Rational vs irrational

**jonski** · December 3rd, 2009 09:55 AM

Rational vs irrational

CTALK By Cito Beltran (The Philippine Star) Updated December 02, 2009 12:00 AM

Filipinos are very rational thinkers when it comes to politics and choosing leaders. Unfortunately they can be very irrational when it comes to making the final choice or decision.

Chances are you happen to be one of us.

You say Gilbert Teodoro is undoubtedly very qualified and is a person of integrity. Unfortunately you won’t vote for Gibo because he is running under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which would make him as an extension of PGMA’s reign.

You could be one of the many middle and upper class people who keep clamoring for political will and discipline but you won’t vote for the “Transformers”, namely Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando, because they insist that you obey the law.

You might be one of the many who believe that Noynoy Aquino is a humble embodiment of the values and visions of his parents Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino, but because he is untested, you feel he is weak or pales in comparison.

You might be one of the many people in the business community who want someone highly experienced and would prioritize business development, but when people recommend Senator Manny Villar, you won’t because of all the business interests he has or had in the past.

You believe in helping the poor and doing your Christian duty, but the thought of Erap coming back to Malacanang suddenly makes you think and say so much unchristian thoughts and words. You don’t want the poor to be prioritized and you can’t forgive Erap.

In short you know what you want, but you don’t have the conviction to stand by your choice or to do what it takes to achieve your ideals.

You know what is right and what is wrong, but you ultimately do what is wrong because it is the easier thing to do. You associate being correct with being popular and betting on the expected winner, the winnable but not what you really want and what you believe in.

In the end, you become the very thing you hate the most — a Trapo. You do what you have traditionally done. You vote for another Trapo.
For those of you who seriously believe that Gibo has competence and integrity, but you falter because of his association with PGMA, well, you are either right or you are wrong. If you believe that the guy has consistently shown competence and integrity, doesn’t it follow that he will continue to do so if YOU elect him?

When Gibo left the Nationalist People’s Coalition, he didn’t just leave a political party, he left the comfort zone of being the “most favored nephew” of the party Boss, Danding Cojuangco. Right or wrong, Gibo made a choice not many have the guts or the courage to do.

The truth of the matter is those who like Gibo did not go beyond two sentences with their rational thinking. Choosing leaders is not about matching competing claims and statements, choose your leader based on his or her track record and history not on the rhetoric.

When Senator Richard Gordon and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando announced their candidacy as President and Vice President respectively, the pundits and naysayers immediately branded them as the “dictators”.

Millions of Filipinos have directly and indirectly benefitted from the continuity and development of what started out as SBMA or the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

The Am-Boy of Olongapo did what needed to be done and got the job done. Sadly Filipinos tend to pay more attention to accusation rather than give recognition to achievement.

To this day drivers in Metro Manila still remember the “black Friday” when we were all trapped in a five-hour gridlock because traffic management and enforcement had completely failed. That has since become a thing of the past thanks to Bayani Fernando and the MMDA.

We have become more obedient of traffic laws, appreciative of having sidewalks, fences that prevent people from crossing highways and we have certainly become dependent on the various services of the MMDA. Gordon and Fernando have undoubtedly made many of us more appreciative of the law.

You like what they do but you don’t want to waste your vote on the unpopular. It’s YOUR vote remember? It’s not a group project or a Philippine campaign so some Pinoy or half-Pinay can with in American idol or CNN Hero of the year.

The reason “your kind of politician” needs to spend hundreds of millions in an election is because “You” abandon them. You believe in them but you betray them and then you ask why the wrong people got elected.

The very reasons why Senator Noynoy Aquino falls into character with his dearly departed parents are now the same excuses people use to justify not voting for him. Noynoy Aquino, so far, has remained true to himself. Unfortunately it is “us” who suddenly demand more because the so-call

**shadow** · December 3rd, 2009 10:30 AM

and so...? pareho lang matatalo si Gordon and Gibo...

**jonski** · December 3rd, 2009 10:33 AM

SI Gordon or Teodoro parin vote ko.

**claRkEnt** · December 3rd, 2009 11:08 AM

When Gibo left the Nationalist People’s Coalition, he didn’t just leave a political party, he left the comfort zone of being the “most favored nephew” of the party Boss, Danding Cojuangco. Right or wrong, Gibo made a choice not many have the guts or the courage to do.

left the comfort zone? maybe yes... but then to what direction? to a more comfortable zone where there's a lot of Money!

**fourtheboys96** · December 3rd, 2009 04:33 PM

very good article by cito beltran.

for the mean time, i'll go with the transformers.

**oliver1013** · December 3rd, 2009 04:43 PM

Gordon,Noynoy,GIbo ok na rin whichever comes first

**Monseratto** · December 3rd, 2009 05:16 PM

Bakit di nakaquote yung article at parang bitin?

**oliver1013** · December 3rd, 2009 05:44 PM

Gusto ko yung sagot ni Gibo re loyalty etc na tinanong ni Ted Failon....Kung presidente ka na, presidente ka na, gawin mo kung ano ang tama

**jeDi13** · December 3rd, 2009 07:54 PM

basta ako, iboboto ko si

**Helios** · December 3rd, 2009 09:05 PM

of course filipinos are generally irrational up to some degree. almost everyone knows that. our race throughout the major part of our history have brought in so much unresolved conflicts, and in the past we were constantly deprived of instant gratification so that we are now beset with insecurities. then as we try to lift ourselves to recovery we grow into maturity naturally trying to assert those needs- more often times in extreme ways. our politics is just one of its manifestation, rearing its ugly head of frustration and prejudice. it's a cruel cycle, but there is a resolution.