We all have our own biased political influences. On a global scale, we argue about the republican-democratic war-on-terrorism solutions. We agree to take our hats off in honor of the most theoretically powerful person in the world, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. We debate about the ethical/unethical ways of King Abdul’s absolute monarchic government. On a national level, we argue about who should be president; who deserve the vacant upper house seats; why him; why her; and so on. It’s a tough battle. Poll handlers are getting less and less reliable and it seems the best way to get this going is to vote for the ones we truly see fit—not those whom we think will win. The habit of supporting the biggest dog is one employed by feeble-minded bums who don’t know how to think—those who stand without principles.
Let us now visit the provincial level and talk about the most wildly coveted political seat: the governor’s. I helped Edgar Chatto get re-elected into congress three years ago. Back then, I was 19. It was my first time to vote and I knew little of the political brouhaha going on in Bohol, particularly in the first district. My parents both vote in Bohol. Dad is registered in Valencia and mom in Tagbilaran – same as I. Naturally, we had the same choice for a representative. She’s close friends with one of Chatto’s first cousins and I’m tight with his daughter, Trisha. I’ll admit: at the outset, I was apathetic towards my decision to support this candidate. I heard he did very well as a vice governor, as well as at being a representative during his first two terms. I recall several of my professors ranting on and on about how good he is and how a lot of roads – both metaphorically and literally – have been paved now that he’s taken hold of the district megaphone in congress. Needless, I should say, to mention the countless this-and-that programs he held all over his sphere. The decision to provide leverage for Chatto was, to say, not at all premeditated. It was influenced by my mom and my association with his daughter. It was something I had set my time and mind to merely because I knew I had made a choice that my family and most of my friends would approve of.
Initially, it was safe to say I was biased towards Chatto because I allowed myself to sway in the direction of my most prevalent influences without giving it thought.
However, as a thinking citizen, I considered Victor de la Serna’s sentiments despite having been advised against the idea. After all, he had his own track record. And the fact that he got disbarred as an international lawyer was forgivable in my opinion. But alas, Trisha was happy to know that I came to see Victor for what he truly was: nothing more than just another washed-up has-been trying to return to the glory days. He needed to be buried and that was a task I was more than glad to oblige to.
Yes, Edgar Chatto emerged victorious after days and days of letter campaign and wearing my sandals out walking under the scorching sun giving out the material I had just rolled out of the mimeo. I never found a single reason to regret even a second of my time spent for that. From the very beginning, I knew he deserved to win and when he did: he delivered what he knew the people needed and he didn’t disappoint. And unlike most politicians who only favor those who favor them, this big guy was different. He did not seem to acknowledge the votes when he helped people. When he helped people, it was like he didn’t even know he was doing something extraordinary. This was clearly something that came natural to him.
When I bore witness to the magnitude of his deeds, I was happy to have chosen such bias. I couldn’t have been more thankful that my influences funneled me in that direction.
Now, I haven’t much to say about his adversaries. The current vice-governor, Julius Herrera, is one to consider. But has he really done something significant to merit him an honor parallel to Chatto’s? I know not much of his track record as Bohol’s second-in-command. All I know is that it wasn’t bad. But I’ve never heard of it being exemplary. Has he impacted lives? Has he engraved his name in someone’s heart? Is his face currently being smiled at in the mind of someone who doesn’t even know him? I know Chatto’s is.
I have nothing to say about Cesar Montano except that he’s an actor who needs to stick to the stuff he knows how to do. What a joke! He couldn’t even take care of his own son. Much less the whole province! Am I using his son’s death against him? Yes I am! We all have free will! And why shouldn’t I talk about his son’s death? The fact that he failed to see his own child’s well-being is a clear manifestation of his incapability to lead.
HATE ON ME ALL YOU WANT! I KNOW I'M RIGHT!
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