Yanking the Youth (The SK Elections)

It was supposed to be a positive and promising day. The Barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) Elections, as most were expecting, was supposed to usher in a new era of public service at par with the visions and aspirations of a new national leadership. The line of thinking was that, would-be public servants would pattern their platforms and policies to that of a morally upright president. In short, almost everybody thought that the idea of true change has arrived. Unfortunately, it did not.

A day before the actual conduct of the elections, the usual ‘envelopmental ‘strategy was implemented by most of the aspiring leaders. From the pockets of candidates, money flowed into the streets and eventually into the doorways of households, a handful of which were hoping never to be part of such a scheme again. Like rats following the Pied Piper, constituents eager for a fast buck, trailed those who were tasked as paymasters. It was disgusting as it was pathetic.

The unexpected postponement of the event only worsened the situation. The only difference is that this time, the ravenous rats were now demanding more cheese!

On the Election Day itself, shameless cohorts made last ditch efforts to entice voters with cash some of whom were reportedly waving 500 peso bills in front of the faces of the voters. Those who broke down and succumbed to the persuasion probably thought they were invisible to the public’s eye.

What shocked us the most was when a worried parent sought assistance to retrieve her 15 year old daughter who wanted to go home from a beach party. The mother revealed that it was not an ordinary party but another ploy to convince young voters to choose the host of the gathering as SK chairman. Apparently some of those in attendance were being held against their will and forced to break the law by being served liquor. Had it not been for the child’s homesickness, this dastardly and deceitful deed could have never seen the light of day.The usual practice of free rides and free meals are not even worth mentioning if we compare it to what is now being termed as ‘quartering.’ The old political practice has sadly found itself being indoctrinated to the youth.

That day brought a lot of surprises and surmises to us. We pray that social justice and fair play trek its natural path and rectify whatever wrongs were done. After all it was supposed to be a positive and promising day.