I’m back to schooling and in one of the subjects, I need to write my insights and realizations about these videos. I’ve written all of them after the videos.
How to Understand Power
Branches of Philippine Government
Lecture on Voter’s Education by LJ Saludadez
Watching the 3 videos brought me mixed emotions and realizations, kind of a roller-coaster experience if I may say so. At first, it was enlightening to know and understand, despite my age, that our country really has a system that is being followed when governing the people. I’ve always thought and felt that our government is like chopsuey – a mix of ingredients trying to satisfy the consumer. Yes, as of my age, I realize that I still belong to those people who are still politically uneducated. Then I felt empowered knowing that there are ways to be politically involved, even if you are not an actual politician. That we have the power and the right to write and present criticisms to our government, to elected officials. And that doing these is not being anti-government but practicing our civic power.
Watching the 3rd video had been the most powerful experience for me. I felt proud watching a young person knowing all these and it gave me hope we do have young Filipinos in this generation who actually think and observe, and not just talk or criticize politicians. I realized that what she said is very true, the lack of political education is one of the worst reasons why democracy is not effective in this country. Then afterwards, I felt sad to feel that this might still happen in an unending cycle. But the speaker also said that being pro-people and fixing this democracy won’t happen and can’t be done by just one person, one group even in one lifetime. But there will always be hope and we can all help each other by doing our part.
One of the best ways that I realize I can do to give my part is to learn and practice issue-based politics rather than personality-based politics. We can’t just follow politicians blindly; rather, we should take time to examine the persons we elect, based on their background, what they already did and what they really want to do when elected. We should take time to be politically educated no matter how most politicians refuse us to do so.
