Pinoy Gen X on EleXion 2004

Have you ever wondered why a basketball coach always bursts in anger, sometimes crosses the mid-court, and oftentimes throw defamatory words whenever a referee makes a bad call giving the other team a chance to score on the free-throw line? Just like the importance of a point in basketball every single vote in election counts. If you take your right to vote granted, you are leaving the fate of the Philippines to the least deserving presidential candidate who is likely to drown more the Filipinos into murky waters.

The registration of voters in many areas other than National Capital Region began last August 18 and ended on November 9. In the span of almost three months of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) staff working up to 8pm during weekdays and 5pm on weekends, some of supposedly first time registered voters, particularly those coming from Generation X lost their chance to represent their voice. An anime enthusiast and a basketball lover, Cecilia Therese Guiao a.k.a Niner, 19, regrets this golden opportunity that has vanished already due to her busy schoolwork at the University of the Philippiens (UP). "Isipin mo kahit maraming magsasabi na one vote doesn't really count, it does," a member of Gen X and a lad from Magalang, Pampanga explained.

The kind of a leader Xers need

Come May 2004 elections, some Xers coming Generation X got out of the den to voice out how valuable this May event is in order to come up with a president who can really serve the majority. These Xers shared the kind of leader this desperate country needs.

A leader must draw up a nationalist program that will cater to the majority. This is the primary requirement of a long-time fan of Cynthia Alexander and first time registered voter, Lady Ann Salem, 18, from the 4th district of Quezon City. Aside from her undoubted interest in world and Ska music, Icy, as her friends call her, started her political involvement in Anakbayan way back on her second year at UP Integrated School. Now as the appointed representative of College of Mass Commnication to the University Student Council, the sophomore BroadComm student would base her decision not on the personalities. "Kahit si FPJ pa ang gumawa ng nationalist na platform, iboboto ko siya,," Icy added.

Rookie Fighting Maroons Marvin "Marvelous" Cruz, 17, agrees that the Philippines needs a president who could take personal interests out of his/her priorities. This razzle-dazzle player point guard in UAAP believes that personal interests are the roots of dishonesty in government.

Main problems perceived by Xers

Music Television or MTV's audience has grown in size. Ask the latest song that's topping the charts, the newest boyband, girlband, or rockband, and even the birthday of the artist of the month and no doubt, you will be astonished how Gen X gives a quick answer. If music is already a part of Gen X as coined by Douglas Coupland in his book Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, the Xers are not left behind when it comes to social awareness.

Icy, Marvin, and Niner all share the conception that the Philippine government has been giving the Filipinos a century-old headache. The clamor that surrounded EDSA Shrine for the second time did not even help solve the pressing national problems. "It's more problematic than usual," Niner said. Anakbayan member Icy explained, "I strongly opposed the notion that kaya natin ibinagsak si Erap ay para iluklok si Gloria! She even followed that the kind of political system we have is correlated with corruption and poverty.

Plans during election period

At this moment registered voter like Icy said that she is still pondering about the president to be voted because no one has ever presented a nationalist program. Even though the election period will begin on December 15, Icy is already joining the activities of Anakbayan, a party list candidate, which she thinks could cater to the needs of the youth.

On the other hand, Niner Guiao has a plan already once his father, Yeng Guiao, decided to run either for congress or vice-governorship. Yeng Guiao is the coach of the Red Bull Barako in the Philippine Basketball Association.

These Xers already set their minds on what to prioritize once the so-called much organized elections as what COMELEC boasts push through. But like the popular Marvin Cruz in UP campus together with student leader Icy and anime fan Niner, they take supporting an organization calling the people to vote wisely an option. Gen X may have differing interests but as how the term generation is defined, these Xers also share a similarity and that they had enough with the past and current type of a leader making policies favorable only to a few.

For comments or suggestions:
Contact the Webmaster