With only a few months left, the six-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte is about to end. Now is the perfect time to ponder on our choices to whoever has the heart to serve the Filipino people as hopeful politicians file their certificates of candidacy.
Numerous campaign posts from presidential to senatorial bets are all over the media as aspiring public servants reveal their candidacy. With the upcoming 2022 presidential elections, have you noticed familiar faces among these candidates?
Manny Pacquiao, Leni Robredo, Isko Moreno, Bong Go, and Bongbong Marcos are the names we frequently hear competing for the presidential seat. Tired of seeing the same people over and over again, we might consider some of these courageous candidates coming from the working class.
Leody de Guzman
Leodigario “Leody'' de Guzman is a 62-year-old labor leader and presidential aspirant who seems to fall behind the public conversation among his well-known opponents. In the last 2019 senatorial elections, he was also a candidate who stood firmly on the side of the poor, women, LGBTQ+, and other oppressed groups. However, he lost and fell at 38th place as the senatorial bets of the administration were dominating the race. Now, aiming for the highest position of power in our country, he is running under the socialist Partido Lakas ng Masa, whose platform advocates the empowerment of the workers.
Phil delos Reyes
A security guard who went viral on Twitter as he seeks a post in the Senate is an example of a masa candidate. Having his campaign platform speech with his head held up high, he caught the attention of the netizens as he wore his usual guard uniform despite being on a day off—which is very much a representation of being a marginalized Filipino. In his desire to eradicate poverty, his original plan was to become a party-list representative for his co-security guards, but unfortunately, he came in late for the deadline of submission of the candidacy. Nonetheless, that didn’t stop him from pursuing his ambition to improve the quality of life of all the security guards.
Nelson Ancajas
Another unusual candidate we might not have heard of running for senator is Nelson Ancajas, a father who lost his months-old daughter to a genetic disease while seeking assistance from the government. During his filing of the certificate of candidacy, he brought up the slow rollout of government aid to the media, which could have prevented his child’s death. Win or lose, he maximized the use of the podium to let those in power hear his sentiments.
Becoming a public servant doesn’t require a specific college degree, making these candidates qualified for the upcoming 2022 elections. For as long as one can read and write, one is eligible—excluding the other qualifications like the age requirement and the number of years they have resided in the Philippines.
Such standards make it easier to reach ordinary Filipinos as it is very much “maka-masa”. To say that is an understatement that anyone, regardless of their status, is given the chance to serve the country. It puts out the classist discrimination that one’s educational background is the sole basis of one’s eligibility since not everyone is privileged enough to finish a college degree.
As we all know, the election is a game of the rich; De Guzman, Delos Reyes, and Ancajas are only a few of those who took the risk and broke the elitist stereotype that only high-profile politicians can run for the election. As party-lists start to be invaded by the ruling class, it takes away the space meant for the neglected sectors who want to be heard.
Practicing the act of voting wisely, we must choose leaders who will perform their duties to the best of their abilities and whose platforms are inclusive for the minority.
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