My choice

By Al S. Mendoza

 

CHANCES are you are one of 52,014,648 Filipinos qualified to vote tomorrow, Monday.

But historically, only about 75 percent of registered voters cast their vote since democratic elections returned to our country in 1986.

So, if you decide to vote, you could be one of 39,010,986 Filipinos set to troop to polling booths tomorrow for the so-called mid-term elections.

At stake are 18,054 positions from senator down to councilor.

There are 12 incumbent senators whose tenures end in 2016 so that we need to elect 12 more tomorrow to complete the total 24 in the Senate – the 12 new lawmakers serving up to 2022.

Up to now, I wonder why our Constitution-framers had done it that way.

Why not all 24 in one election only, instead of 12 every three years?

What can be done once, why do it twice?

Such waste of time – and money.

Mike Tyson does it best:  He knocks out his opponents as quickly as possible.  Saves him time – and energy.

Indeed, we love to complicate matters:  We drop simplicity in favor of complexity.

So, who are we voting for?  Or, why do we still need to vote when winners virtually come from the same family anyway (73 of our 80 provinces maintain dynasties)?

But we still need to vote because it is the one single act that no one can take away from us.

The vote is the last action we need to protect because it symbolizes our perennial love for freedom and democracy.

And so, why sell your vote, for Chrissakes?

Voting makes us noble and dignified.  It is our very soul.

To a young, virginal lady, it is like giving her yes to the one she loves truly.

To a young, innocent man, it is like having that first kiss from the one he has pledged to take to the altar.

But alas, to some people today, they demean the vote.

They take it for granted.

They say, “Heck, what is that?”

They say, “ I’d rather sell it than treat it like heirloom.”

Not me.  The vote is as important as my choice.

It’s really not that hard choosing the governor, congressman and mayor. Picking apples.

Their performances are what count – not their promises.

It’s in the Senate derby that I wrack my brain a bit:  Who are the best 12 from the 33 hopefuls?

My Top 3 choices are Cayetano, Casino and Hagedorn.  I’m still working on the other 9.

Cayetano is a cinch to win it, but Casino and Hagedorn are long shots.

I love to fight for people with nobility, dignity and integrity. Casino and Hagedorn have those.

I know it’s an uphill battle for the two.  But my motto has always been, “The causes worth fighting for are the lost causes.”

In short, the cause, as always, is my choice, never the person.

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