Culture and choices

One of the peculiar features of Philippine elections is the role of culture in the choice of candidates. The average Filipino is tradition conscious. Tradition with its embedded values and roles of behavior determines to a great extent his responses to events such as elections. Rationalization also figures, but only the so-called educated elites normally resort to this. For the general mass of electors, it is relationship that counts.

This happen because person to person relationship is highly valued. It is who you are, not what you are that influences one's choice. Is the candidate a relative? Is he a compadre, somebody related through ritual kinship? If not, does he hail from the same town or province as the voter? All these are factors of one's sense of belongingness which even in the absence of a face-to-face relationship still influences one's selection of a candidate. That's why the candidate belonging to a certain town or province tends to get more votes in these places than those from other areas. "Taga-ato" is indeed a strong determinant of choice.

Related to this value is the individual's strong attachment to his family, both nuclear and extended. Such attachment compels him to align his political affiliation with that of the family even to the point of sacrificing his conviction. The interest of family prevails; its welfare supersedes that of its individual members, hence, there is a need to close rank especially in political affairs because the reigning leadership can make or break a family's social status.

In expansive family organizations choice may be bifurcated, that is, one group going the way of one party while another choosing another party. To outsiders the family appears chopped into adversarial chunks, but within the family circle there's no conflict because the decision is usually a collegial one. Actually, it's a form of political strategy designed to ensure that whoever wins in the election the family does not lose its connection with the ruling leadership.

Utang kabubut-on or utang na loob is another cultural value that affects one's choice. If some assistance or benefit has been received from a candidate in the past, the latter is likely to win the vote of the elector concerned. For this reason, an incumbent official who has touched the lives of many of his constituents through services of various types, official or personal, usually gets the vote of the latter. Of course, personal debts of gratitude such as getting employed through the leader's intercession or having the latter served as a sponsor in a wedding or baptismal ceremony, are more highly valued and therefore are more compelling as choice determinants.

This is where the "bisag unsaon" mentality comes in. Even if one's candidate has been severely criticized for alleged malpractices or misbehavior and even if his chances for winning is slim, one seldom wavers in his loyalty because utang kabubut-on has a strong grip on his conviction.

These cultural imperatives, however, may be off-set by certain factors which could result in a switching of electoral choice. One such factor is economic survival. For instance, an individual who is a blood relative of a candidate may opt to vote for another candidate for the reason that he (the voter) is employed by the latter. A similar situation exists in the case of an elector who is occupying a lot belonging to a candidate. "No vote - ibot" runs the threat, so what can the poor fellow do but go with the wishes of the lot owner?

Sometimes it's not just livelihood concern nor fear of dislocation that works against the value of personal relationship. Other factors such as intra-group rivalry, attractive offer from opposing camps, and concerns on personal safety could dislocate one's option at the polls.

As for utang kabubut-on, this too could be set aside for one reason or another. If, for instance, the favor received has been "repaid" the effect of this value becomes less compelling. Also, if a greater favor has been enjoyed from another candidate, this too tends to influence one's voting trend.

But even such deviations considered, traditional mode of behavior still plays a big role in the voting practices of most Filipinos. And the candidate who is aware of this and adjusts his moves accordingly is more likely to fare better in an election.

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