In a senatorial mock election, Lasallians supported Liberal Party’s (LP) Chel Diokno who led the polls, including Sen. Grace Poe and other LP candidates, Neri Colmenares, Sen. Bam Aquino, Samira Gutoc, Gary Alejano, and Pilo Hilbay, Apr. 3 at the Sen. Jose Diokno Auditorium.
Organized under the event, Enhancing Democratic Values Elections: TAMAng KAndidato (TAMAKA), other candidates who emerged in the polls were the independent aspirant, Sergio Osmeña III, LP’s Lorenzo Erin Tapat Tañada, followed by Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino’s (LDP) bet, Edgardo Sonny Angara, then Ka Leody De Guzman of Labor Win and LP’s Mar Roxas.
Participated by over a hundred of students, most of whom are class officers well as members of the Council of Student Organizations (CSO), the attendees were asked to select 12 out of 35 senatorial candidates, narrowed down from a total of 77 candidates in the official COMELEC list.
Guest speakers were also invited in the event to integrate voters’ education among students.
Rhyan Malandog, chairperson of the Youth Reform Movement PH, highlighted the significance of elections for a democratic country such as the Philippines, saying that it grants people the power to instigate positive change by electing people who will effectively represent the voice of the nations.
“Kahit iisang boto yan, ‘pag pinagsama-sama natin, mababago ang hanay ng mga leaders natin, mababago ang sistema at uunlad yung bansa natin,” Malandog said.
After his talk, Dr. Guia Tan, an instructor at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, shared the function of senators as part of the legislative branch of the government.
She also discussed about the indicated duties of senators in crafting laws, participating in impeachment trials, confirming appointments, and conducting investigations.
“Really they have to have very wise, when they choose these people in very important posts. So can we see that the character of the person sitting in the Senate is so important because it determines so many things that impact our lives,” Tan stated.
On the other hand, Ma. Mirali Mendoza-Durr, the youngest Female Model Governance awardee and former advocacy and good governance specialist in the National Community-Driven Development Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), cited the different indicators of being maka-diyos, makatao, and makabansa as good basis for selecting candidates worthy of public positions.
She encouraged voters to prioritize candidates’ integrity, regard for human life and dignity, good reputation, just governance, and moral righteousness.
TAMAKA 2019, organized by the De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) Student Government (SG) in partnership with the National Alliance of Youth Leaders, Inc. and Tatak Botante, is a program under the non-profit organization Bawat Isa Mahalaga (B1M) which aims to empower the nation by promoting election values and transforming the voting behavior of youth groups, churches and local communities.
