Transforming Philippine Politics - Combating Sentimentalism and the Inept Popular Politicians

While motives do play a fundamental function in influencing one's political choices and actions, it is equally essential to discover the power of emotions as touching the numerous dynamics of political exercise. In reality, psychologists attest to the reality that emotions are the closest propellers of most human actions as mirrored in the statements like "I really feel like doing..." or "I hate to do..." And as far as the Filipino society is concerned, perhaps no other season can rival the degree of stirring in the emotional climate as in what comes out in the course of the season of elections. Notice how folks - from candidates to supporters - feel so strongly about the camp or the lead to they represent, even to the extent of dividing family members loyalties and creating enemies out of lengthy-term pals.

A keen observer can also readily recognize how campaign supplies, musical jingles, Tv advertisements, and slogans maximize a candidate's appeal to the people's emotions, sympathy and eventual loyalty. The Filipino tendency to be drawn toward polarities of regional, kinship, or nepotistic relations are usually getting preyed upon by most if not all candidates. How various occasions have we heard the lines "I will vote for him for he is a fellow Ilonggo..." or "He is the son of your father's ideal buddy. Make positive you and your wife will vote for him..." Also connected to this phenomenon is the Filipino's deep-seated, oftentimes crippling sense of utang na loob (debt of gratitude). "Bear in mind that we now have this casual job in this City Hall given that of Mayor So-and-so's recommendation and appointment. How dare you vote for the other candidate?!"... "Let's make positive that Congressman So-and-so gets re-elected. Keep in mind that had it not been for his initiative, we would not have this wonderful covered basketball court in our baranggay! (village)" I personally regard this final statement as really frying the taxpayers in their personal fat. It is merely disgusting how these politicians would employ this brutal emotional blackmail, touting the projects they have accomplished when that is actually what they were elected for to do! And to think that those projects were also funded by the taxpayers' cash, that in numerous if not most cases had been actually delivered at a substantially decreased budget cost right after all the kickbacks and S.O.P.s (corrupted deductions) have been taken! Take note how secure is the sharpened arrowhead of this emotional hook: persuading its captured subjects to modify their stand will literally require plucking their gills out to make it doable...

The hook of sentimentalism is also the culprit behind the election of incompetent and incapable leaders voted into office primarily by virtue of their recognition. This disgraceful mess on the face of Philippine politics is divided into two important lumps: the historical populars represented by this line: "This candidate's family members hails from a extended line of seasoned politicians why entertain somebody else who is a neophyte?" This group also includes the now shameless, official legitimization of the most closely-knit nepotism in our country: the prevalence of political dynasties wherein the father can be operating for governor, the mother vying for congress, a son for the provincial board, yet another son for mayor, two daughters-in-law as municipal councilors in two separate towns, and possibly the grandson for SK Federation Chairman! You can bet your last meal to the possibility that if their dog can be admitted to run for baranggay captain, they've extended registered him, too! Boy! But the worst component is, such families nevertheless prevail from 1 election season to the other!

The other group can be aptly named the hysterical populars as their leadership was in fact brought forth by a hysterical mob, largely composed of their fans and admirers as prominent celebrities and stars. There is no denying the presence of a handful of outstanding leaders we have who have found access to politics by means of their celebrity status, but have duly verified their capacities for leadership and governance in their respective locations of assignment. But for each and every one particular of such caliber, how a number of celebrity lawmakers do we have who'd far better bring their sleeping bags for their sessions in Congress or Senate? Oh that Juan dela Cruz would soon discover his lesson in this region and accordingly steer clear of ramming this jagged hook in his own throat and those of his kids!

You may have heard this not-so-funny definition of democracy in the context of Philippine politics one too a large number of times: "Philippine democracy is a government off the men and women, get the many people, and poor the folks." Personally, what I would regard as the worst mode of sentimental politics is the practice of applying the poor as the politician's fashionable hook to manipulate the voters' emotions - most of them of course are coming from the poor, eagerly waiting for their political messiah to show up. Watch out for television and other media ads in distinct that pose a candidate to be intimately allied with the poor, subtly presenting himself to be their champion. Unless backed up with a constant pro-poor day-to-day way of life, that person is nothing a great deal more than a conscience-much less hypocrite who is especially capable of performing a lot of far more crooked acts behind-the-camera when voted into power. In the Chapter 6 of St. Matthew's Gospel, Jesus Himself was really adamant against the practice of displaying and advertizing one's "acts of righteousness" toward the poor and the needy. He even went further to condemning such Pharisaical hypocrisy in Chapter 23, comparing them to "whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are complete of dead men's bones and every little thing unclean".

I am not saying that emotions have no spot at all in the physical exercise of politics. No. As human beings, we are entities with feelings and are indeed moved into action by our prevailing emotions. But woe unto him who takes benefit of this delicate human faculty just to advance his private political ambition!

We will do well to use the following filter questions to check irrespective of whether or not a particular candidate is really utilizing Deception's hook of sentimentalism: "How commonly does this candidate refer to his household roots, ethnic identity or organizational affiliation as compared to his truthful presentation of his capabilities and political platforms? How a large number of members of this candidate's loved ones is also running for other connected political positions that could obscure accountability in the future? Is he in any way making use of his accomplishments or favors extended to exert an emotional pressure upon his beneficiaries and in effect demanding for their votes? Is the degree of his popularity constant with his recognized competence in leadership and governance? Is this candidate employing campaign propaganda that utilizes exaggerated or theatrical alliance with the poor and capitalizes on their hopes for a political savior?" As we passionately take up the trigger of God and really go for the most beneficial out there candidate we'll vote for a certain position, we in fact receive the divine fuel required to keep the dynamo going and maximize the power of our sacred vote.