March 8,2010

Do You Believe In Surveys?

By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
The survey that we are to talk here is not a survey on land done by the Geode
tic Engineers. This is a survey on who among the presidential candidates have th
e higher or the highest edge. There are some people who believe in survey result
s. There are also many and I believe a great majority, who do not believe in sur
vey result. Why? Because most of the surveys conducted were only done mostly in
some areas in Metro Manila and only few in other places.
There are plenty of places, cities, and provinces in the whole country that a
re not subjected to surveys.
.Besides, if a survey group is not independent and was only contacted by a certa
in candidate there’s the tendency that such survey results would be padded with
favoritism. This is the reason why we should not allow ourselves to be influence
d by survey results.
I myself do not believe in surveys. We should not base our voting to any cand
idate on survey results. This is not the proper way to do. What is important is
that we should examine the agenda of each candidate for President, Vice-Presiden
t, Congressman, Governor and City Mayor. If there would be an open forum for the
presidential candidates including their Vices whom we could ask questions it wo
uld be better.
Some of the questions that need to be asked and be answered by the candidates
themselves are the following: 1) If you are elected as President/Vice-President
in the coming May 10, 2010 national election what will you do to eradicate graf
t and corruption in the government offices? 2) What will you do to improve our w
eakening education system so that students in the public schools including the s
tate colleges can become competitive in the international level of learning? 3)
What will you do to improve the services of our public hospitals where some if n
ot most have inadequate supply of medicines particularly for the admitted poor p
atients? 4) There is a Cheaper Medicine Act of 2009 authored by Pia Cayetano,but
it ‘s not conscientiously implemented. What will you do to reduce the prices of
prohibitive medicines in the country? 5)What will you do so that the millions
of poor Filipinos could have their own house and lot thru an affordably low mont
hly installment payment that they can own after 10 years regular payment? 6) Wha
t will you do to abolish political dynasty and private armies in the country? 7)
What will you do to improve our agricultural output/production so that the Phil
ippines can really attain its goal of food security so that the government will
not be importing rice anymore?
Besides the aforesaid questions you can also ask some other questions you wan
t to ask. It’s also important as well to really study and evaluate each candidat
e’s agenda and programs of government before we make a final list of candidates
to whom we are going to entrust our votes this coming May 10 national elections.
It’s also important to look at the candidates with good family background and g
ood track record. Moral issues must also be included in choosing candidates for
any position in the government they aspire for. Like is he a one-man,one-woman?I
s he/she not a gambler? A drunkard? A womanizer? A woman with another man beside
s her man? Morality issue is not to be overlooked by the electorate because a Pr
esident or Vice-President including Senators, Congressmen Governors and City May
ors are supposed to be good models for our youth.
Our National Hero Jose Mercado Rizal said that “the youth is the hope of the
land”. Rizal’s pronouncement regarding the youth indicates that they need some o
lder but dynamic and strong leaders to look up to as a paragon of example worthy
of emulation. The youth shall take the place of older people of today when the
time comes. So our youth really need good models as source of inspiration and st
rength to reach their aspirations so that they can rule our country with integri
ty and dignity.
Another thing which is much more equally important is to remember that our ri
ght of suffrage is sacred. Sacred if we have to understand it in the spiritual s
ense means priceless. It’s our individual right that cannot be sold out to any c
andidate. We must give value to our right to vote during elections. This right i
s not for sale. Why should some voters sell their rights to vote because of quic
k bucks? Why should we sell our votes because of poverty? Is selling your votes
for several hundred of pesos worth the price of our sacred right? I don’t think
so.
Selling your votes for three days happiness and enjoyment is so cheap a barga
in that cannot be reciprocated if we happen to elect candidates who lack integri
ty, dignity and capacity to serve the constituents. We should go for candidates
whose agendas are doable, achievable and are beneficial for the upliftment of ou
r people-rich and poor- and pro-poor candidates who have the hearts and the mind
s to improve the Filipinos’ lot.
Again selling our sacred right to elect the deserving and capable candidates,
who are supposed to serve our country to the best of their ability and capabili
ty, has eventually lost it sacredness. The price you put in your gift/privilege
to vote has become very cheap to the point that it violates the principal of hum
ility and sincerity thus blurring your conscience.
Being poor or in the threshold of poverty is not enough reason to sell your v
otes. There are many poor Filipinos who earn little income for their respective
families but did not sell their votes for a few hundred pesos. Although tempted
due to poorness and lack of means they have resisted the urging temptation to se
ll their rights. Not selling our votes for any amount also means that we are pro
viding a leveling playing field for all the candidates whether rich or poor but
qualified candidates for the position they are aiming for. We are also indirectl
y contributing to the reduction of graft and corruption in our country. What is
important is that the candidates to whom we have favored and entrusted our votes
are those who are really sincere and have the tag of priority to serve best the
people and where the rule of law prevails and peace and order reigns.(Quirico M
. Gorpido,Jr.)