Sunday, October 25, 2009
Categorized | philippine 2010 election, philippine COMELEC 2010 elections
A Story About Political Volunteerism During Elections ( Part 1 of 3 )
7:47 PM
This is a true story.
More than a decade ago, my late dad Greg was very active with an organization called RAM. Their principles focused on changing the system of government, creating a new model for better governance, being the role models of society etc. They even had a t-shirt that had all their names printed on it. This was also the beginning of the massive recruitment for the Guardians. I was a college student back then, proud and energized because my dad was with prominent political and military personalities. Almost every week our small eatery became the place for organizational meetings. Most of the time, the snacks were free or were given big discounts. All these in the name of creating a principled organization.
Back then, recruitment of Guardians and members of RAM-PART was in the upswing. In 1995 Gringo Honasan ran for Senator for the first time. It was then that I understood the creation of big and massive organizations for political purposes. My dad took a very active participation during this election period particularly in endorsing and campaigning for Sen. Honasan and the principles and projects to be implemented. He called relatives and friends all over and most of all, he spearheaded the campaign in the province of Benguet and some other provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
All of us were supportive of dad's moves even to the extent of sacrificing our family's own money just for the campaign, all of which were under the principle of volunteerism. Dad, me, together with some Guardians and volunteers went to all the municipalities of Benguet to campaign for the Senator using our car and two jeepneys hired by dad. At the end of the campaign period, Cordillera gave one of the highest votes for Senator Honasan. And for our family, at the end of the campaign period were broke and lost almost close to a million pesos in volunteer money.
As years passed, I noticed that fewer people were visiting dad. The people he worked with before, during and after the 1995 elections were not visible and the organization RAM-PART began to fade. As of today,I believe, RAM-PART no longer exist.
Dad was a good volunteer for a cause, for a principle I cannot understand during my younger years. Eventually, I decided to shift course and took up political science. It was then that I realized how dad was used. In 1999, my dad felt the scary effect of his illness. He suffered for 8months in bed and in May of 2000, my dad passed away due to diabetes. The very sad fact is that during the months that he was in bed, wake and burial, not even one of those military and political figures visited. This was the time I realized that despite all the things he did, my dad was a nobody but a mere volunteer.
Today, the 2010 election is coming fast. Political figures are again recruiting for volunteers. Organizations left and right are being established. Principles are formed etc. But I tell you this, at the end of the day, the volunteers are just volunteers and the real winners are the politicians and political parties. Although there is a big difference in volunteerism before and now. Before, as a volunteer, you will use your own money to campaign for a politician. Today, you get paid to campaign for a politician. Today, you get something to campaign for a politician. Today, you are bought by a politician.
Regardless of the the political blah blahs, or supposed principles of organizations that mushroomed everywhere, at the end of the day, the hard working volunteers are just volunteers. No politician or strategist can say that his or her electoral organization will last longer than the term given because it has yet to be proven in Philippine political history. Philippine politics has proven this as a fact.
Remember the famous saying "IN POLITICS, ENEMIES ARE ENEMIES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHARE THE SAME PERMANENT INTEREST". In the field, politicians seem to battle with each other. But is this a fact?
end of part 1.
Copyright 2009, Quezon City,
www.PoliticalAdobo.com
All rights reserved
More than a decade ago, my late dad Greg was very active with an organization called RAM. Their principles focused on changing the system of government, creating a new model for better governance, being the role models of society etc. They even had a t-shirt that had all their names printed on it. This was also the beginning of the massive recruitment for the Guardians. I was a college student back then, proud and energized because my dad was with prominent political and military personalities. Almost every week our small eatery became the place for organizational meetings. Most of the time, the snacks were free or were given big discounts. All these in the name of creating a principled organization.
All of us were supportive of dad's moves even to the extent of sacrificing our family's own money just for the campaign, all of which were under the principle of volunteerism. Dad, me, together with some Guardians and volunteers went to all the municipalities of Benguet to campaign for the Senator using our car and two jeepneys hired by dad. At the end of the campaign period, Cordillera gave one of the highest votes for Senator Honasan. And for our family, at the end of the campaign period were broke and lost almost close to a million pesos in volunteer money.
As years passed, I noticed that fewer people were visiting dad. The people he worked with before, during and after the 1995 elections were not visible and the organization RAM-PART began to fade. As of today,I believe, RAM-PART no longer exist.
Dad was a good volunteer for a cause, for a principle I cannot understand during my younger years. Eventually, I decided to shift course and took up political science. It was then that I realized how dad was used. In 1999, my dad felt the scary effect of his illness. He suffered for 8months in bed and in May of 2000, my dad passed away due to diabetes. The very sad fact is that during the months that he was in bed, wake and burial, not even one of those military and political figures visited. This was the time I realized that despite all the things he did, my dad was a nobody but a mere volunteer.
Today, the 2010 election is coming fast. Political figures are again recruiting for volunteers. Organizations left and right are being established. Principles are formed etc. But I tell you this, at the end of the day, the volunteers are just volunteers and the real winners are the politicians and political parties. Although there is a big difference in volunteerism before and now. Before, as a volunteer, you will use your own money to campaign for a politician. Today, you get paid to campaign for a politician. Today, you get something to campaign for a politician. Today, you are bought by a politician.
Regardless of the the political blah blahs, or supposed principles of organizations that mushroomed everywhere, at the end of the day, the hard working volunteers are just volunteers. No politician or strategist can say that his or her electoral organization will last longer than the term given because it has yet to be proven in Philippine political history. Philippine politics has proven this as a fact.
Remember the famous saying "IN POLITICS, ENEMIES ARE ENEMIES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHARE THE SAME PERMANENT INTEREST". In the field, politicians seem to battle with each other. But is this a fact?
end of part 1.
Copyright 2009, Quezon City,
www.PoliticalAdobo.com
All rights reserved
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