EIGHTY ONE PERCENT turnout among registered voters in the Philippines is a reason enough to celebrate in a country that has complained about apathy among Filipino people, who have much to complain about lacking in the will and push to do something to do something about the problems that beset the nation.
After more than a year of passionate, contentious and even nasty debates and campaigns, kababayans in the Philippines and around the world passionately made their voices heard by casting their votes on who they want to lead the Philippines as president, vice president, senators, representatives and other local officials.
Fueled by discontent of the status quo and buoyed by the power of social media, ordinary Filipinos have been empowered to choose the leaders who they think will stir the nation to the Philippines of the future — their vision of a better, more peaceful, orderly, safer, and progressive Philippines.
The most number of Filipinos decided to traverse a path different from “Daang Matuwid” offered by President Benigno Aquino III in the past six years. The torch was supposed to be handed over to the administration’s bet —Former DILG Sec. Mar Roxas — moving forward. But most Filipinos clamored for real change, and they discerned a Roxas presidency would be more of the same.
And so they chose instead to trust Rodrigo Duterte, the maverick but tried and tested mayor who has made the City of Davao the peaceful, safe, clean, orderly and progressive city it is now. They believe what Duterte did in Davao, he could also do in all parts of the Philippines.
But a clean, honest government remains what Pinoys continue to aspire for, which could be the reason why as of press time, Congresswoman Leni Robredo — the widow of Former DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo — has been leading the race for vice president. Leni Robredo has dedicated her life to being a lawyer for the poor, before she entered politics when her husband died in a plane crash. The most number of kababayans saw in her the genuine desire to serve the people, devoid of the hunger for power and greed for money that push many politicians to be embroiled in graft and corruption.
The results of the elections in the Philippines (based on partial, unofficial tallies of votes) mirrors the decision of Filipinos in America. The Overseas Absentee voters here also chose Duterte for President, and Robredo for Vice-President for the same reasons.
In the days leading up to the May 9 elections, social media was inundated with prayer requests for clean, honest, peaceful and orderly elections. For the most part of the election process, such prayers were answered.
The result: record breaking turnout of Filipinos who decided to use their right of suffrage to effect change in the status quo through a peaceful and responsible way.
Kababayans were amazed at how fast the results of the election were reported, thanks to the use of voting machines.
Filipinos were in awe by the grace (no pun intended) and class of candidates who conceded early knowing they have lost the election by a big margin. Sen. Grace Poe, Sec. Mar Roxas and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano have shown the other candidates that the election is not about them. It is about the will of the people that must prevail, and that its is the moral responsibility of those who were not chosen by the people to make sure there is a smooth and orderly transition to the next administration. Through their example, they began the healing process that will lead to the unity of the citizens in looking forward to and doing their part for the success of the next administration.
After all, the success of Duterte, Robredo, and the newly elected public officials will be the success of the Filipino people.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
