POLITICAL DILLEMAS

About five months from now, the Filipino voters will again troop to the different polling places to make a decision on whom they want to lead them as government officials, from the lowly councilors of a town to the president of the Philippines. For the many, it will not be a problem as they hinge their future on who are popular and "mahapos palapitan", as it is aptly called in the Hiligaynon dialect. But, for those who are "educated", it is often a dilemma, a choice of who are the "winnable" or those who are "ideal."

But we will not be delving here on that aspect, as the Filipino voter's mind are very fickle and the surveys now are often not reflective of the final results when the last ballots are counted come election time. I am going to focus on the dilemma of the candidates themselves.

Candidates for elective positions are often faced with a dilemma especially if many groups or parties wanting him or her in their line- up. A tough choice, choice indeed. This dilemma is not faced by candidates whose candidacy is only for the money from a backers campaign kitty. This dilemmas are faced by candidates who are advocates of causes that have endeared them to a certain sector of in the locality.

Do I have to go with the group with the most organized political machinery? Or do I have to run as independent and shell out or invest a large amount of money from my pockets? Do I join other candidates to form an alternative choice for voters? What are the factors should I take into consideration in my candidacy? These I believe are the questions bugging many would- be political hopefuls right now.

Here's more: I could turn off a lot of my supporters when I join a group led by somebody they would not vote for. However, if I join other group or choose to be independent my chances of winning will be next to nil. As an independent or opt to join an alternative group I will have to do it on my own, like assigning watchers to guard the ballots come election time, get campaigners down to the lowly level of the puroks aggravated by the fact that I have to shell out a large amount to maintain them.

In joining a more stable party with an entrenched and well- organized political machinery, spending can be cut- off by 20 percent (granting that your party will not attempt to dump you, a week before the actual elections) and the campaign can be more focused than distracted by bickering's over money. As every Philippine elections would show, the chances of winning are much bigger if one is backed by supporters and campaigners down to the level of the household or family leaders. Such is the political culture of the Filipinos.

What about the causes that I have espoused before I entered the political arena as they may be compromised?, a candidate may ask. Let me return the question, what would that worthy cause be if after the counting of votes you don't win? It will all go to naught.

Candidates who are idealists should strongly hold on the values and causes they champion but should balance it with a pragmatic view of Philippine political realities. When you win, then by all means stand by it through your efforts as a public official, otherwise you will remain a lonely voice in the wilderness.