While watching the local news today, I learned that Presidential Candidate, Senator Manny Villar, is up in the latest Survey Ratings. Well, it wasn’t a bit surprising because Senator Manny Villar is practically burning millions of pesos in his campaign. How? Just watch television and you’ll find out and it doesn’t matter which channel or network it is too.

Everyday his political/campaign advertisements are shown in every channel, in every network and in every corner of the country and it’s not just one ad, it’s a variety of ads.  Ads with street children and poor people, ads with songs and ads with celebrities like Michael V (Bitoy) and Dolphy. In fact, he has the most campaign ads aired everyday amongst all the Presidential Candidates and if you are a television watcher then I’m certain that you have seen his ads not once but many times a day.

Not only that, Senator Manny Villar is also using his money to sponsor a segment in Eat Bulaga where one of his endorser, Michael V, is a regular host. The name of the segment is Stop My Hirap and Manny Villar is written all over it. In this segment or portion of the show, the audience are asked to write down in a piece of “orange” colored form or paper what their wish is (orange is the official color used by Senator Manny Villar). The paper is then placed inside a jar where one lucky person’s wish is randomly drawn and read. The person is then called down and is asked to play a game of roulette where he can win cash and groceries.

The segment, Stop My Hirap, is not directly attributed to Manny Villar but it’s very obvious that he is behind it. I don’t watch WOWOWEE but I was told that they also have a segment sponsored by this particular Presidentiable.

Used Them As They Use You

As with most politicians, Senator Manny Villar is using the poor to fuel his presidential campaign and he is willing to give away money to further his cause. Now, if he is willing to give away money, millions of it, then why not take it? The masses should stop getting used by these politicians. Instead, the people should start using these politicians for their own benefit and when I say “use them” I don’t mean to put them in office. NO!

What I meant by use them is this, take their money if they are giving them away. Write to them and asked for assistance, for medical help, for financial aide, for work, for whatever it is that they can give you. Milk them like cows BUT never vote for them. Never put them in office because, in return, they will milk the country for everything it got.

The problem with us Filipinos is that we have a very, very strong sense of gratitude specially the poor people (me included). We feel that we should give something back or that we are indebted to these politicians. I tell you, we are NOT indebted to them. The money they are spending are NOT their money and if they are then they will get it back a hundred folds once they are in office.

During an election year, try to put aside your sense of gratitude and MILK these politicians for everything they got. If you can get a bag of grocery from them then get it. If you can grab 10,000 pesos from them then grab them. If they are giving away medicines, food, etc. take it, take it, take it but never ever make the mistake of voting for them.

Take whatever you can from these politicians BUT vote for someone who can truly help the country. Vote for someone who has nothing to offer you but his sincerity to lead and reform the country. Vote for someone whose credibility has never been questioned and has never been involved in any form of corruption.

Open Your Mind

To find out who this person is, you must simply open your mind and READ, WATCH and LISTEN.  These politicians have websites, brochures, flyers, documents, papers, etc. containing information about them. Read, watch and listen to learn what they did in the past, what they’re doing in the present and what they plan to do in the future. After all the reading, watching, listening and learning everything you can about all of them then decide who among them can take this country forward.

Don’t be blinded by the fancy television commercials with their catchy campaign theme songs. Don’t be blinded by the money they are throwing all around you. Don’t be blinded by their looks and appearance because not everyone who looks like an Angel is an Angel. Don’t be blinded by their words because their words are rehearsed lines full of lies and deceit and are mostly not written by them but for them.

This coming National and Local Elections, don’t think about YOU and what they can do for YOU. Think about what they can do for our country. If you truly think that Senator Manny Villar can lead this country to progress then with all your heart vote for him but if you are voting for him because you simply like him or that he helped you in some way or that he looks good on TV or whatever petty reasons it may be then please don’t. Again, this goes for all the candidates in both local and national positions.

Personally, I haven’t made up my mind yet about who I will vote for in the coming National and Local Election. It’s a very important decision and I’m going to put a lot of time in analyzing each candidate before deciding and, NO, I bag of grocery plus 25,000 pesos will not affect my decision.