Keeping up in a modern world

Over the past year and, I’m sure, in the one ahead, I can’t help but feel that we are all keeping our eyes on the 2016 elections. While that is all well and good, we must also not let it keep us from concentrating on what is important in the here and now. We discuss endlessly what might happen should this potential candidate become president that sometimes we forget that we currently have a president and that we should also be focusing on what he is doing in the present.

However, at the same time, I also understand the importance of keeping our eyes on the future too. The past three years have admittedly changed so many people’s perspective on the government and I’m glad to see that, for once, it looks like we are being more vigilant about who we put into office. I can only hope that this vigilance carries into the 2016 elections and that the masses don’t just haphazardly vote for whomever. This is how we end up with leaders who don’t lead and how many of our former presidents faced impeachment cases while still in office.

It’s important to truly weigh the issues when looking at presidential candidates and try to choose who we feel will truly lead the country with as little to no corruption as possible. After all, it’s corruption that holds our country back in so many ways. I truly believe that there is so much we can achieve if we put our resources to their proper use. I can only hope that this coming election will see us put our faith in true public servants that will focus on honest growth for the country.

And speaking of the upcoming 2016 elections, I have to say that I am glad that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to keep Smartmatic as their partner to refurbish and renew the 80,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to be used in the May 2016 presidential elections. In general, the PCOS machines have received criticism from many (usually just those who lost in the elections and their camps), for glitches that have people questioning their reliability and accuracy. However, I think it’s important for us to keep up in a modern world. Gone are the days of voting by candlelight in tiny election offices and we need to create more chances for more people to be able to vote and have their voices heard. This means keeping our PCOS machines up-to-date to remove chances for glitches and problems come election time.

I think Smartmatic is the best choice to do the refurbishing of the machines as they are the most equipped to update and fix their own equipment. Plus I feel that they have a good track record during the 2010 presidential elections and the 2013 gubernatorial and congressional elections, especially in our voting age society of over 100 million. I feel that the company has gotten the job done and there is no reason why they should not be the ones to continue keeping the machines up-to-date and ready-to-use in 2016.

Of course there is no way to keep everyone happy and some call this a “midnight deal,” but I think in the end it was the right choice. After all, the longer we wait to take concrete steps to address this the longer it will take to take action. A public bidding process would waste so much time and even though it seems like it’s still a long way away, it will actually be the 2016 election before we know it. I feel that it’s best not to dilly-dally and get the job done. Here’s hoping for a smooth and fair elections in 2016 that will yield true and positive results for the country.

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I have written about the Pope in several of my previous columns, and I along with millions of Catholics in the country, am truly excited as the Papal visit draws nearer. It’s exciting to see the plans being revealed about what will happen when the Holy Father arrives in the Philippines and I hope that his visit truly helps renew the faith of Filipinos all over the country.

I am also pleased to hear that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has reiterated the Pope’s message of living simply to the priests in the country reminding them that 2015 is the Year of the Poor and of Consecrated Life for the Church as willed by Pope Francis. It is nice to see them taking the Vatican’s message to heart and applying it to the clergy in the Philippines. Whether or not this was spurned by the Pope’s upcoming visit is not important, what is important is the message.

After all, we have to admit that there are some clergy in the Philippines prone to grandeur and luxury, including building huge and expensive churches. While it is not bad to build these beautiful houses of God, one can’t help but think that the money could have been used to help those in need. With a little budgeting and planning a simple church could still be built while helping the poor at the same time.

However don’t get me wrong; I have also known many priests who truly embody the virtues of their office. They live simple lives and help others and truly serve as an example for their congregation. These are the inspiring priests who lead by example and inspire others to do the same. Hopefully, their number will grow as the church continues to go through this Renaissance under Pope Francis. I can’t help but respect the Pope even more for doing this much-needed “spring cleaning.” We could all definitely use more kindness, compassion, and simplicity in the church.