It's election day tomorrow. I'm actually excited; this will be the first time I vote in the national elections. I'm also a bit apprehensive. Let's hope that nothing goes wrong tomorrow.
I've been trying to write something about the elections for quite some time now, always ending up with drafts going straight to the electronic trash can. I wanted to write something objective, even informative, but it is only now after reading what other people wrote that I realized that this should be about my choice and what I think our country needs.
So, who am I voting for tomorrow?
Choosing a president and a vice president to lead the country for the next six years was very easy. I had decided on who to vote for months ago - it was a simple process of elimination. It was mostly an informed decision - I looked at the platforms and the histories of the people running, and I talked with other people about the different candidates - but it was also a bit biased. Hahaha. Before I say who I will vote for tomorrow, I'll tell you why I did not vote for the others.
Who in their right mind would vote for a man convicted of a crime punishable by death? Joseph Estrada had his chance in Malacanang before. He got booted out by the people and was tried and convicted for plunder. I will not give him a second chance. His vice president, Jejomar Binay, may have done great things for Makati, but a string of corruption cases against him plus his unfaithfulness to his wife cost him my vote.
I cannot find or see or say anything good about Noynoy Aquino, other than he is the son of Ninoy and Cory Aquino. He may have been part of many pending bills and he may have experience - and precious few of that - in legislation, but he has zero experience in the executive branch of government. His and his vice president Mar Roxas' arrogance in saying that if they lose in the coming election it will only be due to poll fraud and their threat of another "People Power" in case of such says much about their bad character as leaders. If I were to make a list I would put these two even below Joseph Estrada.
But not below Manny Villar, The man seems to think that throwing millions of pesos all over the place will win him the election. His involvement in anomalies concerning the C-5 extension project cast doubt on his capability to fight corruption - at least Noynoy Aquino isn't corrupt, its the people who have suddenly gathered around him I'm scared about. Anyway, I find candidates who profess to be one with the poor while they are so obviously wallowing in wealth as very insulting. As the richest candidate for president, Villar is the worst. I'll throw him in a sea of garbage and watch him swim and hopefully drown in it the first chance I get. His running mate, Loren Legarda, is a political butterfly. Enough said.
I do not approve of religion and politics coming together. I never ever considered voting for either JC delos Reyes and Eddie Villanueva and their respective running mates. "Para sa Diyos at Pagbabago"? "Diyos at Bayan"? However, I do agree with Villaneuva on the need for the reimposition of the death penalty.
I never thought of Jamby Madrigal as a serious contender nor a serious candidate for the presidency.Enough said.
The hard choices came with Nicanor Perlas, Gilbert Teodoro, and Richard Gordon. On platform alone, Perlas trumps everyone else. If that were the only consideration he would have easily gotten my vote. However, I have doubts about his capability to push through with his platforms.
Teodoro is actually a good choice for president. When "Ondoy" hit the capital he showed that he was cool under pressure and could handle a crisis effectively. He worked in both the legislative and the executive branch of the government. Many of my friends are in favor of Teodoro because they believe that with him as president the policies and programs of the Arroyo administration - let's face it, many of these actually work - will be continued, as opposed to the other candidates who might scrap the work of the previous administration and start from scratch.
Not a bad point, and I agree with them. However, I feel that Teodoro still needs more experience, and he has all the time to prepare to be the next president after the next six years. For the next six years though, I would rather have Richard Gordon as president. By experience and credentials alone he is the best choice among all the candidates. He was successful in both Olongapo and in the Department of Tourism. He has been in the Red Cross for 25 years. He has been a senator since 2004.
I believe that Gordon has the will and the determination to push through with what he wants to do for the country. This is also shared by his running mate, Bayani Fernando, who is my choice for vice president. His work in the MMDA, while controversial, was effective, as was his work here in Marikina. These two have shown their willingness to go forward with unpopular but important and needed policies which proved to be effective in the end.
Personally, I believe that Gordon and Bayani would give this nation the kick in the ass it needs to get its collective act together and finally move forward.
So there. I'm voting for Richard Gordon and Bayani Fernando tomorrow.
I've been trying to write something about the elections for quite some time now, always ending up with drafts going straight to the electronic trash can. I wanted to write something objective, even informative, but it is only now after reading what other people wrote that I realized that this should be about my choice and what I think our country needs.
So, who am I voting for tomorrow?
Choosing a president and a vice president to lead the country for the next six years was very easy. I had decided on who to vote for months ago - it was a simple process of elimination. It was mostly an informed decision - I looked at the platforms and the histories of the people running, and I talked with other people about the different candidates - but it was also a bit biased. Hahaha. Before I say who I will vote for tomorrow, I'll tell you why I did not vote for the others.
Who in their right mind would vote for a man convicted of a crime punishable by death? Joseph Estrada had his chance in Malacanang before. He got booted out by the people and was tried and convicted for plunder. I will not give him a second chance. His vice president, Jejomar Binay, may have done great things for Makati, but a string of corruption cases against him plus his unfaithfulness to his wife cost him my vote.
I cannot find or see or say anything good about Noynoy Aquino, other than he is the son of Ninoy and Cory Aquino. He may have been part of many pending bills and he may have experience - and precious few of that - in legislation, but he has zero experience in the executive branch of government. His and his vice president Mar Roxas' arrogance in saying that if they lose in the coming election it will only be due to poll fraud and their threat of another "People Power" in case of such says much about their bad character as leaders. If I were to make a list I would put these two even below Joseph Estrada.
But not below Manny Villar, The man seems to think that throwing millions of pesos all over the place will win him the election. His involvement in anomalies concerning the C-5 extension project cast doubt on his capability to fight corruption - at least Noynoy Aquino isn't corrupt, its the people who have suddenly gathered around him I'm scared about. Anyway, I find candidates who profess to be one with the poor while they are so obviously wallowing in wealth as very insulting. As the richest candidate for president, Villar is the worst. I'll throw him in a sea of garbage and watch him swim and hopefully drown in it the first chance I get. His running mate, Loren Legarda, is a political butterfly. Enough said.
I do not approve of religion and politics coming together. I never ever considered voting for either JC delos Reyes and Eddie Villanueva and their respective running mates. "Para sa Diyos at Pagbabago"? "Diyos at Bayan"? However, I do agree with Villaneuva on the need for the reimposition of the death penalty.
I never thought of Jamby Madrigal as a serious contender nor a serious candidate for the presidency.Enough said.
The hard choices came with Nicanor Perlas, Gilbert Teodoro, and Richard Gordon. On platform alone, Perlas trumps everyone else. If that were the only consideration he would have easily gotten my vote. However, I have doubts about his capability to push through with his platforms.
Teodoro is actually a good choice for president. When "Ondoy" hit the capital he showed that he was cool under pressure and could handle a crisis effectively. He worked in both the legislative and the executive branch of the government. Many of my friends are in favor of Teodoro because they believe that with him as president the policies and programs of the Arroyo administration - let's face it, many of these actually work - will be continued, as opposed to the other candidates who might scrap the work of the previous administration and start from scratch.
Not a bad point, and I agree with them. However, I feel that Teodoro still needs more experience, and he has all the time to prepare to be the next president after the next six years. For the next six years though, I would rather have Richard Gordon as president. By experience and credentials alone he is the best choice among all the candidates. He was successful in both Olongapo and in the Department of Tourism. He has been in the Red Cross for 25 years. He has been a senator since 2004.
I believe that Gordon has the will and the determination to push through with what he wants to do for the country. This is also shared by his running mate, Bayani Fernando, who is my choice for vice president. His work in the MMDA, while controversial, was effective, as was his work here in Marikina. These two have shown their willingness to go forward with unpopular but important and needed policies which proved to be effective in the end.
Personally, I believe that Gordon and Bayani would give this nation the kick in the ass it needs to get its collective act together and finally move forward.
So there. I'm voting for Richard Gordon and Bayani Fernando tomorrow.
