By JIM GOMEZ,Associated Press Writer AP - Thursday, November 6
MANILA, Philippines - The drama and glitter of the U.S. elections had many Filipinos enthralled. What left them envious was how fast and orderly the process went.
No allegations of massive fraud like those that have plagued the Southeast Asian country since dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted by a peaceful "people power" revolt in 1986. No outbreaks of violence that leave dozens of candidates and supporters dead. No weeks-long wait for final results.
MANILA, Philippines - The drama and glitter of the U.S. elections had many Filipinos enthralled. What left them envious was how fast and orderly the process went.
No allegations of massive fraud like those that have plagued the Southeast Asian country since dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted by a peaceful "people power" revolt in 1986. No outbreaks of violence that leave dozens of candidates and supporters dead. No weeks-long wait for final results.
So when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called Wednesday to congratulate Democrat Barack Obama, she also praised the U.S. electoral system.
"We welcome his triumph in the same vein that we place the integrity of the U.S. electoral process and the choices made by the American people in high regard," Arroyo said in a statement.
"We welcome his triumph in the same vein that we place the integrity of the U.S. electoral process and the choices made by the American people in high regard," Arroyo said in a statement.
In a nationally televised news conference, where Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita read Arroyo's statement, some wondered if Filipinos could ever experience elections like America's.
"We're quite envious," said Marie Pena-Ruiz, who works for the state-run radio station DZRB, citing the soaring acceptance speech by Obama and the equally bridge-building concession address by John McCain.
"We're quite envious," said Marie Pena-Ruiz, who works for the state-run radio station DZRB, citing the soaring acceptance speech by Obama and the equally bridge-building concession address by John McCain.
"Do you think there is hope that in the Philippines, there will also come a time that politicians here will be like that?" she asked Ermita.
"I'm sure that (if) it did not fail to catch your attention ... our political leaders definitely have taken note of that," Ermita replied.
"You can see that immediately the wounds that may have been created by the hectic campaign easily would heal because of the maturity of the democratic system in the United States," Ermita said.
The Philippines is a long way from political maturity, opposition leader Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said.
With poverty gripping a third of the populace, many politically entrenched elite families have bought their way to power. Elections are still won by "guns, goons and gold," Pimentel said.
With poverty gripping a third of the populace, many politically entrenched elite families have bought their way to power. Elections are still won by "guns, goons and gold," Pimentel said.
article taken from: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20081105/tap-as-philippines-us-election-envy-fe2a5de.html
The past American Presidential Election has been quite historic. We have seen how efficient their electoral process is, and how conscientious their way of choosing their leader is no matter their racial differences. To me, it’s a great opportunity for us Filipinos to learn from since like the United States, we are also a democratic country, and it is also timely since we are about to have another national election coming this year 2010.
According to the news, our 2010 Philippine National Elections will be more technologically advanced. Instead of pen and paper, we will now be using computers to ease the process. I do hope and pray though that it will be implemented. We are already in a new age for crying out loud!
So out with the old, it is time for us to adjust to the times. With the electronic voting, hopefully there will be no more "dagdag-bawas", and no more delayed results. But more importantly, what I really am hoping for is not the change in the electoral process but a change in the way people choose their candidates so that there will be no more traditional politicians- no more guns, goons and gold. I know this sounds idealistic and too far flung for our current situation, easy to say yet hard to do, but if you think about it, it really is not that impossible.
So out with the old, it is time for us to adjust to the times. With the electronic voting, hopefully there will be no more "dagdag-bawas", and no more delayed results. But more importantly, what I really am hoping for is not the change in the electoral process but a change in the way people choose their candidates so that there will be no more traditional politicians- no more guns, goons and gold. I know this sounds idealistic and too far flung for our current situation, easy to say yet hard to do, but if you think about it, it really is not that impossible.
We just can’t be like this all the time. We can’t forever be envious of the Americans. We can’t forever stay this way comparing ourselves to them and always seeing how much farther we are behind. Aren't people getting sick and tired of it? We have to learn and grow as a nation. We have so much potential. Not that I am being overly optimistic, it’s just that I still believe we have the capacity to become a great nation. The only question is how are we going to do it? How can we become a great nation?
Many will have different opinions. For me, I guess we must be able to evaluate our own personal values first, and be able to adapt the right ones (such as love for our country and not for ourselves). This election thing is merely a reflection of our personal values. Who we vote for somehow represent our own ideals and values. We kind of identify ourselves with our chosen candidates. For example, when the Filipinos voted for former president Joseph Estrada (not that I intend to demean him or anything), what did it tell the world? To some people, they’d say that most Filipinos value popularity. To some, I don’t know. What do you think? But the point is we should vote not because we identify ourselves with our chosen candidate but we should vote because we know that this candidate has the capacity to fulfil his/her role and bring about positive change- a good difference that's not just for some but for the majority of the people.
So, with all that has been happening to the world and to our country especially, may we Filipinos now realize that it’s time to revolutionize and adjust to the times- not only by means of technological advancement in the voting system but more importantly by means of choosing our candidates. In short, it is time for us to learn. Besides, what’s history for if we will not gain something from it? And what better time there is to apply history lessons than now.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.
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