Tingog.com

I always appreciate when readers really take to heart the issues that face our country. And so when I wrote the article, “To The Vote Selling Public“, I wasn’t at all surprised to receive an email the other day from a reader who didn’t really agree. Although, his assumptions were a bit off, I admire his passion and conviction. Before I go further, here’s is the letter that our reader sent to us.

Dear Nick,

Thank you for that enlightening article regarding the vote selling public. I have to admit, I don’t necessarily agree with you. I somehow feel that you do not know what it feels like to be poor and in need of food. I somehow feel that yo do not know what it feels like to have your family go hungry. I somehow feel that you don’t have the empathy that is needed to understand why some people need to sell their vote.

I don’t know you personally, but maybe you should realize that in The Philippines, not everyone eats three times a day, some not even two, still others do not even have the means to eat every single day.

I can understand how people are forced to sell their vote, if it means that their family won’t go hungry for the next couple of days. I’m from a poor family, as many Filipinos are and I understand how it feels to not have food in your stomach. When you can’t do anything but think of food, when you search for a few pesos so you can buy some bread.

To the vote selling public, do what you must because if it means your survival then sell your vote. I’m not saying that everyone who sells their vote is in dire need of that money, but in life, we can’t all be perfect.

I appreciate your writing, but in this case, I just don’t agree.

First of all, I come from a family of meager means. My mother was from Cebu and was one of nine children. My mother started working since she was in elementary, from working in the streets selling cigarettes and candy, and even working in bars as a waitress. When she was in high school she worked in a hospital and was given an opportunity to go to nursing school. So she became a working student like so many of our Filipino youths. She worked her way up and was eventually able to travel abroad, then finally ending up in The United States.

When I was growing up, not once was I not reminded of my family roots. And what my mother taught me was that, there is always a better way to do things, it may not always be the easiest, but in life, your integrity is a valuable possession indeed. And to do right by your country is not a choice but your duty. Not once, during her life, when she was working hard as a student, barely eating enough, did she ever think of selling her vote, or even taking money from anyone just for voting.

Voting is a sacred obligation that you have to your country. Money will come and go, but your honesty and integrity is something that you can possess all throughout your life.

There is always a way, those who take that money are taking the easy way out.

And so, I’m in a point in my life, where I realize my obligations to my country, and my responsibility to act the way I want all Filipinos to act. This is not a joy for me to call out any of our fellow countrymen for their weakness, but let’s call it what it is. Let’s me honest with ourselves, because to be anything else, is to be in denial.

Let’s move forward and the only way to do that is to bring to light the wrongs that are being made in our own land. In the end, after the elections are over, when the politicians have forgotten, people like Pedro, who I wrote about back in February, are still languishing in poverty.

tags: (none)