A Filipino for Bernie

I would always imagine that I am living in a country wherein the people who do not belong at the upper part of the social class is actually being valued, or at least the existence of those are recognized and given noticeable importance. I imagine I live in a country wherein “inclusiveness” is the beating heart of the country’s agenda.

Our leaders claim that our economy is improving; our GDP is higher, that the Philippines is at the best stage it has been economically than any given past time. But we don’t see it. We don’t feel it. I don’t feel it. In fact, it’s getting worse. I think the only people who can attest to this are the people way up the social class. Some would say “don’t hate the leaders, hate the system.” Well, they should have in some way already worked their way around the system by now.

I may sound like a broken record player, but it’s so frustrating to see these problems everyday as a Filipino. It’s frustrating that it has been ingrained to me that the Philippines will never get any better than where it is at the present.

2016 Philippine Elections is coming up very fast, and the candidates are busy laying out their platforms. But very few candidates, if not, none, have been talking about issues that really affects us human beings. If you want us to vote for you, then let your platforms be somewhat humanistic; let the people feel that they are being cared for individually, not as a statistic. We want to feel your presence first hand. The way to do that is to address issues that normal human beings go through on a daily basis.

That is why I have much support for Bernie Sanders. Though I have no American blood, I still feel the care Bernie exerts upon people like me. I stand by his political revolution. His outright and very vivid message of caring for the middle class, socialism, and stand against big corporations from Wall Street catches my interest. He represents what a leader should do to gain respect and support: to make the people feel that they are individually cared for. Feel the Bern.

It’s quite ironic that I have already picked an American presidential candidate to support, and still haven’t decided who to vote for in my own country’s elections. I think I have made Bernie as my own reference of what constitutes a good president. But the campaign period just kicked off, and I want to hear what they have to say. Let’s see if I feel some care from any of them.