Vows to Visions

COLLATED BY MARIE JUVY LEA VIOLETA

The Philippines–pearl of the orient sea–has seen many Presidential hopefuls come and go. As the 2022 Election nears, the Presidentiables behold many solemn promises to a captivated audience. As of January 6, 2022 COMELEC has made a tentative list of 10 candidates gunning for presidency. Personalities are positioning themselves in the race and bit by bit laying out their platforms– allowing the public plenty of time to chew on information presented.

ERNESTO ABELLA, running as an independent, is the former undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and former spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte. He gave a speech after filing candidacy for president, claiming that the government and business giants have been running the country for ages– he believes that the ordinary citizens, ranging to private and small businesses should be included in the conversation by giving them a wider platform. He commends the Build, Build, Build program yet he also sees a need to build up the citizens– children should be given free food and free healthcare; “the foundation of a nation is based on the youth and the children.” Faisal Mangondato is running under Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi. He has yet to make any notable appearance in the media to date, although he was in DZMM TeleRadyo during his run for senator where he wishes to progress federalism together with the KKK party list. He wants better job opportunities beyond the confines of Manila and believes Chinese workers in the Philippines are taking a toll on the Philippine economy.

LEODEGARIO DE GUZMAN is a long-time leader activist, running under Partido Lakas ng Masa. “Kailangan walk the talk… kumilos tayo labas sa ating base,” he said during PLM national convention livestream on their facebook page. “Kailangan system change, hindi lang palitan si Duterte, hindi lang para palitan ang mukha ng pangulo sa Malacañang, kundi dapat palitan ang buong sistema ng gobyerno,” he adds. In the Rappler 2019 senatorial forum, he vowed to create law ending contractualization, that will remove middlemen or third-party firms that burden workers.

FRANCISCO DOMAGOSO from Aksyon Demokratiko is to continue the Build, Build, Build program of President Rodrigo Duterte and will add his own version– to build more housing, hospitals, schools and jobs. He plans to cut excise taxes on electricity and oil to ease the citizen’s distress. Increase income, purchasing power, and to stimulate consumer spending are also partw of his goals.

“Dahil gumastos kayo sa akin, meron kayong singilin. Ang bayad ko naman, simple lang – magkakaroon kayo ng mainam, masinop at episyenteng pamahalaan. Tao muna,” Inquirer reported Moreno say in CMA market, Antipolo City.

NORBERTO GONZALES, of Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas is the ex-Defense Secretary of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now aspiring for presidency. “Sa aking karanasan na halos isang dekada na paglilingkod sa gobyerno, nakita ko ang pagiging importante ng politika at uri ng politiko na magpapatakbo ng bayan natin.”

“Ipatutupad po natin and modelo kung paano ang isang gobyerno ng social democrats ay nagpapaganda ng buhay sa isang bayan,” he addresses media after COC filing. Like many other candidates, he too believes it is time to change the rotten governance system in the country.

PANFILO LACSON is with Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma. He was Rehabilitation Czar for the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. He was one of the principal authors of the Anti-Terror Law.

“Local government units must be given bigger roles and responsibilities and more autonomy in nation building but with greater accountability.” He also wants to propagate sustainable recovery from the health crisis. EMMANUEL PACQUIAO representing Abag Promdi accepted nomination of PDP-Laban to run the presidential race. “Panahon na upang manalo naman ang mga naaapi, panahon na upang makabangon ang bayan natin na lugmok sa kahirapan, panahon na ang isang malinis na gobyerno, kung saan bawat centimo ay mapupunta sa bawat pilipino.” He points to officials serving the government that is still taking advantage and stealing from the coffers of the nation that their time is up. He shared his main objectives during the first 100 days if he is elected, “Let’s focus on the revenue income of our country, we need to focus on that because the Filipinos do not deserve a government that borrows money every year for its annual budget,” he deliberated.

FERDINAND MARCOS JR. of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. “I know that it’s this manner of unifying leadership that can lead us through this crisis, get our people back safely back to work for all of us to begin to live our lives once again… I will bring that form of unifying leadership back to our country,” Marcos says in a stream on his Facebook page. Facing the media after filing his COC, he clarifies his intent, “harapin natin itong covid, harapin natin ang pag-ahon, pagbukas ng ating ekonomiya, ‘yon ang aking pangarap– that is why I call it a unifying leadership because it requires leadership that unifies the country, [and] does not polarize the country.”

JOSE MONTEMAYOR JR.is a cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center and is running under the Democratic Party of the Philippines. “I will eliminate criminality, corruption as well as COVID… One who is running for president must have ample knowledge on what are the effects of this virus, not only on the health condition of our country but also on the economic side.” He states, after filing his COC, that he is an economist, aside from being a doctor and a lawyer. “Another thing is our people are desperately looking for a leader, one who is knowledgeable, honest with integrity, and also they will have confidence in him,” he continued.

MARIA LEONOR ROBREDO, running as an Independent is the incumbent Vice President of the Philippines. She took on the legacy of good governance when she became Third District Representative Camarines Sur in 2013. She says in a PCCI forum that the pressing problem is in getting the pandemic under control. Succeeding points aim towards revitalizing the economy, GDP growth, addressing unemployment, and investing in digital infrastructures. “Let us declare a crisis on education already,” she then elaborates by comparing budgets spent for students are lesser compared to other countries. “We will also accelerate the rollout of universal health care by concentrating on enrolling every Filipino in the UHC system in the first three months,” she added.

To elect the faithful anointed one brings a mixture of hope and disquiet to onlookers— who will stay true to their words? Emman Baltazar, a UNCean, shares his sentiments towards promises made by candidates to the citizens.

“Whenever I hear a presidential candidate making promises for our country, I feel… quite upset,” he continues on to explain how they make the same promises to the country yet most would go unfulfilled, that he’s heard jokes thrown into vows before. Observations from the current administration made him realize how important it is to choose the right candidates.

“Sa pagdating ng pandemya, mas pinili kong tumigil muna sa pagaaral ng isang taon upang matulungan ang aking magulang sa pag tinda. Nakita ko kung paano kami nalugi ng husto. Dito ko napagtanto, na hindi sapat ang mga pangako lang kung walang aksyon,” he concludes. In the next wave of challenges, which of these leaders can the pearl of orient sea— with all its diverse people, hopes and riches be entrusted to? Along with its torrent of pressing issues? You have a choice, a voice. Vote wisely.