomes the basis of office. Party-based politics will force ALL PARTIES to straighten up. It would mean people are bound to behave better if there's direct accountability. Parliamentary systems aren't winner takes all scenarios. Instead, the election means the majority party gets the seats. However, the minority party can still prove themselves during the new administration. The minority party will have the DUTY to question the government and hold it accountable. The weekly question hour is one press conference so absenteeism isn't allowed. It's because the people will get to see the quality of politicians who are worthy to stay in their parties or which parties are doing better. That way, people will truly vote wisely because the system will encourage them to vote wisely.