Save the Pearl of the Orient: My View and Realization on Voting as I Learned about the First Queen of the Philippine Pageant
What changed my mind?
For years since I turned 18, I never thought of voting. I even did not participated in the SK elections in our barangay. I am just annoyed with how they can jump into a position and not be responsible. They can’t even recite the preamble. My last publication says all the reasons why I don’t want to commit to such privileged right but during the quarantine period a lot of things happened and it seems like we may all be locked up at our homes, others not even a shelter, we are still placed on a roller coaster that is bound for doom.
One night, I stumbled upon a documentary about a woman declared as ‘The Queen of the Orient’ . My interest grew with every second that the video is playing. She competed in Manila Carnival in 1908 which has the same concept as Miss Universe today. Her name is Pura Villianueva. She is half Spanish and half Flipino from Iloilo. She is described to be strong and outspoken. By the time that she won her title, she used it to be one of the most influential woman in her time and established a group that fight for the rights of women. I must say she addressed issues ahead of her time when no one seems to see a problem with the status and role of the women in society.
One of the most remarkable thing that she did was when she fought for the right of women to vote. The message is clear, that she wanted women to have a say in the society, the economy and the government. She doesn't want to keep the image of the ‘Mahinhin’ Filipina trapped in their homes and the sole purpose is to do chores and serve men. Not really seeing that the essence of being a woman is to only bear a child. Fortunately, Manuel Quezon, who by that time was the President of the Philippines approved her proposal and until now women are celebrating their right to vote. She used her intelligence, connections and charm for a bigger purpose.
So I thought, I should not let a strong woman down. I should practice something that she fought for, for it can change the nation in more ways than one can grasp. Now I wanted to contribute and speak up as much as possible in my smallest of ways. The bigger way? VOTE
Pura Villianueva fully convinced me.
But as days go on, the roller coaster where we all are went extreme and we can’t even feel our body. Some are already falling from it to quench their thirst for help.
People are becoming more aware of how dangerous the roller coaster is.
For me, no matter what the government says about the situation, it is clear that there are injustices in all aspects. The law can even bend on its knees for the sake of these powerful and rich politicians. If you are an ally, they would stop the roller coaster for you, lend you a hand and pull strings to reach a certain agenda that of course, only the privileged will benefit.
In the case of Vico Sotto, Why did they passed a new law just to bring down good governance?
Because it became a threat to them. It became an eye opener that we can have more than what we are getting. We deserve better. The national government is afraid that people will learn and abandon their poor judgement. Our education and realizations will be the death of them.
Why should an investigation be held for Koko Pimentel who clearly disobeyed the rules and regulations and the poor will go straight behind bars?
The situation does not need any investigation, it was clear that it was a national concern and what he did was reckless and stupid. He should be in jail for disobedience of the law, which ironically he, himself is a lawmaker. He of all people knew that he violated Republic Act. No. 11332. Now that people are in rage, a new statement from the government surfaced saying that they should act based on compassion.
The law knows no friends and relatives for the poor and only for the poor.
If you are not powerful enough, then just pray that justice is something that you can eat.
I was a coward for not wanting to vote but these COVID pandemic helped me realize about the situation of most Filipinos. The hunger, poverty and sadness enveloping them everyday is not beautiful. It is tragic that they settle for less because of the selfishness of incompetent government officials.
We are in one roller coaster, let’s help each other out.
If you are thinking to just be quiet and not do anything then you are probably just the same as those officials who knows nothing and worship nothing but money. Do not be like me, someone who has not realize what I must have done until this pandemic. I should have known better years ago. But we cannot change my decisions in the past, what we can change is our now for it will affect our future.
I am not wishing for this government to fail and to remove the president on his chair. It is the last thing that we should do now. We should fight with him and demand what is best for the nation. But it is not wrong to condemn, to call out what should be called out. This is not a wise time to be separated. If anything we need unity and that is our weapon.
The goal here is to be safe from this Pandemic and crisis but most importantly, it is to provide what is best for the people.
I pray that the Philippines will rise as one nation run by the people prioritizing the nation. Nothing more, nothing less.
