Six down, six more to go...
One of the regular readers of this blog, someone who goes by the handle "Mommy Jo" left a comment a few weeks ago encouraging me to open a discussion on the candidates running for public office.
As you may have noticed, I have made public my picks for senator.
I have so far chosen six (in alphabetical order now): Joker Arroyo, Noynoy Aquino, Dr. Martin Bautista, Mike Defensor, Kiko Pangilinan, and Sonia Roco. That's my list so far. I haven't made up my mind on who the other six will be, but I will announce my other choices in the next few weeks.
Please bear in mind that the criteria I am using for the selection process is a highly personal one. I don't expect everyone to agree with my choices. It does bother me sometimes that there are people who seem to get offended when my opinions are not aligned with theirs, but I don't lose sleep over it. I guess it is personal for some people and too bad I don't feel I should pander to anyone's wishes.
One of the things that saddens me about the 2007 midterm elections is that there are people who continue to insist that political affiliation should be the main criterion for choosing candidates. I disagree. I think that political affiliation is a myth because aside from the GMA impeachment issue, the political parties do not actually stand for anything distinct and unique in terms of platforms and ideologies. For example, I do not believe that Joker Arroyo, who has always distinguished himself as a political maverick of sorts, will be a GMA lackey once reelected into office.
A dear friend of mine has been chiding me for endorsing Noynoy Aquino. She told me that she has it from a very reliable source (one of Aquino's employees at Congress is allegedly a friend of my friend) that Aquino's work ethics are questionable. Allegedly, Aquino wakes up very late and is lazy. Granted that the information is correct, I would still like to think that Aquino can still mend his ways. The thing with work habits is that they can be changed. I picked Aquino because he has always talked sense, even if I sometimes disagreed with his opinions.
I picked Sonia Roco because I have always been a Raul Roco fan. I voted for Raul Roco for President. I think that education, which is her main platform, is a valid and critical advocacy that deserves more voices in the senate.
Mike Defensor has been getting bad rap because of his seeming blind loyalty to the President. I wish I can be as loyal to anyone (note to personal exes: please do not take this as another occasion to raise issues! hehe). But like I said, I do not subscribe to the notion that political affiliation should be the only consideration for picking candidates. Doing so would result in groupthink, a phenomenon that has painful consequences. Mike Defensor's record as legislator at Congress and as secretary should be evaluated on its own merits. On a personal note, I like the fact that this guy is not pikon - he is always composed and civil even when being put through the worst possible wringer.
In a perfect world, Dr. Martin Bautista should win hands down in any electoral contest. Too bad he is running with a rather obscure political party. I know I already said I do not put too much weight on political affiliation, but the two main parties do have access to resources and political machinery, which Kapatiran (Bautista's party) does not currently have. But I invite you to sift through Bautista's credentials and I assure you these offer more than enough reasons why this guy should be voted into office.
Pangilinan and Arroyo are both incumbent senators who deserve to be re-elected. Their performance as senators are beyond question.
So there. Six more to go. If anyone out there would like to bat for his or her own candidate, the floor is open. Let's hear it.
As you may have noticed, I have made public my picks for senator.
I have so far chosen six (in alphabetical order now): Joker Arroyo, Noynoy Aquino, Dr. Martin Bautista, Mike Defensor, Kiko Pangilinan, and Sonia Roco. That's my list so far. I haven't made up my mind on who the other six will be, but I will announce my other choices in the next few weeks.
Please bear in mind that the criteria I am using for the selection process is a highly personal one. I don't expect everyone to agree with my choices. It does bother me sometimes that there are people who seem to get offended when my opinions are not aligned with theirs, but I don't lose sleep over it. I guess it is personal for some people and too bad I don't feel I should pander to anyone's wishes.
One of the things that saddens me about the 2007 midterm elections is that there are people who continue to insist that political affiliation should be the main criterion for choosing candidates. I disagree. I think that political affiliation is a myth because aside from the GMA impeachment issue, the political parties do not actually stand for anything distinct and unique in terms of platforms and ideologies. For example, I do not believe that Joker Arroyo, who has always distinguished himself as a political maverick of sorts, will be a GMA lackey once reelected into office.
A dear friend of mine has been chiding me for endorsing Noynoy Aquino. She told me that she has it from a very reliable source (one of Aquino's employees at Congress is allegedly a friend of my friend) that Aquino's work ethics are questionable. Allegedly, Aquino wakes up very late and is lazy. Granted that the information is correct, I would still like to think that Aquino can still mend his ways. The thing with work habits is that they can be changed. I picked Aquino because he has always talked sense, even if I sometimes disagreed with his opinions.
I picked Sonia Roco because I have always been a Raul Roco fan. I voted for Raul Roco for President. I think that education, which is her main platform, is a valid and critical advocacy that deserves more voices in the senate.
Mike Defensor has been getting bad rap because of his seeming blind loyalty to the President. I wish I can be as loyal to anyone (note to personal exes: please do not take this as another occasion to raise issues! hehe). But like I said, I do not subscribe to the notion that political affiliation should be the only consideration for picking candidates. Doing so would result in groupthink, a phenomenon that has painful consequences. Mike Defensor's record as legislator at Congress and as secretary should be evaluated on its own merits. On a personal note, I like the fact that this guy is not pikon - he is always composed and civil even when being put through the worst possible wringer.
In a perfect world, Dr. Martin Bautista should win hands down in any electoral contest. Too bad he is running with a rather obscure political party. I know I already said I do not put too much weight on political affiliation, but the two main parties do have access to resources and political machinery, which Kapatiran (Bautista's party) does not currently have. But I invite you to sift through Bautista's credentials and I assure you these offer more than enough reasons why this guy should be voted into office.
Pangilinan and Arroyo are both incumbent senators who deserve to be re-elected. Their performance as senators are beyond question.
So there. Six more to go. If anyone out there would like to bat for his or her own candidate, the floor is open. Let's hear it.
Comments
Voting for the Party is a way of expressing the voter’s agreement with a particular party’s ideologies, programs of government and promises during the campaign and the concise and plain plan of actions of implementing the Promises, where the voters can judge if such promises are capable of being carried out or just promises in the winds.
But sometimes in a district (riding) a candidate has already earned the loyalty of the constituents and has already established himself as the only choice that the said candidate can switch parties and still carry the seat. Or the party line voting becomes irrelevant. We call it a personal stronghold and there are also instances that the voters of a particular riding vote along the party line and will vote whoever the party endorsed or nominated. But altogether it’s kind of hard to beat its Simplicity...One X and you’re e done exercising the most important aspect of Democracy, the Right to Vote..
musta na!
I haven't made up my mind about Migs Zubiri. I hope he comes up with ads that have more substance and talks about a platform.
Bong
i wish our electoral system in the country also puts weight on party ideology. but i guess that runs counter to the "star system" that dominates our current political system.
bong
My list so far is Joker, Martin Bautista, MikeDef, Sonia Roco, Kiko (altho I was miffed when Inquirer put in front page the story about her daughter being disturbed by his absence. Does the whole nation care? That put him in an advantage, and for free ha.) Am considering the Sison who's in the same party as Bautista, but I'll still read about him muna. Miguel Zubiri I am considering kaya lang his campaign jingle annoys me no end! I was telling my kids that I am insulted, and every Pinoy should be, everytime I hear the Boomtarat and Itaktak trash, that I will not vote for anyone who has those jingles. Noynoy is not on my list, he has to convince me yet, couldn't remember anything remarkable he did in Congress and his Hacienda Luisita statements I do not like. I'm considering Escudero, too, He is intelligent and can explain his position quite well (altho I don't share them) but I hope he feels regret for his father's loyalty to the end with Marcos. Ralph Recto, maybe. So mine is a shorter list than yours for the time being. And ditch those politicos myth that we are voting solid for either parties. Ano tayo, walang isip? Ano sila, hilo? Hehe
Good Day! --MommyJo
I am truly enjoying this exchange!
--MommyJo
Trosp