Presidential candidates are not the only ones conducting their miting de avance. As the election approaches, Filipino-Americans are also engaged in extensive campaigning for the votes of overseas absentee voters and their relatives.
In the final week before the election there was a “miting de avance” in Redwood City, California attended by the supporters of six Presidential candidates. The gathering was sponsored by Balitang America of The Filipino Channel (TFC) and attended by hundreds of Filipino-Americans. Just like the actual campaign of the presidential candidates, the supporters also depicted the character of the candidates they represent.
Evidently distinct among the different groups were the orange team of candidate Manny Villar. They had a grandiose display of their colors and seemed well-financed arriving in great numbers with their prepared posters and balloons.
The second most noticeable group belonged to the yellow team of Noynoy Aquino. They were not as numerous as the orange team but were very intense and passionate in lambasting the other candidates.
Modest and calm were the endorsers of Gibo Teodoro. His supporters were seemingly amused as the other groups were throwing negative comments against each other.
Dick Gordon, Erap Estrada and Ed Villanueva’s group were not as noticeable as the other three teams.
There were six prominent leaders and members of the community who presented the platforms for each Presidential candidate. Each had a chance to present the strength of their candidates. However, in their desperate desire to gain votes, they also engaged in mudslinging, which became irritating to the audience. Standing out was the issues of the mental state of Noynoy; the C5 corruption issue of Manny Villar; Erap being a convicted felon; the question of Gibo’s integrity; Gordons’s know-it-all and arrogance; and, Ed Villanueva’s futile attempt to transcend his religious leadership role.
The Immigrant Aspirations for the New Leader
With more than four million Filipinos in the United States, the aspiration of most immigrants is for a safe and peaceful election. As we are thousands of miles away from the homeland, we cannot avoid being weary about possibility of a failure of election. Even long time immigrants in the United States are looking forward to the election of a leader who will uplift the living conditions of each and every Filipino. The next leader, we hope, must be determined to eradicate corruption.
In recent years, more Filipinos have arrived to the US and other foreign countries in search of better future. The next President, we hope, should also be able to protect and represent the best interest of the overseas workers. This protection should start at home by cleaning up unscrupulous recruiting agencies.
Knowing that the Philippines is the number one exporter of nurses and other health care workers abroad, the next President hopefully will support a strong foreign service corps that will advocate for rights of Filipino workers abroad and protect them from abuses of foreign employers.
When there is mass deportation of TNTs from the US, the next President should provide a program for the families of these deportees. And when there is an opportunity to advocate for the rights of the undocumented, the next President must not be hesitant to bring the message to US President. The President of Mexico, for example, never fails to bring up the issue of legalization of undocumented aliens who are in the US. The next President, we hope, will advocate for the legalization of TNT Filipinos who are in the US.
For the veterans of World War II, the next President should not just rely on the Filipino American community for the advocacy. He should not be afraid to represent the interests of these veterans. When a law that is passed to benefit certain veterans, the new leader should realize that it is indeed not full equity when there are still a significant number of veterans who lose out on a compromised bill.
On May 10, 2010 the right to vote of each Filipino, including the overseas absentee voter, must be a vote for the true leader who has the integrity and the determination to make a real change. When we all cast the vote, let us forego considerations of mere rhetorics and mudslingings and vote for the rightful leader who will renew our hopes for a better homeland.
(Tancinco may be reached at law@tancinco.com or at 887 7177)
