Young campaigns

Exactly a week ago, the campaign period of candidates running for national positions in this year's election came into full swing. Just as expected the streets are now colorfully posted with faces of people who promise to bring light to our country. Even our TV and radio sets are blaring with campaign jingles.

For a first time voter like me, I am excited to vote the set of people whom I think would make policies and laws that would make the Philippines progress. There is that thrill of finding my name outside the precincts and using the PCOS machine for the first time. However, there is that part of me that craves for more information as to whose name I will shade on the ballots when the month of May comes.

Given the airtime granted by the COMELEC, their ads do not give voters a clear picture of what they really want to convey. Some candidates opt for music videos but they don't really present what are their platforms and plans for the Philippines. Even jingles and posters do not help that much. It is kind of alarming how one person could be placed in position because of his fame but we do not really know what they are capable of.

Same goes with university student council elections. With the May 2013 election in fever, it seems like the universities are models of a mini Philippines also into the election fever. And because the youth of today are techie, campaigns are blasted on the internet and on social media sites.

A person's Facebook newsfeed could be so colorfully filled with battling colors of each other's respective party. Degrading statuses are made, photos of insults are up and videos of credibility are posted for the world to see. Yet at the end of the day, it is all about choice.

It is a choice when we want to look at the campaign materials placed before us. Would you rather open your Facebook account and be bombarded by such messages or read a good book instead? The problem with today's youth is they think that the world is all about how you look online and how other people think about this. There is a big real world out there that needs attention, too.

It is choice when we campaign for a person or a party. The power of whose picture you would share on your wall is yours and not somebody else's, unless you were hacked by some powerful creature. As you who own the social media account should know who are campaigning for and why you are doing so. If we are to be deep on this, friendship does not really count. I have known stories of close friends who literally separate during campaign and election times. It also does not help if we campaign based on credentials that are out of the picture, say winning a quiz bowl or a singing contest perhaps.

Lastly, it is choice when we place our votes. Where you pen lands on that sheet of paper is still your will and your power to place whoever deserves to be in position. With our capability to vote, we know who are real leaders and leaders who are just there for recognition.

With the election fever going on for both the bureaucracy and student governments, I wish all the candidates the best of luck. But above all, we must remember that no great position is needed if we want to be leaders in our own rights so we could serve our people. Titles and recognitions do not define who you are as a person.

**Published on The Freeman Newspaper on February 19, 2013