One hundred thirty people filed their certificates of candidacy for the presidency last week.
The spokesman of the Commission on Elections had only good words for what transpired. “This is a symbol of a vibrant democracy…more people feel empowered to put themselves forward as candidates,” said James Jimenez.
Despite the exhortation of some sectors for candidates and their supporters to keep the weeklong filing a sober event, the past few days still saw gimmickry and other attempts to call attention to the candidates—the whole spectrum of them.
Aside from the 130 who said they wished to seek the highest post in the land, there were also 19 who wanted to run for vice president and 172 who wanted to “offer themselves up” as senators.
Of course, these numbers include the names of those who are deemed serious about their decision. These are the ones who are supported by legitimate political organizations and who have had some experience in public service. These are the faces we look forward to see engaged in debate about substantive issues concerning the country, generally, and communities, specifically. They are the few about whom surveys have been commissioned. They will also be among those who would engage in the dirty-tricks department—if they have not begun already.
We can only surmise what is going on in the minds of the rest of the presidential hopefuls.
Amid cheering crowds and costumed participants, some of the most unlikely individuals have gathered up the courage to apply for what is arguably the most difficult job in the land. It is easy to brand them as loonies, or crazies, or the more acceptable term—nuisances.
There was a man who named himself angel and devil combined. Another wanted to legalize four seasons in the Philippines to replace the two we are used to. Yet another proposed opening of convenience stores at every turn.
There were those, however, who knew they were a hopeless case yet decided to file anyway. A farmer, for instance, wanted to call attention to the plight of his sector.
Perhaps some people simply crave the satisfaction from the knowledge that they tried. Some perhaps truly believe they stand a chance. Whatever the reasons are, isn’t vying for the presidency an indication of craziness, to a point? After all, why disrupt your quiet life for a six-year political stint that would most likely be thankless? Why sacrifice time with your family and for your personal pursuits for a job whose troubles never end? Why risk going to jail afterwards even as everything you do is presumably for the good of the country and not your own?
Look what the presidency has done to our current chief executive, who has often complained of his lack of a social life and of the loss of his hair.
It is now the Comelec’s job to sift through these applications. It’s been an interesting week, indeed. The coming campaign season promises to be an interesting period, too. We just have to remind ourselves that the actual presidency is not as prone to fanfare or excitement; in fact, if one took it seriously, it is dreary and difficult and boring—just as, in an ideal world, real governance shuns fanfare and soundbytes.
We hope we are not too crazy in hoping the hopefuls could tell the difference.