Image: Facebook/Ogie Diaz
Despite not being all too pleased with the Senate race results, actor-talent manager Ogie Diaz believes name-calling and vote shaming will not help anyone.
Diaz shared an infographic report, which showed the leading candidates in the Senate race on Tuesday, May 14. Sen. Cynthia Villar led the race with over 24 million votes, followed by reelectionist senator Grace Poe, Bong Go, Pia Cayetano and Bato dela Rosa.
“Porke sila ang nanalo, bobo at tanga na ang mga botante? Samantalang lahat naman tayo, nagkaroon ng chance bumoto,” Diaz said via Facebook. “Di ka naman inalisan ng karapatang bumoto. Nagkataon lang na sa suma total, yung mga hindi nyo ibinoto ang mas maraming nakuhang boto.”
(So just because they won, that makes the voters stupid and idiotic? All of us had the chance to vote. You were not robbed of the right to vote. It just so happened that the ones you did not vote for garnered more votes).
Diaz admitted only a few of the candidates he voted for won, while the rest from the opposition, such as Chel Diokno, Florin “Pilo” Hilbay, Samira Gutoc, Bam Aquino and Neri Colmenares, failed to make it to the Magic 12.
“Ganun talaga. Hindi naman tayo ang masusunod kundi ang boses ng majority,” he said. “At least, alam mo sa sarili mong sinunod mo ang kunsensiya mo at hindi yung dikta ng survey.”
(It’s really like that. It’s the majority who gets the say, not us. At least you know for yourself you followed your conscience and not the dictates of surveys).
What people should focus on now, Diaz said, is to monitor and observe the elected senators in their journey. He also said the fight is not yet over and that although their chosen candidates did not win, not all hope is lost.
“Kung nagpakitang-gilas, purihin din ninyo. Kung hindi, sitahin ninyo…,” he said. “Kahit natalo ang mga manok natin, nakatingin pa rin naman tayo sa Senado. Ang mahalaga, may boses ka pa rin bilang simpleng mamamayan.”
(If they do something good, then praise them. If not, then call them out. Even though our candidates lost, we still have our eyes on the Senate. What’s important is you still have your voice as a simple citizen).
In the end, he told his readers, perhaps half-jokingly, that they should Google instead where to migrate if they no longer want to stay in the Philippines.
“Basta kami dito, magtatrabaho kami sa kanya-kanyang larangan; kakayod para sa pamilya. At higit sa lahat—magbabayad ng BUWIS para pampasuweldo at pork barrel nila, huhuhuhu!”
(But for the rest of us, we will continue working in our respective fields, for our families. And most of all, we will pay our taxes for these politicians’ salaries and pork barrel.) /ra
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