Ruminate

Will you be able to pass the nation-wide intelligence test with only one question?

Photo credits: CNN and COMELEC

The presidential election is like a bar exam that should be taken seriously by the test takers because this could make or break their future. However, this year's presidential election seems to be a simple, nation-wide, intelligence test with only one question: "Are you intelligent enough to choose a viable presidential candidate from this year's list of uninspiring, undifferentiated, "pwede-na-yan" presidential aspirants?"

In a country plagued by corruption and poverty, we need an experienced leader with strong conviction, intellect, and fierce sense of justice because living in a country led by an incompetent and corrupt leader is a nightmare. Once in every six years, we are given the privilege and responsibility of choosing the president who would lead our country to prosperity and our choice could make or break the future of our country. This calls to mind a crucial question: out of all the presidential aspirants in this year's election, to whom would you entrust the future of our country? Think of it as a multiple choice question with the following choices: A) Grace Poe, B) Rodrigo Duterte C) Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, D) Jejomar Binay, and E) Miriam Defensor-Santiago. When the choices in a multiple choice question is hard to choose from, eliminating the most unlikely choices would be a good strategy to arrive at the most appropriate answer. Let's look at the facts on each of our presidential candidates.

Before she announced her intention to run as president, Grace Poe used to be the MTRCB chairman and she is currently a senator who authored four bills but not yet laws, that heavily benefit the Filipino children and the Philippine film industry. In an interview, she trumpeted all her accomplishments as a senator. She declared that she has filed and co-authored 198 measures consisting of 68 bills and 130 resolutions. It isn't so bad considering the length of time she served as a senator but still, she is relatively inexperienced compared to the other candidates. There is no room for trial and error for the inexperienced in the 6-year term allotted for the president of the Philippines because those years would determine how the Filipino citizens would spend their lives. However, her lack of experience isn't entirely a bad thing because that means she is relatively untainted by corruption compared to Binay whose name is soiled with alleged corruption. But is that reason enough for us to vote her as president? Then there's Mayor Rodrigo Duderte who did a splendid job at making Davao the 4th safest city in the world through his steel hands and vigilant tactics. However, the real question is whether he'll be able to do what he did to Davao to the whole Philippines. Bear in mind that Binay used to be looked up to because of his good governance in Makati but look at what happened after he was elected to a higher position. If Duterte happens to be elected as president, I hope we don't get that feeling of deja vú. Aside from that, the rumored extrajudicial killings under his watch are questionable, if not utterly unethical. Would you want a president who practices barbaric methods, treats women as objects that can be owned, chooses brawn over brains and lacks sense of peace? If so, go on and vote him.

On the other hand, Roxas, being a Wharton School graduate, is well educated and experienced in government and politics. He will not be laughed at abroad by world leaders. However, knowing that he grew with a silver spoon in his mouth, will he be able to sympathize with the hardships of the poor Filipino people who constitutes majority of our population? Would you want a president who exploits the poor for his own interest? It is worth remembering that Roxas was the one who initially signed the billion peso MRT maintenance contract in favor of the PH Trams so he should be held liable but instead, he washed his hands on the issue and got away scathe-free because he was with the 'right' people. Moreover, tries so hard to get people to like him but ends up coming across as fake or not genuine. Roxas is not his own man which is evident in the way he handled the Mamasapano tragedy, he is prepared to hide the truth even in the face of injustice just to avoid any conflict with whoever he thinks can help him achieve his goal – PNoy and his allies. Likewise, he has yet to grow out out being PNoy's shadow. Then there's Binay who's known for his good governance in Makati, and also a prominent alleged corrupt government official who dipped his fingers--or maybe his whole hands--in the government funds several times yet still dauntlessly runs for presidency. He has a lot of explaining to do regarding his P60 million net worth yet he is always unavailable whenever he is supposed to face the court or an investigating committee. Do you see what kind of future we'll have in his hands?

Lastly, there's Miriam Defensor-Santiago. She may not be everyone's cup of tea but she definitely isn't like the rest of them. She's the only viable standout from the mediocre presidential candidates. The sad none-of-the above choices will now be eliminated now that Santiago is in the race. Known to be a woman of high intellect and the most experienced of them all because she has served all three branches of the government, she is our only hope if we want Philippines to have a better government. One of her platform is to increase government efficiency which would be as easy as defragmenting a slow computer if she's the one to lead it. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and she is dedicated to eliminate corrupt politicians. She obviously has all the desirable qualities in a competent presidential candidate but the only catch is her health condition. If she succumbs to her illness, then we should just choose the most viable vice president and hope for the best. When it comes down to it, it's still much better to vote a competent presidential aspirant with poor health than a corrupt, inexperienced, or ruthless candidate. With these candidates, it's all about choosing the lesser evil.

Our right to vote is both a privilege and a responsibility that we should exercise thoughtfully because it could make or break the future of our country. Think it through before shading a name in the upcoming election. Prove that we Filipinos are intelligent enough to make the right choice because after all, an ignorant president will definitely be elected by ignorant voters.

Pili-pinas. make the right choice.