The future of choice

A few more days and we cast our vote. This year's exercise of our right of suffrage is viewed to be a highly publicized affair. A lot of eyes will be focused on our country as the world anticipates who our next leader should be. From where I am sitting I hope people take on the prayer of Solomon before shading their choice in their ballots. May God give us His wisdom as we seek to choose a future of choice. Now what do I mean by this?  Simply that we hope whoever we end up with as our president, he would be one who would listen to his countrymen and our needs as a nation. Let not poverty be capitalized on but citizens be given the dignity deserved.

I cannot help but notice how all of the candidates have capitalized on our poverty. I guess I have just become so tired of hearing every promise to alleviate poverty. To help  the poor reach more opportunities and to create more jobs for the poor. With all these promises come various dramas. Some sob stories. Some wild and western. Others banking on our heart for comedy, while others try to appear 'reachable' by striving to be close to the 'massa' who occupy 90 percent of the voting public.  Although I really cannot blame the candidates for trying to exhaust all means to win the race, I just hope they would focus more on the 'what and how' of our future.

The poll surveys show varying results depending on who is the one having the survey made. The more reputable ones show a trending based in the day to day exchanges. The Commission on Elections has made an extra effort to help keep us all informed through various debates and Information drives. Social media likewise creates its own polls.

My appeal remains, may we look at the candidates who can best have a program that will provide us with more options - to help build our country because we love being here in the Philippines because it is our land, our people, OURS. There is ownership, there is pride. There is a belonging because we are happy to be Filipinos. We do not treat our identity with condescension or shame. We feel protected and are respected by other people.  All because we have a country that nurtures us and gives us a certain independence brought about by our own recognition of Filipino ingenuity, innovativeness and strength. Where we can work and get compensated well without having to go abroad. Where our primary needs are met and we need not beg for aid from others. Where we can defend our territory and not be shackled by larger continents, where our own are supported and patented in our country and not elsewhere.

These may sound like wishes and maybe only God can supply them now.  For as He said I, the Bible, He has great plans for us, plans for a future and not destruction.

So before we make our choice on Monday let's seek His wisdom first. God bless the Philippines!