Am I a Responsible Filipino?

In a democratic country, the absolute power to elect government officials rest on the hands of its citizens. The Philippines, being democratic, depends on its people to put into power the right politician for the job. This brings in the people’s Right to Suffrage or the Right to Vote.

 

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/06/17/954861/comelec-forms-committee-barangay-elections

Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that “Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise qualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they purpose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.”

Suffrage is considered one of the most important civic responsibilities of the citizens of a nation. Being tasked to elect government officials into power is not an easy task. The power lies in the people’s hands during the day of election. But after elections, the people seem to lose their voice. Some no longer care what happens to the government and where the money goes. While some are active enough to get to the streets and protest the way government officials abuse their power, some are just contented to watch and remain silent. Our civic responsibility does not end after casting our votes, after the results are announced or even after the officials started their term. Why? After we have elected the government officials into power, another very important civic responsibility comes into action.

Being a democratic country, we have strong belief on the words “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Although this was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg with a different meaning intended, this quote has already been a sort of basis for what a government should be especially in a democratic country like the Philippines..

 

Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/28702-2013-philippine-elections-guide

After elections, the elected officials will be starting their term. For some, this will also be the start of abuse of power, graft and corruption. When Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III ran and won as the 15^th President of the Republic of the Philippines in 2010, he promised the Filipino people the “tuwid na daan” system aiming to eradicate graft and corruption in the Philippine government during his six year term. The Filipinos believed in him and in his promise that is why he was elected to power. We expected the Philippines too rise from the ashes of a third world country and once again rise as the Tiger of Asia like that during the term of former President Fidel V. Ramos. We expected our economy to rise and bring a better life for Filipino people. We expected an improvement of the crisis on poverty, lack of housing, illiteracy and lack of jobs. We expected a more transparent, clean and honest management of the taxpayers money.

Now, after three years since PNOY started his term, where is this SO-CALLED “tuwid na daan”? What happened? The Philippines even seemed to sink lower and lower into the mud and quagmire poverty, graft and corruption, and other social and economical problems as stated above. As Filipinos, it is our duty to be watchful and vigilant on what our government officials are during. As citizens of this nation, we have every right to participative in forums, assemblies, meetings and court hearings to be updated on what is happening in the government. This is a bigger civic responsibility of every Filipino, young and old, male or female, educated or not.

The Constitution should have included in the checks and balances theory that the people should also have the right to put into check and scrutinize carefully the decisions of the three branches of the government. Remember that as citizens of this democratic country, the people have the power to elect our government officials into power. Therefore, our officials are accountable to the Filipino people.

Many Filipinos are not aware of this bigger civic responsibility which rests on their shoulders. This is a right provided for us by the 1987 Constitution. Many Filipinos would complain of how the government is being run but they are not doing anything about. Be more vigilant, be more participative in the affairs of our country and you will have every reason to complain. You have every right to do so. Always remember that your rights do not end after the elections.