Go out and register!

We often get a government that we deserve, and the government that we have, and consequently, the quality of our lives, reflects our own level of vigilance or apathy as a people.

Studies have shown that those who complain most about their government or their country are often those who do not participate in the elections. They wonder why misfits like Erap Estrada get elected into the highest office and end up bungling the presidency. They sneer haughtily that Robert Jaworski and Ramon Revilla occupy seats in the hallowed Senate halls and lead the Silence Committee. They squirm that Richard Gomez will soon throw his hat into the political ring with almost foolproof certainty of becoming senator. But that is all that they can do.

The Philippines has virtually become a political laughingstock in the community of nations. If we have once been called a “banana republic” during the Marcos years, that derisive label almost 20 years since then may still be apt.

After a long wait, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) now have a chance to play a pivotal role in the political life of their nation. They should realize that while they keep the Philippine economy afloat with their US$ 8 billion annual remittances, their concerns as a sector are at the backburner in government’s mind. To my knowledge, no concrete programs are in place for the reintegration of OFWs once they decide to return home. Studies have shown that the majority of businesses set up by OFWs close shop in less than a year due to lack of government support.

With the passage of the Absentee Voting Law (AVL), OFWs can now demand that politicians address their concerns as a sector. It is expected that as much as 2.5 million Filipinos worldwide will comprise the absentee voting block, and if each one can influence at least 5 relatives or friends back home, their combined clout could reach 12.5 million voters, according to Prof. Artemio Rivera of the International Christian University. This force, which is roughly 30 percent of the total voting population, is not just a minority. This could even determine the outcome of the 2004 polls, and decide whether the likes of Fernando Poe, Jr. will lead the country in the next six years.

Moreover, as often advocated in the editorials of Philippines Today, which I have mostly written since June 2001, overseas Filipinos, with their exposure to governments of other countries and from their unique vantage point, have a more objective grasp of issues and are immune from the 3 G’s that often the determine the outcome of Philippine politics: guns, goons and gold. In other words, we as a sector can make the right and intelligent choice in 2004.

Note however that the AVL will be meaningless if we do not register at the Philippine Embassy or at consular offices from August 1 to September 30. In these two consecutive months, the Embassy will open its doors seven days a week nonstop to accommodate Filipinos who want to have a stake in their country’s future and who believe that their voices deserve to be heard. In these two months, a window will be opened; however, those unable to register will not be allowed to participate in next year’s polls.

During the Absentee Voting Forum held at Meguro Church, Tokyo, on June 22, Vice Consul Atty. Felipe “Bong” Cariño III said that there are as much as 130,000 qualified Filipino voters in and around Tokyo alone. The embassy projects that as much as 60,000 Filipinos will register, although I personally believe that this is quite optimistic. He dubbed the registration process a “logistical nightmare” in case an average of 1,000 Filipinos will indeed troop to the Embassy each day during the registration period. Realistically, however, these 2 months translate to only 9 weekends or 18 days. Expectedly, most Filipino workers and their families will only be able to come to the Embassy on weekends. To register, personal appearance is required.

Briefly, the requirements are as follows: (1) personal appearance before the representative of the Commission on Elections at the Philippine Embassy; (2) valid passport; (3) accomplished application form in triplicate; and (4) three (3) photocopies of the passport. For those who have not registered during the last presidential polls, three (3) 1" × 1" photos are also required. Requirements for seafarers and for those who have lost or invalid passports are slightly different.

While this registration campaign may be an uphill climb, there is still reason to believe that many Filipinos in Japan consider it a God-given duty to participate in the electoral process. After all, when we vote in the elections, we do it not just for our country; primarily, we do it for ourselves and for our families back home.

Misfits grab political might because good people do nothing. While we have it in our power to effect change, many just stand back complacently and watch as their country spirals into a black hole. But with the Absentee Voting Law, the OFW is no longer muted, no longer hopelessly watching from a distance, from a land not his own. Yes, we do indeed get the government that we deserve, but when May 10, 2004 comes, we will no longer be powerless!

Register as an absentee voter and believe that your country’s future is in your hands.

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Personal website: http://www.geocities.com/tpbnt. Join the absentee voting discussions: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/av-japan/join. You may email the author at butch@philippinestoday.net