EVANESCENCE
WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG LAST 2023 ELECTIONS?
by Gab Padilla
The 2023 barangay and SK elections proved to be a more arduous affair compared to the previous presidential elections in 2022. While the latter offered a clear choice for better governance, the former left me grappling with a decision between the lesser of three evils. Weeks of enduring their cringe-worthy campaign jingles and lackluster promises led to a moment of reckoning at the election precinct.
Among the contenders were the female incumbent barangay captain, my uncle who held the position previously, and a new independent candidate—a gay entrepreneur known for his successful chicken joints in Calinan and Talomo River. Despite their varied backgrounds, one thing remained constant in my mind: they were all tainted by corruption and self-serving agendas.
The incumbent barangay captain, basking in the success of the Build, Build, Build initiative, seemed more preoccupied with her personal affairs in Cotabato than addressing the pressing issues
of our barangay. The dilapidated road near our area, a hazard for motorcyclists due to its irregular slabs of rock, languished in disrepair for nearly a year before any action was taken. Furthermore, her bias towards her own kin became apparent during a land dispute involving our family and relatives. Given that we belong to the rival family of her predecessor, the former barangay captain, she chose to remain ambiguous, exacerbating the divide rather than mediating a resolution.
My uncle, a member of our family of landowners, mirrored the incumbent's lack of responsiveness and progress. Despite his familial ties to the community, his tenure saw little development in Talomo River over the past 15 years.
As for the third candidate, while his sudden rise in the chicken joint business was impressive, his mysterious background and potential connections raised eyebrows. His propensity for spreading disinformation only added to the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy.
Given these three undeserving candidates, I found myself trapped in a dilemma of choosing the best of the worst. My time at UP instilled in me the importance of making informed voting choices for the collective good. However, faced with these shadowy backgrounds and dubious characters, none of them fit the bill. Throughout the election campaign, supporters touted the virtues of their preferred candidate, painting them as kind and respectable or labeling others as corrupt thieves. But these claims lacked substance, leaving me with a sense of disillusionment as I observed fellow voters casting their ballots. As the precinct staff began to wonder about my prolonged deliberation, I knew it was time to make my decision. With a sigh, I marked my preferred candidate's last name, hoping against hope that they would prove to be the right choice.
After all, family is everything.