12/05/2025
🤔IN THE MIND OF🤔
ELECTION: SOMETIMES SERIOUS, USUALLY A JOKE
An Opinion Article by Patrick Earl Magat
Election season is in full swing as the long-awaited national polls draw near, now only a few days away. During this period, we witness diverse voters: those who cast their ballots conscientiously, those swayed by the allure of a brown envelope, and those driven by sheer fanaticism. Beyond the ballots, pens, and indelible ink lie the voters, entrusted with the most significant task of all: to vote wisely.
But who is “Wisely,” anyway? Just kidding. On a serious note, dedicate your votes to candidates who are worthy, credible, and truthful. It's easy to write about this ideal, but persuading the general public to act accordingly? That's a different challenge altogether.
From May 2 to 6, 2025, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted a survey on the leading senatorial candidates. Unsurprisingly, the top twelve favorites are:
• Erwin Tulfo (45%)
• B**g Go (43%)
• Tito Sotto (37%)
• Lito Lapid (34%)
• Ben Tulfo (34%)
• Ping Lacson (32%)
• Abby Binay (31%)
• Bato dela Rosa (31%)
• Camille Villar (30%)
• Pia Cayetano (30%)
• Ramon “B**g” Revilla Jr. (29%)
• Imee Marcos (29%)
Looking at this list, one might frown and ask, “Why?” This is the darker side of democracy: everyone has the free will and the right to choose, yet many make haphazard or fanatical decisions, often favoring unworthy, predatory, and self-serving candidates. How does this happen? Money has its own power. Money can sway someone’s opinion and even make them submit. Money can strip someone of their own dignity, pride, and critical thinking. Thus, with bottomless amount in their disposal, the wealthy candidates can brute force their way into position by throwing money at it.
But it's not just about voters being swayed by “meetings,” acts of goodwill, catchy jingles, empty promises, concerts, sponsorships, and, most notably, wads of cash neatly tucked into unsuspecting brown or white envelopes accompanied by “relief goods” or... t-shirts? These are just part of the vibrant and bustling election season. Then there are the waterproof, sturdy, and often aesthetically displeasing campaign banners of various materials and sizes.
Want to capture a beautiful urban sunset? Your photo is likely to be marred not only by tangled power lines but also by the smiling face of your favorite municipal or senatorial candidate. Instagram story ruined. Yet, this isn't the only issue with these campaign materials — they contribute significantly to waste and pollution.
In 2022, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that 20 tons of campaign materials were collected daily after the election period. This was just in Manila; provincial candidates were also competing — not only for coveted government seats but seemingly for the most campaign materials produced and displayed. Of course, they rarely take responsibility for cleanup, leaving the general public to deal with the aftermath, which many are unwilling to do.
These campaign materials inevitably end up filling landfills, washing into rivers, remaining plastered on the same branches for decades, or, in the best-case scenario, being repurposed as makeshift covers for tricycles, pedicabs, and worn-down roofs. Still, candidates often neglect to remove and properly dispose of them. If someone does, they deserve praise — it’s as rare as a ruby.
Continuing with pollution, the election period is filled with jolly and festive noise — not from bands or cultural music, but from the constant and unrelenting barrage of campaign jingles blasting from high-powered audio sets mounted on tricycles, trucks, and jeeps wandering the streets every so often. Want to sleep tight until 9 a.m.? Good luck with the noise pollution.
Some jingles are fine, some are average, some are divine, and some are metal grinder music tier — aka cringe-worthy. Many are original compositions, most falling into the divine and fine tiers — pleasant to the ears and catchy. However, a lot are plagiarized in beat and lyrical progression — a quirk that reflects what they might do once in office: steal
Despite the negatives, there's still a glimmer of hope for the Philippines. Not all candidates fit the stereotype of being greedy or incompetent; many possess solid credentials and clean backgrounds, making them more competent than 90% of the field. They represent hope, a fresh start, the change we've all been craving — not the so-called “change” brought by those who have been in office for God knows how long, or the “change” children of well-known political dynasties that used politics for their businesses and for money are parroting around — but actual change driven by individuals who genuinely desire it. Those who are worthy should be given a chance; those who are not, should not.
Vote wisely. Don't let a slip of money sway your decisions. Here's some advice from a fellow voter: take the money, but don't vote for them. Don't let your dignity and your desire for change and better governance be bought out by a 500- or 1,000-peso bill. Vote wisely.
"Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters."
- Abraham Lincoln
Layout by Jerome Venturina
