The Philippine 2010 election: Will this be again an illection?

One year to wait, the 2010 election in the Philippines will come. Some people are very excited to witness again the ultimate fight for the office while some tend to pause the time. Some candidates are already starting to appear in the Media with their old style of electioneering. Well, this is their old traditional means of securing themselves.

The 2010 election is planned to be a modern election because it will use computer system to cast votes. There gonna be a speedy, orderly and clean election process as they say. The government shall spend a lot of money for this with the hope of producing quality and honest election ever. But taking consideration with the new method many people still doubt on its effectiveness . Though it will be mobilized by computers but who operates the computers? Computers are still vulnerable for manipulation.

Since time in memory after Marcos the election in the Philippines had never gone dirt free . Vote buying, violence and cheating are very common. The giant political parties manipulates the system. The media were even put in question in supplying credible news. The politicians are stiff to their belief of being invulnerable to defeat. That's why when not elected into the office they would claim they were cheated during the election. Now, the problem is I think not in the system but can be found in the attitudes of the people. The people were very must self centered. What they feed is just themselves. While the people do not have the virtue or a character of being good, transparent and fair in this election this new system is useless after all. Because I remember the usual saying of my instructor “The Computer is as good as the user”. The point is clear that if the people were not yet alright the computerize system is not yet alright too. And there is nothing other word to describe this situation but the 2010 election is again a 2010 illection. The term illection I used here means a defective election.

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How the People Power today look like? It's a Payple Power

The story of the Philippine politics is known worldwide. It has many great and defining moments by which it marked the name of the Philippines. One of the greatest stories was the success of the people revolt against the government. There are already two which are the People Power 1 also called EDSA 1 and People Power 2 also known as EDSA 2. The first one was the ousting of the late President Dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos on February 1986 because of his to much abused of power, corruption anomalies, illegitimate, etc. And the second one was the removal of the Former Actor and President Joseph E. Estrada from the office because of corruption again, illegal manipulation, etc.

This recent administration by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo or better known PGMA has been attracted to many attempts to oust her from the office. There were even mutinies happened and all were failed. One question that pop-up into my mind was why did they fail? What’s the problem of the protests? What’s the problem of the power of the people that it was failed to oust that small President? Ah! Okay! This is what happened. Simply, the recent power shown by the people were not enough. It was not substantial. Unlike the people power before that were genuine. It was really a People Power. But today’s People Power is not because it is "Payple Power". So how could it sustained to fight for justice, democracy, fairness, transparency, nationalism, patriotism if even the people themselves were corrupt? How can the people be successful to their protests if they were just there because of payment/incentives? Payple Power is defined here as the an act of protest or people movement against the illegitimate government.

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Know about Fr. Ver: He is a good model?

It is just a simple showcase of a Parish Priest who is assigned at the remote mountainous barangay in the Southern Cebu, Philippines. He is better known as Fr. Ver, a dynamic, creative and devoted priest to service. His assignment in Calidngan Parish has made several remarkable changes in the parish. 

Calidngan is a baranggay with an established parish. It is located somewhere in the middle of Carcar, Aloginsan and San Fernando Parish. Parishioners used to travel several kilometers to go to the church. However, in 1958 it became a parish. 

For several years of parish's survival, the people are seem hopeless to see the complete and beautiful rise of their church. There was once during the visit of the Cardinal Ricardo Vidal he mentioned that he observed stars in the sky upon looking at the roof of the church. Really, for almost 50 years it was never been finished yet almost destroyed.

But the direction of the wind had dramatically changed when this priest came. On his first few weeks he became popular because of his long homily that could be counted around 30 mins. and above. On his few months he became famous because of his wonderful projects. And for his years of service he became more than a priest but a real model to those know about him. The Parish Mortuary Fund Program he created had helped many families. Some parishes in fact adapted the same. In addition some major developments of the parish like the new church's roof, San Isidro Shrine, the cemetery, Parish Pastoral Center, and the recent developments in Camari (known to be the highest mountain in Carcar) became an attraction. It would be insufficient if I won't mention the establishment and reformation of some church organizations, youth empowerment and health care programs etc. Thus, eventually, he was considered a heaven sent to the parish. He is a God's blessing.

Being one who is familiar to his works, there is just one thing I supposed to tag him. That Fr. Ver possesses a powerful character of good governance. The fruitful services he offered, the enormous institutions he established and the effective leadership he practiced are very remarkable and the quality outputs are the concrete examples. Thus, he is a good leader and a good model for everyone.

There three keywords that rotates around his name. First, his name is really fit for governance. Fr. Ver as many people call him. That's why, Fr Ver is good in goVernance. Secondly, it is his primary weapon - the word of God. He is religious. He is a good servant and a good steward of God. Tht's why he is good in Governance - GodVernance. And lastly is his dedication to service. He is good in governance because for God. God is good and he is doing the will of God. Thus he is good in governance.

Fr. Ver as he is good in goVernance is proven and tested by his parishioners themselves. The parishioners even want him to be retained forever. But just recently he was transferred to Carmen.

There are also three major important characters we can learn from him. First is transparency in service. For all of his works and projects, he always provide the liquidation of all assets. The in and out of funds. Though as always observed, a deficit on his part in every transaction but it was alright for him. He value the essence of giving as long as it promotes common good. Second is being fairness. In fairness everyone were treated fairly. He looks at you not by profession but by his his to God. He opened the doors of the convent for everyone's need as well as the door of his 4x4 KORANDO for everyone who needs a ride. Third is being systematic. All things were processed and done within a consistent system of management.

Fr. Ver, is a go. Go Fr. Ver. Go God, Go good goVernance!!!

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