Pinoy voters voice election views

Pinoy voters voice election views

They say in a democratic society, the people get the kind of leaders they deserve. You can whine and moan about the politicians of this country, but the reality is, one way or another, every citizen is responsible.

The Philippine Reporter took to the streets and asked members of the Filipino community who have earned the right to vote in Canada about what their thoughts are on the January 23rd federal elections. And here are some of the responses.

“Any election is always significant for an individual as well as the community,” says Jose “Pempe” Saavedra of the Philippine Independence Day Council, a non-profit entity comprising of some 300 member organizations within the Filipino-Canadian community.

Saavedra, a native of Leyte, came to Canada in the late 80s and has always viewed the elections an important process. “It is important that we, in the community, participate in the process to protect our interest and pick the kind of leaders we want”

A Liberal Party supporter, Saavedra is not convinced that the Conservatives would run the country better than the Liberals, specifically on the issue of government accountability. “The issue of accountability raised against the Liberals is a good point, but any government is prone to abuses. During the time of (Brian) Mulroney there were also allegations of corruption. There is no guarantee that when (Stephen) Harper steps in there will be no abuse.”

But Enrique Olivo, 44, is willing to give Harper’s party a chance.

“Tingin ko kailangan na magkaroon ng pagbabago (I think it’s time for a change.),” says Olivo, who works downtown as a full-time bank employee.

“Matagal nang nanunungkulan ang Liberal, nasira ang credibility nila dahil sa graft and corruption. Sa experience ko sa Pilipinas tungkol sa pulitika, may maaasahan ka kung merong bagong mamumuno (The Liberals have been in office for so long, their credibility has been compromised by graft and corruption. Based on my experience in Philippine politics, there is hope when there are new leaders),” he says.

Arriving in Canada in 2000 as an independent immigrant, Olivo is especially looking forward to the coming federal elections as this is the first time he and his wife, Lydia, would cast their votes in Canada.. The Olivos and their three children became Canadian citizens just last year.

“Mas mabuti ang bumoto para may pagbabago. Kung hindi, baka manalo ang hindi dapat manalo (It is better to vote so we can have change. If not, then those who don’t deserve to be elected might get elected.),” he says.

Julito Longkines, president of the Association of Filipino-Canadian Accountants, has lived in Canada for 18 years and he has never failed to vote during elections.

“Elections are very important as it really affects the way of life of Canadians,” says Longkines, who is also a Conservative supporter.

“I don’t like how the Liberals are planning the government,” says Longkines. As an accountant, Longkines says he’s looking for a government that supports Canadian businesses, and the Tories can provide that kind of program.

Scarborough residents, Charlie Ruiz, 38, and wife, Shirley, 36, echo that view. Charlie and Shirley run a small glass company and have been in Canada for about five years with their three children.
Like the Olivos, they too are first-time voters and Shirley says she is curious to see how the election process in Canada works.

And they are coming to the polls prepared, says Shirley and Charlie.

The couple has been reading as much as they can about the programs of each political party so they can make the best decision they can come election day.

“We would vote for the party that understands the needs of small business owners like us and help us grow our business,” says Charlie.

Shirley says they are inclined to go with the Conservative candidate as they seem to have a good platform.

“The Liberals have been in power for so long. I think it’s time we give another political party a chance to run this country,” she says.

Elena De Luna, 34, says it is always difficult to vote in an election where there are no better alternatives.

“The leaders of the two major political parties, Liberal and Conservative, are throwing so much mud at each other that it’s difficult for voters to see through the smear campaigns,” she says.

“But this should not discourage voters from exercising their rights as citizens. I, for one, am determined to look beyond all the dirt that’s been thrown between the candidates, and see these political parties for what they really are: their program of government. I think that’s what should drive the voters and not the smear campaigns,” says De Luna.

Julian de la Cruz, formerly a journalist and political analyst in Manila, now a menial laborer in a factory in rural Ontario, has witnessed the two terms of Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney, two terms of Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien and a few years of current Liberal PM Paul Martin.

In his own words: “Walang ikinaiba ang pulitika sa Pilipinas at sa Canada. Nagpapalitan lang ang mga namumuno ng bansa mula sa mga partidong kumakatawan sa mga vested interests, usually yung kumakatawan o nagsisilbi sa malalaking negosyo o industriya. Dahil bago manalo ang kandidato kailangan mahaba ang pisi o malalim ang bulsa, bentaheng maibibigay lamang ng mga vested interests. (There is no difference between politics in the Philippines and that in Canada. Leaders who represent or serve vested interests only take turns in leading the government. It’s because to win an election you need vast resources or deep pockets which only vested interests can provide.)”

“Kaya Liberal, na nabansagang corrupt dahil sa sponsorship scandal, o Conservative, na tunay na right-wing (anti-Kyoto, anti-gay rights, anti-aboriginal funding, pro-space missile defense, pro-Iraq invasion, etc.) – parehong hindi ko iboboto. Dahil pareho naman sila in essence, parehong hindi tumitingin sa interests ng immigrants. (Liberal, branded as corrupt because of the sponsorship scandal, or Conservative, which is real right-wing (anti-Kyoto, anti-gay rights, anti-aboriginal funding, pro-space missile defense, pro-Iraq invasion, etc.) – I won’t vote for both of them. Because they’re the same in essence, they both don’t care to serve the interests of immigrants.)”

Mas may credibility pa si Jack Layton ng New Democratic Party. Consistent siyang nakikipaglaban para sa interes ng working people sa Canada. Bilang Toronto Councillor, lagi niyang pinagtanggol ang mga mahihirap sa Toronto, kasama ng kanyang maybahay na si Olivia Chow. Ilang beses pa nga siyang inaresto ng pulis sa mga anti-poverty rallies kasama ng mga kakampi ng mga homeless. Mahirap nga na abutan ng NDP ang bilang ng mga Liberal o Conservative MPs ngayon pero hindi sapat na dahilan iyan kung bakit natin hindi iboboto ang NDP. Iboto natin kung sino ang tunay na nagsisilbi ng interes ng mga nakararami at hindi yung nagsisilbi sa mga malalaking korporasyon sa Canada katulad ng Liberal at Conservative. (Jack Layton of the NDP has more credibility. He consistently fought for the interests of the working people in Canada. As a Toronto Councillor, he had always fought for the poor in Toronto, with his wife Olivia Chow. He was arrested several times by the police in anti-poverty rallies together with the supporters of the homeless. It’s hard for the NDP to equal the number of MPs of the Liberals and the Conservatives now but that’s not enough reason why we shouldn’t vote NDP. Let’s vote those who really serve the interests of the majority and not those who serve big corporations like the Liberals and the Conservatives.)”

Violeta Reyes, who used to be a live-in caregiver and now a live-out caregiver in the past 12 years, was an accountant with ten years experience in the Philippines. She said her professional background was completely ignored in Canada because she never had a chance to work in the accounting profession here.

Her opinion: “Wala na akong pag-asang maging accountant dahil branded na akong caregiver for life. Wala naman akong pag-asang ma-certify na accountant dahil ang mahal ng mga kurso at kailangang kumayod para sa mga anak ko sa Pilipinas. Liberal or Conservative, wala namang nagawa para sa mga katulad ko. Maraming kagaya ko dito sa Canada. Ang tawag nga sa amin, modern-day slaves or disposable domestics. Pag hindi ka na kailangan, fired ka, uwi ka sa Pinas, deported o lipat ka ng amo. Pare-pareho sila.. (I have no hope of becoming an accountant because I’m branded caregiver for life. I have no hope of being certified accountant because the courses are so expensive and I have to work hard for my children in the Philippines. Liberal or Conservative, they both did nothing for people like me. We are many in Canada. We’re called modern-day slaves or disposable domestics. If they don’t need you anymore, you’re fired or back to the Philippines or deported or move to another employer. They’re all the same.)”