Submitted on 2010/01/15 at 7:47pm

Dear Friends,

Election time is here again. Many of you will shrug this off as another of those futile exercise that we as a dysfunctional nation go through.

Let me tell you, THIS TIME IT IS DIFFERENT. IF we make it so. Why?

1. This is the FIRST TIME THAT IT IS AUTOMATED: COMPLETE WITH FINGERPRINTS (BIOMETRICS). Naysayers talk of loopholes. But one thing is sure: Cheating will certainly be cut down (no ghost voters, no carbon papers, etc…)now. I say, first time. The next time around,some smart-pinoys will know how to go around it. Then cheating begins to accelerate again. WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FIRST AUTOMATED ELECTION.

2. We are now in a precarious situation: World financial crisis, Ondoy, Pepeng, Mt. Mayon, especially the pervasive apathy etc… We are slowly trudging to our doom. If we do not elect a good president this time, we will spiral down this pit. But, if we elect a good president, there is a big chance that we can rise up very quickly too. That is, if the next president will know how to position our country in the current world crisis.

3. There are more alternative media: more social networks,SMS/GMS and information is much much more accessible than before.

4. We have better choices (of candidates) now. Believe me! We do have a GOOD CHOICE!

MY APPEAL TO THE EDUCATED FILIPINOS WHO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS THIS: We must vote for the MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE TO LEAD us. AND we must CONVINCE all people within our circle of influence to vote for our choice! We, the educated people of our land should pave the way for our next president. Not the artista’s, singers, paid-media persons and other personalities. PLEASE! WE DO THIS CORNY THING EVEN JUST THIS ONCE.

HOW?
1. Be objective! Examine the candidates well. WITHOUT biases you know, surveys, benefits that you’ll gain when he’s president (for your business or careers–Pls., esp. not this! kaya naghihika-us tayo eh.), party-affiliations, strategic voting, etc… Here are some links that might start you out:

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES:
by GMA (audio)
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/53577/kilalanin-forum-09-jan-2010
by ANC (video)
http://www.pinoychannel.tv/watch/v-185258?title=HARAPAN%2012/02/09%20PART%201/12
by Carlos Romulo Foundation presidential policy debate on Jan 14. (will send the links of recorded video if i can find one)

Che-Che Lazaro did a comprehensive interview of the candidates in alphabetical order. (You may also search for the interviews of candidates in the search box of probetv):

Sen. Benigno Aquino
http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&id=0&Itemid=8&vi=1417

Sen. Richard Gordon
http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&vi=1541&Itemid=8

Sec. Gilbert Teodoro
http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&vi=1344&Itemid=8

Sen. Manuel Villar
http://www.probetv.com/index.php?option=com_probetv&view=video&layout=program&vi=1311&Itemid=8

2. Do a background check on your chosen candidate: Google search, I think will do. Check allegations, counter allegations etc… (Allotted time: please do this fast! by next month: February: you should be sure of your candidate)

3. Once you are sure of your candidate, convince your household members, drivers, yaya, extended families, friends, etc… I think, our words are more credible and I hope we be relentless in convincing die-hards who are already stuck with an unsuitable candidate.

4. Go out and Vote this May (If you can). And if possible volunteer as a pollwatcher. Calling esp. the IT/computer geeks: please study the automated election well. If you see any prob., you can text/FB/e-mail etc… so we be aware what to watch out for.

5. Please pass this e-mail to all Pinoys out there.

Thank you very much.
May we rise to be a great nation once again.
God bless the Philippines!
Mabuhay!

Thanks Sony. This is much appreciated.

For those who are willing to make some personal adjustments, may I recommend that we start with changing the way we think. I suggest a shift from the casual and routine style of thinking to the deliberate, purposeful and reflective style called critical thinking. You can find out more about it in this wikipedia article. You may also want to visit the blog of the critical thinker. I’m not sure if the people running this are Filipinos but I would assume they are because their blog is listed in topblogs.com.ph.

Anyway, why do I suggest a shift to critical thinking? Let me count the reasons.

1. because this is the age of ideas and we need to be more discerning to differentiate between what is true or false, valid or invalid;
2. because the campaign season is coming soon and we will have to sift through our candidates’ propaganda to find real value;
3. because we need to discuss our country’s future and simply being critical no longer works; being able to explore, share and build on ideas is the way to go;

For all of us inhabiting the blogosphere, critical thinking presents an immediate benefit – if applied properly it will make online discussions more engaging and productive.