Real voting

My vote doesn't end today.

Real voting, the kind that is rooted in love of country and of fellowmen and women, flows into the next days until the next elections, and is shown by electing to do what is good (like crossing the road only when the traffic light signals me to), to participate actively in appropriate venues for citizenship (such as barangay assemblies, responsible posting in social media, etc.), to choose the common good and absolute values as basis in my daily decisions (for the brands that I patronize, the events I attend, the politicians I invite to these events, the shows that I watch, the advice that I give to those who seek it, etc.).

And I will strive to do this not only because this is what Inang Pilipinas deserves, but also because this is what my faith in Jesus Christ empowers me to become, as Inang Simbahan guides me to do.

*Originally posted on Facebook

Mother

I want to thank You, God, Great Mother of us all, for loving us all into existence.

Thank You for the gift of motherhood which You shared with Eve and her daughters, which You empowered Mary to be supreme example, which You from age to age make fertile through love, understanding, consolation and hope.

I thank You in a special way for Benita, committed apostle of the Sacred Heart of Your only begotten Son, Jesus, who blessed me by procreating me with You and Ruperto, by carrying me despite her advanced age, by birthing me and nurturing me and lavishing me with love that is always sweet, sometimes demanding, but ever motherly.  You have called her back to You; may I one day join her again in Your everlasting, blessed embrace.

I ask You to bless my other mothers:

Mother Church, who continues to strive in living with fidelity her union with Your Son; may we all build her up by our own responsible and committed living of our Baptismal gift.

My motherland, who is attacked from all sides and even by her own children with ideologies and strategies that are not Filipino; may we gift her with our conscience-driven, life-giving exercise of our vote tomorrow, and our conscientious participation in her daily affairs.

My mother tongue, often unrecognized, sometimes disrespected, but so essential for understanding and cooperation; may she prosper again through education that flows into everyday existence.

Bless too, mothers related to me by blood (aunties, cousins, nieces, other relatives), by bonding (friends and acquaintances), or by blessing (heroic mothers I look up to: Margaret Occhiena, Monica of Hippo, Gianna Beretta Molla, etc.).

*Originally posted on Facebook

Results (on the elections)

I think this makes a lot of sense.

You want the same results? Then do the same things again and again.

You want a different outcome? Then do things differently.

You want a better outcome? To just work "harder" may not always do the trick. There should be something different in what you put in, or in how you do it.

I believe the same applies to our voting. If we vote for the same people, or use the same method of preparing for voting (or the lack of it), then we shouldn't be surprised we're in the mire we're in.

It seems to me that for voting, my general criteria, so far, are:

1. No other family member in (elected positions in) government -- this is always a source of temptation to make one's family nepotistic, and we can help them avoid this temptation by not electing them all family into office.
2. New but competent persons (track record, curriculum vitae, stand on issues, etc.).
3. Aside from other helpful standards as L.A.S.E.R. (lifestyle, action, supporters, election conduct and reputation) will be helpful for our democracy: Bago naman! More importantly, a new way of voting can also bring us a new (and hopefully renewing) scenario for the political landscape. Tama na 'yung "name recall, pogi/maganda sa poster, kilala ng pinsan ko, binigyan kami ng relief goods" lang.

Some suggestions:

1. Perhaps this time, let us really study how we will vote. Consult friends, search the net, reflect are just some new ways.
2. And let us prod others to do the same.
3. We can also try (perhaps for the first time for some) to let faith enlighten our choices. Try lang; if faith is supposed to be life-giving for the soul, can it not also be for the body?
4. See voting not as a "one-time, big-time" right for one day every 3 years, but as a responsibility we owe to our country that makes us proud because of its Tubbataha Reef, Verde Passage, rice terraces, fiestas, natural warmth, halo-halo, family closeness, Santo Nino, etc., a responsibility upon us all each day of our "always-blessed, sometimes-damned" Filipino lives.

*Originally posted on Facebook