Lessons from May 14

A BIG round of applause, please, for Pangasinan’s voters.

The impressive turnout of about 70%,or just a little less than one million out of the 1.36 million registered voters in the province, is proof that despite the demoralizing (and still unresolved) ‘Hello Garci’  issue in the 2004 Presidential election, Pangasinenses have not completely lost faith in our electoral system. If any, it probably even strengthened their resolve to have their voice heard and their vote properly counted when it comes to deciding who should be governing our democratic system.

We are rising out of our passivity. We are beginning to shed off our “bahala na” attitude. We do believe that we have a choice and that we have the power to actually make those choices for ourselves and our future.

The winners in the May 14 election for both the senatorial race and the local government level are by and large, an indication of an intelligent electorate.

Sure money and goods – lots and lots of it – changed hands, but it seems that people took the loot from who it could come from and still voted for whom they believe best deserves the role of being their public servant. And while guns and goons were still visibly around to harass voters in some areas, people did not cow to the threats. Politicians must realize by now that the people are maturing and becoming more courageous, if not somewhat cunning. It is a good lesson, learned the expensive and painful way.

The election and re-election of candidates coming from the same bloodline demonstrate not so much a blind devotion to traditional political clans, but more of a stamp of approval to personalities who have at least the right qualifications and/or have performed well. Clear evidence is in the defeat of Dr. Jamie Agbayani as governor and yet her husband, incumbent Governor Victor Agbayani, got the people’s approval to become the next congressional representative for the Second District. On the other hand, voters, particularly in Bautista town, had no qualms about re-electing Mayor Amado Espino III, son of governor-elect Amado Espino Jr., currently congressional representative for the Third District, and his uncle, Jose Espino as vice mayor.

In the mayoralty level, 17 – which accounts for 35% – of those elected in the 48 towns and cities of the province are new faces or at least mark a change from the previous leadership.

In the senatorial race, as good as 8 of the 12 slots went to the opposition – 6 to candidates of the Genuine Opposition and 2 to independent candidates who are practically opposition as well. And Pangasinan is supposed to be a bailiwick of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her cohorts in the admi-nistration.

Times are changing. People are now really thinking. Politicians better start improving. 

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