| One very basic motivation of almost every | | | | bragging about how much better it is to go home |
| human endeavor is represented by the question: | | | | to the rural areas to vote as compared to casting |
| "What's in it for me?" Though this may sound | | | | their votes here in the city. Reason? They give |
| natural and humanly understandable in its simplest | | | | higher "cash gifts" out in the towns compared to |
| term, yet we are all aware of how easily can it | | | | what politicians give out in the city! Perhaps the |
| deteriorate to its more dangerous forms - | | | | city coordinators are holding back bigger portions |
| selfishness and greed. And especially in a | | | | for themselves? Who knows? What have we |
| power-packed field like politics, this bait gets all the | | | | made of the vote of Juan dela Cruz these days? |
| more enticing and can potentially lure all kinds of | | | | How sad it is to see that such desecration of our |
| fish within range - be it from the biggest ones | | | | votes is getting more and more rampant and |
| representing the political candidates, both | | | | prevalent throughout the land! |
| incumbent and aspiring, to the smallest guppies | | | | Even what we call "civil society groups" which |
| representing the supporters and the voting | | | | include non-profit and non-government |
| population. | | | | organizations, cooperatives, churches and the like |
| It is common knowledge today that the practice | | | | are eagerly jostling and pushing each other aside, |
| of politics in the Philippines has been ridden with | | | | at times betraying their core values and belief |
| vote-buying taking place at all levels and with | | | | systems, so as to have their own piece of this |
| almost every imaginative mode of delivery | | | | bait that Deception is so effectively dangling |
| possible to such an extent that the question has | | | | before their watering mouths. These groups |
| shifted from "Who's doing it?" to "Who's not?" | | | | would usually come up with all sorts of causes to |
| And strangely enough, in spite of our existing laws | | | | solicit funds from the waiting politicians strangely |
| prohibiting and condemning this practice, the bait | | | | transformed into generous patrons by the |
| only got bigger and more attractive with each | | | | seemingly miraculous days of the campaign period. |
| passing election. Of course we are not so naïve | | | | Some may ask: "Well, what else can you do? |
| to think that this practice is only limited to the | | | | Almost everybody around is already biting |
| actual cash purchase of the people's will in terms | | | | anyway. Why not stop the fuss and hop in with |
| of their votes, although this form alone has | | | | the bandwagon?" |
| surprisingly grown more widespread and with | | | | No, thanks. I still do believe that the vast majority |
| bigger figures to say the least. Other more | | | | of our noble citizenry can still be spared from this |
| sophisticated forms of this practice include the | | | | seemingly irresistible bait. You and I can make |
| malicious use of the taxpayers' money to secure | | | | another bandwagon - one which is not driven by |
| loyalties (especially seen in the strangely bloated | | | | Deception - and go ahead to make a significant |
| numbers of casual personnel in LGU offices); to | | | | alternative force with the help of God that will |
| buy certain COMELEC officials' cooperation to alter | | | | soon drive our people away from these |
| election results as seen in the infamous "Hello, | | | | hook-pierced baits that this old witch has |
| Garci" scandal; to hire goons that can intimidate | | | | scattered upon our societal waters. It will be |
| people and coerce them to ensure the victory of | | | | worth all our efforts, however hard and sacrificial |
| the hiring politicians; to provide "allowances" to | | | | they may be especially as we understand that |
| "coordinators" and "leaders of tens, twenties, etc." | | | | this seemingly benign presentation of self-interest, |
| who then ensure the deliveries of the politicians' | | | | selfishness and greed in politics is in fact the |
| "gifts" to their supporters; and many other subtle | | | | primary root of corruption that we are |
| tactics of this sort. | | | | desperately trying to chop down to clear the way |
| But again, it is not just the political parties and | | | | for the Philippines to bloom again where God has |
| candidates that are taking this bait of Deception in | | | | planted us in. |
| advancing their self-interests. Many supporting | | | | Every voter can find these questions helpful to |
| business people as well as the voting masses are | | | | ask before casting his/her vote: "Why am I |
| also taking their respective bites. The eventual | | | | voting for this candidate? Have I learned enough |
| business incentives, favorable tax deals and | | | | about him/her to conclude that he/she is not |
| strategic infrastructure projects passing their raw | | | | driven by self-interest, selfishness and greed? Is |
| real estate properties are among the | | | | he/she a vote-buyer or one who uses his |
| self-interests of the businesspeople supporting | | | | position, power and resources to manipulate the |
| certain parties or candidates. On the other hand, | | | | will of others for his interests? Am I casting this |
| the masses can be moved by visible projects just | | | | vote totally free from the influence of money, |
| timely constructed before the elections; the | | | | favors or perks being offered by the candidate I |
| much-needed PhilHealth or insurance cards | | | | am choosing? Am I choosing to promote God's |
| sponsored by the politician; the bottle of whiskey | | | | interest of justice, honesty and righteous |
| added to a round table of half-drunks; or simply | | | | governance by helping put this candidate into |
| the outright "cash gift" more or less equivalent to | | | | office?" Our honest answers to these questions |
| a day or two meals of their families, duly | | | | will actually lay the foundation for a very powerful |
| distributed by their group coordinator just the | | | | antidote against the venom of corruption: |
| night prior to the election day. I was having a | | | | conscience borne out of the fear of the Lord. |
| haircut lately when I overheard the barbers | | | | And such conscience is actually the dynamo from |
| discussing about the upcoming elections. One was | | | | which flows the power of our sacred vote. |