The Philippine political scene is now even more exciting than a typical telenovela with a hodge-podge of characters — scions of political dynasties, an actor, a boxer, a former police officer, a widow, and father-daughter rivalry, among others.
Although watching telenovelas serve as an entertaining pastime, the recent political developments have worsened the general Filipino-Chinese perception of politics — marked with avoidance and social conformity. However, with the 2022 elections ahead, the current stakes involved should change our priorities.
Choosing according to our values should be of utmost importance — not only for ourselves but also for the future state of our nation.
As Christians, making value-based decisions are vital to our role in glorifying God. However, abiding by Christian values is an individual responsibility—a personal effort to mitigate the possible consequences of our decisions.
Thus, acting upon what is deemed righteous by our community is not enough in fulfilling our duty as Christian servants. Actions such as giving in to the peer pressure to sin, consciously turning a blind eye to the truth, and voting based on popularity or misinformation all neglect our role not only as Filipino citizens but also as proponents of God’s work. More than ever, the future of our country hangs in the balance of our future leaders—our roles as Christians and Filipino citizens have never been more important.
Fulfilling our roles first needs a strong foundation in the Truth, which is honed by reading God’s Word. Critical thinking and God-given wisdom are both crucial in making informed and value-based decisions in any circumstance, especially in forming opinions on political issues. For example, it’s easy to assume that a political candidate is honorable through rumors or social media, but if the information is not accurate or deliberately skewed, our attempt to make Godly decisions will be futile.
Over and over again, Scripture tells us to stay away from the corrupted and dishonest (Col. 3:23, Prov. 6:16-19, Jer. 8:8, and more). Instead, we should draw ourselves towards those who are Christ-like in action, who demonstrate honesty, integrity, and compassion through their actions.
Therefore, when thinking about which candidate to support, ask yourself: what is their history? Do they have the capability to lead well? Have they lied, deceived, stolen, or “shed innocent blood” amongst the Filipino people? How much closer do their actions bring them to leading like Jesus? Does this candidate make me become a better version of myself?
Asking these questions is the essence of centering our critical thinking on Christian values. By extension, political awareness is necessary to equip ourselves to make the right choices. We have to intentionally seek out both Christian and sociopolitical truths when assessing our political candidates.
Whether or not we’re voting in the upcoming elections, our contributions to promote value-based decisions, political awareness, and critical thinking will influence the course of Philippine history.
For registered voters, make your vote worth it. Do your research, ask the right questions, and vote wisely—as your power in the elections cannot be taken lightly.
For students, not being able to vote does not mean a loss of opportunity to impact the elections positively. Being politically aware, well-informed, and engaging in political discussions with registered voters—whether they’re family, household helpers, or the like—are also essential in breaking down the barriers to reviving a strong and effective democracy.
Let us incorporate our quality education and Christian values to critically perceive the upcoming elections. The trajectory of our nation’s future depends on our initiative to uphold God’s sovereign will in choosing our leaders.
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