As a volunteer for the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), I was surprised to be satisfied and fulfilled when we conducted a Voter Education Program in two barangays in the city last April 20, 2013. I was assigned to the topic "Accessibility." I realized how important Voter Empowerment is to the future of this country. Indeed, as a democratic country who somehow enshrines in its constitution the sacredness of the right of suffrage, empowering the people to fight and to defend their right to vote is no easy task, and in a country with a tradition of vote-buying and vote-selling, its an uphill battle. Somehow, great things start with simple beginnings and I am proud to be a spark in that change.
I have no delusions that the Filipino people will take time to fully appreciate the power and the value of elections in our life as a people. We have taken for granted, misused and abused our fundamental and sacred right to choose the destiny we want by the chronic practice of vote buying and selling. It's almost an enterprise that is conducted openly, brazenly and nonchalantly with no care that such practices are actually illegal, not to mention demeaning and in fact humiliating.
Somehow, I was happy with the response of the people who attended the program we conducted. The participants were inquisitive, interested and appreciative of the need to safeguard the inalienable right to vote - and by extension, the right to choose a destiny.
It is my fervent hope and longing that over time, the Filipino people will actively protect and safeguard their right to vote - to free it from the shackles of Filipino political dynasties, cronyism and of course, money. To my fellow volunteers, let's keep on shouldering the noble cause.
MABUHAY AND FILIPINO!!!
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