The election is over. It is time to examine, and to both skeptics and sympathizers alike, explain my participation in it.
I gave up a flourishing medical practice in America, joined Kapatiran and ran for the Senate because I wanted not merely to prove a point, but to live by it.
And the point is this: we can change our country, help our people, not by talking or theorizing but by actually doing something about it. One cannot simply make a statement. He must apply it in his life, by example, by involvement, by action. Our political campaign was such a statement.
Did we succeed? We did not get enough votes for a seat in the senate. But we did get the attention of the electorate and, more importantly, we made people aware of alternative solutions, better political options.
We demonstrated that it is possible to conduct an open, honest, vigorous campaign on programs, not personalities.
We showed that there is no need for false promises, political gimmickry, immoderate spending; but that there is a need for continuing communication, defending and justifying our positions and priorities.
Our fundamental premise is this: Politics is not a means of livelihood. It is not an economic investment that will pay off in future material gain. Politics is a way of giving, of sharing, of helping. It is not soliciting support but providing it. It is not about rendering service in the senate when elected, but rendering service now, in the present, in this time and place, in one’s capacity as a candidate, a citizen, a Filipino of compassion.
If we have, even in a small, tentative way, we have redefined politics in the Philippines, then we have been fully recompensed for our efforts. The accomplishments of our greatest heroes cannot be judged in the simplistic terms of triumph or defeat. Like Burgos, Gomez and Zamora, the Kapatiran candidates won no instant victory. But they achieved a beginning, advanced the cause for reform, and awakened a hope that such reform is possible.
A personal note of accountability. We received donations from many sectors of society. Added to our own private contribution to the campaign, the total amount exceeded our modest campaign expenses. The balance we shall turn over to Gawad Kalinga in accordance with our conviction that politics is not an enterprise for profit.
Finally I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to all the men and women of goodwill who stand with us in the common belief in a Filipino future. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.
Martin D Bautista, MD
Ellen,
Here’s the latest in OFW absentee voting in France and in Italy:
In France, out of some 3,800 OFWs are registered voters, only 540 or so of those registered voters were able to vote.
The main problem of the tiny turn out is the non-receipt of the ballots early enough or in many cases, not having received them at all.
There is also the element of loss of faith in the election process in the Philippines which weighed heavily in seeming lack of interest in the mid-term elections. One of the reasons that was given is that for those who may have wanted to cast their ballots, they decided not to vote at all due to ignorance of the programmes of the candidates.
I’ve also learned that among those 540 or so who cast their ballots, many of the ballots were invailidated.
Italy has the most number of registered absentee voters in Europe with about 23,000 registered voters. However, latest news I got first-hand from a Fil OFW community leader there is only an estimated 10% of the registered voters were able to cast their ballots or a little over 2,000 voted.
Comelec absentee voters spokesman claimed that reason for the very low turnout is because election is not presidential election.
However, I just spoke a few minutes ago by phone to the president of the federation of Fil associations in France who has active links with associations in Italy. He said that Comelec claim is not quite true. He puts the lack of interest of OFWs in both France and Italy in joining the polls to lack of trust in government, i.e., there will be cheating anyway, etc.
In Europe, the top 10 posts were: Athens (1,830); Paris (568); London (414); Madrid (275); Bonn (228); Hamburg (199); Ankara (151); The Hague (131); Stockholm (95); and Berne (93).
AdeBrux, thanks for giving us a feel of OFWs election 2007 sentiment.
Martin Bautistas’ statement is nice, but it would be more meaningfull if their party had a good showing.
The Japan OAV, too, was disappointing. People just have lost faith in the Comelec that they would not want to waste time and money casting their votes thinking that Comelec will do its usual tricks.
I’ve just got back from a 2 day overnight pollwatching and protesting against the couting of questionable votes—fortunately, there was only one although we expected more and my group and I were willing to battle with the OAV law in hand when we could not be satisfied.
It was indeed a referendum on the Pandak. GO won in Japan, both in Tokyo and Osaka despite some attempts to make the Talagang Ungas group win. Na-murder ang boto nila!
Congrats to Adel Tamano for a job well done as GO’s spokesperson. Trillanes fared fairly well, too, in Japan.
So, who says that God no longer makes miracles? Lord, thank you!
“I gave up a flourishing medical practice in America, joined Kapatiran and ran for the Senate because I wanted not merely to prove a point, but to live by it.”
Congratulations, Dr. Martin Bautista! You’ve already won! I’m proud that we have Pinoys like you, ready anytime to give up what they cherish for the greater good!
I’d rather see Martin Bautista win than Ralph Rector or Joker Arroyo, et al.
For the partylist, Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis and Gabriela topped them all in Japan.
Amazingly, the Visayas are now proving to be NO LONGER Pidal territory! Yehey!
Ellen,
I’ve just received this e-mail from said friend in France.
PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS 2007
THERE SHOULD BE A POST MORTEM ON THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES INVOLVING ABSENTEE VOTERS/QUESTIONS:
1. WHY DID THE OVERSEES ABSENTEE VOTING COMPLETELY FAIL ?
2. WHO DECIDES ON HOW THE OAV WILL VOTE ?
3. IS THE VOTING BY MAIL EFFECTIVE?
4. WHY DID WE HAVE ONLY 15% TURNOUT OF REGISTERED VOTERS?
5. DO THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS KNOWS WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE?
6. ARE OFWs AWARE OF THE ISSUES/PROGRAMME PRESENTED BY THE CANDIDATES?
6. HOW MANY OF OUR OFWs STILL BELIEVE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS OF THE PHIL?
7. HOW MANY OF THE OFWs DONT BELIEVE IN OUR GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DONT WANT TO JOIN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS ANYMORE?
8. WHERE DID THE COMELEC FAIL?
I campaigned very hard for the OFWs in France to register and vote and would like to believe that I succeede in making a lot of them register. During my campaign for them to register I encountered stiff resistance from OFWs. They did not want to vote .
Many of them said that election cheating will prevail anyhow, They didn’t believe things would change even if they voted. There is an incredible distrust in our government. The claims by those who refused to register was that believed that elected government officials dont really do their job anyway. Many insist that those who get elected would end up enriching themselves instead of looking after the welfare of their people. The bottom line is that out of the thousands and thousands of Filipino OFWs in France, only a couple of thousand believed that their votes would count and could make a difference.
Just the same, we were able to increase the number of registered voters from some 900 in 2004 to 3,800 people. To me, that was already some kind of victory.
Two months before the election the Philippine Embassy in Paris informed the registered voters that the elections will be done by mail. I was frankly surprised. There were many factors to consider for the absentee voting to succeed.
1) OFWs by the nature of their status and jobs are a mobile type of people and go on voluntary displacement at least once every two years. It is difficult to keep track of these OFWs because they don’t almost always or immediately register with the Philippine Embassy when they move. How could the COMELEC then keep track of the addresses of these Filipinos abroad if the Embassy staff themselves can’t do so? France is not on the map of the DoLE when it comes to deployment of OFWs in their registry, hence most of the OFWs here land their jobs on their own, their only link to the Embassy is when they need to update their documents.
2) The possibility therefore of an official document, particularly that from the COMELEC getting misplaced or returned to sender is huge. Hence, it is easy to conclude that the absentee voting by mail is far from being reliable.
One of the incidents that struck me with regard to the impracticality of the absentee voting by mail is the cost of registering it. One of the anodyne complaints was the cost of sending the vote back by registered mail: 110 pesos or a little more. The amount may not be much to a lot but it is to some but coupled with the feeling that their vote would not make a dent in improving Philippine politics, the effort seems not be just worth it.
Incidentally, it was only a month before the election dates when mailed ballots were received by some of our friends. My wife and I voted in the 2004 presidential elections but much as we wanted to vote this time, we couldn’t. We didn’t receive our ballots! A couple friends of mine had a 50-50 chance. The man received his ballot but his wife didn’t!
Because of the somehow disorderly manner in which we, the OFWs here in France, are being tapped to vote in the elections, I have serious qualms about the efficacity of absentee voting. I would like to look seriously in the issue so that “election mishaps” don’t happen again.
During our last meeting at the Philippine Embassy last Sunday, May 13 2007, Filipino community leaders strongly conveyed their objection to voting by mail to the Ambassador. We don’t know if our objection will be heard or if something will be done to improve things in the future.
It would have done a lot of good had the COMELEC created a website with as many details as possible on the candidates, even if they had to publish the programme of each and every candidate. This would have helped a great deal of OFWs not only in Europe but around the world. It would’ve seriously involved more Filipinos in exercising their right of suffrage.
There are 8,000,000 of us around the world but I don’t believe that most voted. The lack of information about the candidates stymied would-be interest to vote.
We have often suggested to various government officials who come to visit to consult with the OFWs before making decisions concerning us. Perhaps, had our government been more considerate with regard to how or in what manner we, the OFWs should cast our votes would have made a huge difference in the turnout as well as in the overall feeling that we are not being taken for granted.
L. Gomez
President, MAHARLIKA ASSOCIATION FRANCE
President, Comite Generale des Associations Philipines en France (General Committee of Philippine Associations in France)
Vice President, Ancop France
Head Socio-Political Ministry CFC France
Secretary, Une Vie Pour Demain
President & Managing Director, International Multi-Media Electronics, Paris, France
If this is enough consolation to everyone, I would like to let you know that newspapers in Japan now calls Mrs Pidal not just the most corrupt but the most unpopular president of the Philippines, even faring worse than Marcos!!!
Martin Bautista, gave up a flourishing practice in the U.S. (He can always go back if he wants to) to try his luck in Philippines politics, but much more to give awareness that when a citizen decide to get into politics, it is meant to serve, and not a way to amazement of fabulous wealth.
To me, if his words were really meant as spoken exemplifies the many characteristics that embodies our very own politicians. From Ms Belinda Stronach who also gave up a 10 to 20 millions pay day annually for a paltry some of l50 thousands as Member of Parliament (now she’s back to her old job after failure to gain leadership of the Tories and then Jumped to the Liberals) to Mr. Ignatief, who enjoy a greater recognition as Harvard professor and noted author and to others who left either their flourishing professional practices (lawyers, doctors, engineers) and businesses, to run for public offices at the risk of losing the control of their businesses, as they will be all entrusted to blind trust after assuming public office.
The rewards in return for rendering service, are for those who have no other career choice, it pays good and after serving two-terms, they are entitled to a very Generous Pensions at an earlier retirement. Well it is not bad after all, but you got to be good to get re-elected to get entitlement to the pensions. That is looking forward for the not so rich politicians for there is still life after politics….
Dr Bautista’s statement certainly conveys the very essence of his sentiments. i can see he is a person without pretense. being in the medical field certainly has made him a person who is careful in his meticulous observation and examinations of whatever he faces. having a secured and flourishing medical profession is an ultimate dream for anyone. he certainly has the golden heart to think of his Inang BAyan.
Martin Bautista says: “And the point is this: we can change our country, help our people, not by talking or theorizing but by actually doing something about it. One cannot simply make a statement. He must apply it in his life, by example, by involvement, by action.”
Boy, am I proud to say, “Mission accomplished!”
Me, too, TT. Glad to be part of the struggle kahit hindi na ako pilipino. In heart, pinoy pa rin actually.
Love you, guys. Tapos na ang laban. Nag-concede na si Garci! Iyong lukaret, kapag ayaw, papasukin na sa Mandaluyong.
Dr. Bautista: May your tribe increase!
Dr. Bautista says..
“Politics is a way of giving, of sharing, of helping. It is not soliciting support but providing it. It is not about rendering service in the senate when elected, but rendering service now, in the present, in this time and place, in one’s capacity as a candidate, a citizen, a Filipino of compassion.”
***********
Well said.
The Bible says… Love thy neighbor
Chairman Mao says… Serve the People.
Love this guy, Martin Bautista. Said by a true Bautista! Kahit talo ka, OK ka pa rin. Next time, we’ll try to boost your candidacy up. At least, nakilala ka na. Just keep on the right path!
i know this man wont win but i voted for him anyway.
gloria says: fool and rob the people!
kung walang lumusot sa mga ibinoto kong kapatiran, hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang paglaglag kay honasan kahit na manalo pa siya sapagkat ang pinag-uusapan ngayon ay PRINSIPYO!
Politics is “giving, sharing and helping. It is not a means of livelihood.” Words that were also said to me by my father. At an early age I was exposed to a life of one who was in politics (this was in the early 50s-). My father was a Prov. Board Member of Antique. Service to our Country is ingrained in us by our parents-lahat kaming magpipinsan. I fully understand what Dr. Bautista is saying. I salute you and may your tribe increase.
Anna,
It is not because Filipinos do not have faith in the electoral process that they did not vote. A lot of them have not bothered to register in fact because of the three-year moratorium or requirement of going back to the Philippines after three years from the time they register.
A lot of my friends married to Japanese found it detrimental to their personal interests since they cannot force their husbands and children to go with them to reside in the Philippines after three years. It is one of the requirements OFWs have been asking their lawmakers to revise as a matter of fact.
Another thing is the difficult procedure. We notice that the procedure this time is more complicated than in 2004. Kunyari pa raw to prevent cheating but even with those difficult instructions and requirements, we know for a fact that if the Midget wants to cheat, she can do so with the help of her appointee, Abaloslos!
Magno,
Tama ka. Prinsipyo ang issue sa election na ito. Ang principle won except for some. The Kapatiran candidates did not get high points in Japan as a matter of fact for lack of publicity in fact. The actors and those with actresses as wives got high points. Diyan mahilig ang mga pilipino dito sa mga artista!
Kaya alam mo agad na imposibleng matalo si FPJ dito noon. Nadaya lang talaga. 8-1-3 ang panalo ng GO dito. Dapat mag-concede na si Unano at tigilan na niya ang pandaraya niya. Next, sipain na siya!
Balak naming mag-ingay dito when she comes kapag binaboy niya ang eleksyon na naman. Hope all Filipinos blogging here, who are Japan based, will join our rally in front of the Imperial Hotel on the day she is inviting Filipinos here for a merienda intended as a victory party daw sana for the talagang mga ungas. Sali kayo!
Yuko,
Italy has the most number of registered absentee voters in Europe with about 23,000 registered voters. Yet only a measly 10% voted. What happened to the 20,000 more registered voters?
I do understand that the main problem lies in the messy way the whole absentee voting process was done but apparently, most said, they don’t believe it would have changed things. The other problem was the complication, too many instructions including the self-fingerprinting method.
A former maid of mine who was a registered voter and who received her ballot on time did not vote – she told me point blank that she didn’t have faith in the electoral process. “Puro magnanakaw lang naman lahat iyan”, she said.
Tilamsik & Mrivera:
my 12th slot for Senator , SISON
nelbar,
look at what happened in mandaluyong where the TUtae unanimously won all the contested posts. the hands of the commission on collection were not only the ones visibly glaring but also the face of benjamin abalaos which can be seen in all corners of the city.
nakakasuka, di ba?
I voted only for 3 senators – ang kapatiran.
I congratulate those who won. I hope you would live by your promises. Take the cue from ‘ang kapatiran:’
1. make God part of our daily life
2. do your best within a single (1) term. No dynasty/nepotism
3. do away with pork barrel – everyone’s pork, from president downline.
There is something quixotic about what the Kapatiran did, trying to tilt the windmills that is traditional politics. They are the modern Alonso Quixanos of our generation.
The statement was written in a positive note, and I’m glad that their struggle did not end in disillusionment, but rather the enlightenment of a few, that despite all that’s been said, there is still hope for Philippine politics.
The dream is not impossible after all.