Those who have reached 18 years old are of legal age and have the right to vote for whoever he or she sees fit to obtain such a position. Starting last summer of 2009, registration for few set of voters started. I was amazed and pleased to have seen many citizens, especially of my age to register themselves and take part in the upcoming elections. It made me think that we are the future, and we should start moving now. The future president lays on the tip of our pens. We have the right to choose from whomever we see fit for the said position. We have to vote wisely.

Politics has its own confusing dilemmas and instances. As our country progresses, politicians also become more clever by the second. Graft and corruption then persist to exist in the government. The government is supposed to be the governing body to which we should look up to. However, nowadays, we should learn to open our eyes and ears as we look and listen. We should learn to think out of the box. Let us not get carried away that easily. Thinking is a vigorous process but once done would create immense results. Let us be cleverer. With that in mind, it will not only make sure that the right officials are inducted in the right place and position, but it will also assure us of a brighter  and harmonious future.

Laws in the other hand are supposed to help maintain the peace and harmony in our country. Nevertheless, it seems that harmony isn’t as evident as of the moment. Laws continue to develop and maintain peace and order but are blinded by the fact that graft and corruption is a more serious issue to attend to. Even so, are any politicians able to see this? Would they rather think of traffic regulations than the government itself? It is kind of best to know that government is equal to the country. Once the government is bad and ineffective then eventually, the country will fall. In the same way, when a country is at its downfall, the government is then held liable and is to be blamed. Furthermore, who created the government? It is us! Therefore, the downfall of the country is because of us!

Leaders are just instruments in leading us as a whole. Leaders are supposed to think for their actions reflect its followers. They are icons in the country. However, in order for them to gain respect it is best that they respect and serve his or her fellowmen first.

It is up to us now to start a new beginning. It is up to us to choose who is right for the said position. Let us not wallow in the valleys of despair. Let is join hands together and stop this madness.

Rights are bestowed upon us not to abuse. We should exercise them in the right way. As for our rights to vote, let us not waste it. For a single vote can change the future. Vote for whoever you think is right.

I am proud to say that I am a member of the ABS-CBN’s Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo organization. This helps monitor cheating during the said elections. I think all would agree that no one wants a president who is corrupt. No one wants to live in a country whose government is so manipulative.

From a fellow citizen to another, let us vote wisely! The future of the Philippines is in our hands.

However, if you keep up with current events, you would realize that noted presidentiables are already marketing themselves.

A few months back, when Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II implied that he wants to be future president, even shopped for a first lady in broadcaster Korina Sanchez, he marketed himself as a lowly trisikad driver.

Others fell for it, while others just thought it was tacky. It was marketing. Whether it was a positive or negative feedback, people talked about the advertisement. It was a productive marketing ploy.

Sanchez, a veteran and awarded broadcaster, also proved to be a marketing tool. Getting engaged to Roxas assured more media mileage for one of the biggest names on television in Sanchez and the 2004 number one senator in Roxas.

How about Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay’s buses? Those big blue mini-buses that travel all around the country with Binay’s face. Maybe a bus would not necessarily make a president, but Binay certainly made himself known to more people than before.

But of course, both former presidential aspirants have already sled down to vice presidential aspirants. That’s because marketing does not always mean spending to plaster one’s face on a vehicle or on television.

Take deposed president Joseph “Erap” Estrada. He was convicted, albeit pardoned, yet he continues to matter to a lot of people. In fact, he continues to make it to the top five presidential aspirants in a number of surveys. Estrada’s marketing strategy–stomp on the administration.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been mobbed with controversy. From the alleged rigging of the 2004 presidential elections, the national broadband network deal with ZTE corporation and flailing economy, Arroyo’s approval ratings have sunk. Estrada just loves to flaunt that…his marketing statement.

However, this marketing ideal is not unique to Estrada. Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is doing exactly the same thing. Gloating about the opposition, putting down the administration, highlighting the latter’s flaws.

Escudero though has another marketing strategy under his belt–his youth and looks.

Escudero has been packaged just like US President Barack Obama, a candidate for change, banking on the youth who needs to lead the change.

Then there is of course the marketing brought about by tragedy.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr., shortly after he was proclaimed standard bearer of the administration party Lakas, tragedy struck the country–Typhoon Ondoy flooded most of Metro Manila. Teodoro was named head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Teodoro was looked up as a sturdy leader, a stalwart, a rock amidst the storm. It also helps that the ladies just scream for him.

However, of course, the opposition is riding on the fact that Teodoro is allied with Arroyo. Some even called Arroyo’s endorsement of Teodoro as the “kiss of death.” It’s reverse marketing.

Another tragedy that became a positive campaign for the most popular presidentiable thus far is the death of former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Aquino was a staunch critic of Arroyo and when she died last August 1, thousands of people thought they have lost their hope of ever combating the Arroyo administration. And so they called on the next best thing to save them, the heroine’s son, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

The biggest marketing products of Noynoy are his parents. Even in death, Cory and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. are remembered for being heroes. By default, people have considered Noynoy as what remains of the Aquino heroism.

However, the best marketing campaign of the Noynoy-Mar tandem that was borne out of the Cory magic is turning the television network into a political party.

Because Sanchez is from ABS-CBN and Noynoy’s popular sister Kris Aquino stars in a number of shows in the same network, it cannot be helped that the Noynoy-Mar partnership is heating the ABS-CBN airwaves.

Whether a carefully hatched plan or the stars just aligned for Noynoy and Mar, surveys have them on top of the game because of their marketing strategies.