We are already bombarded with so many media commercials endorsing different political candidates. Several of them had already spent beyond what has been allowed for any political candidates to spend on. We are just grateful that for the first time in our history, our major thoroughfares are now spared from too much posters and advertising paraphernalias. Many of the cities have adopted a no political campaign materials to be posted on the surroundings particularly the major streets and highways.
Survey upon surveys are coming up with the top 3 candidates and the different percentages gained or lost by each. New and more political scandals are cropping up surrounding these candidates that it is literally turning out to be a national circus.
There are times when I wish these candidates would just give a direct, straightforward response to the issues thrown their way. I wish I could be given the chance to ask some of our presidentiables my personal assessment questions.
These are the questions I would ask each one of them:
1. What is your motivation for running for the position of the President?
I would request a heartfelt answer and not those written for you by your scriptwriters to make you look good.
2. How have you prepared yourself should you be elected to the highest position in the land? Mr Presidentiable, did you know that when I ate in a restaurant in SM, the waiters there are all college degree holders? How about you? If these jobs require a degree, how about the Presidency? Have you prepared yourself for this? Are you in a learning lifestyle so that you can really know what is happening in the land? What other graduate degrees in governance have you tucked under your belt?
3. What would be your priority areas in your governance? What strategies do you have for these priority areas?
4. What is your vision for the country? Short-term and long-term? Our country has lost visionaries. Now all we can think of is the next election, the next position. Mr President, how would you inspire us to move beyond this decade? How would you paint the picture for 2020? How will it look like for all of us?
5. Please explain to us your clear economic policies and how these would be implemented?
6. How about our Overseas Filipino Workers? How are you going to make sure that the needs, rights and welfare of these Filipino workers by the millions, would be taken care of and safeguarded?
7. Would you please declare your net worth before occupying the highest position. Would you please submit yourself to audit on an annual basis to prove that you are not economically benefitting yourself and your friends, because of your position.
8. How would you safeguard your marriage? How would you elevate the intrinsic value of family in a society that is getting accustomed to family fragmentation?
Mr President-to be, we need you to be intelligent. But we also need you to be very cognizant of the needs of the people. We need you to be resolute and determined when the situation calls for it, rather than succumbing to political demands to save your political career. We need you to be a man of integrity because there will be many temptations that will be thrown your way. We need you to be personally resolute in making your finances free from corruption and bribery. We need you to be transparent to the nation and to the people by representing the needs of the country rather than your own. We need to trust you – and for you to keep our trust by not betraying the interest of the country. We need you to uphold the law and those who think they are above the law, to be disciplined by the law. We need you to be free from personal vices that will rob us of a president with a clear mind and solid perspective. We need you to be compassionate to the needs of the people, that you are even willing to skip a meal in Malacanang so that you would feel how it is like to go through involuntary hunger. We need you to represent the country to the world, to push for the Filipino advancement in the world, to sign treaties and agreement with other nations where the Filipino interests are not subservient to the interests of others.
Mr President – we need you to be a man of integrity, not because you are simply carrying a good name, but because integrity is critically woven in your character.
Mr President – we need you to be strong and courageous because there will be times when the country will be afraid.
Mr. President – we need you to hear directly the sentiments of the people. The higher one goes through in the political arena, the lesser one is available for his constituents. We need you to be better than all of these.
Mr President – we do not need you to promise miracles that you would not be able to keep. Rather, promise to work with us, to work for us and through all of us. Call us to action. Motivate us all to serve. Teach us to be proud of our country by modeling it to us.
This country needs a President that will symbolize the best in all of us. We have been let down so many times by the people who previously occupied your position. Please give this country a chance to heal, move, grow and prosper by being the best president of my generation.
I don’t think there’s anybody perfect enough to fit your required President.
Thanks for dropping by. Yes – we don’t need a perfect president because such person does not exist anywhere else.
But the questions I asked here are only fair. Some of these basic questions on integrity and marriage and motivations are being asked from pastors before they are installed in the local churches. How much more should these issues be raised up before someone occupies the highest God-given position in the land.
When we lower the level of standards that we are looking for – then we should agree on what a candidate said before “we get the type of president that we deserve…”
No I am not looking for a perfect president – but a start in answering these questions would be a good direction, don’t you think?