For sure, you have seen those political advertisements on TV already. And maybe, they made you take a second glance on your calendars, wondering in May 2010 had come a year earlier than it should be. But no, there’s no need to worry. You aren’t hallucinating; you’re still in 2009. Just that our so-called ‘public servants’ have decided to start their campaigns a little bit ahead of the expected time.
Our dear politicians surely have some innovative and creative ways in making their intentions of running for a public office in the upcoming elections clear and highly publicized. With perfectly ironed clothes on their trademark colors, they face the cameras, and like what marketers do to their products, ‘sell’ themselves to their audiences. Then they embark on a litany of their humble beginnings to their roster of achievements and ending up with their competitive edge over their fellow contenders. They talk as if they are saints incapable of any fault, when in fact, they actually look like clowns full of heavy make-up and wearing masks which conceal their other side from the public eye. Just but mere pretentions.
But as we come to think of it, these ads definitely had some positive effects too. Through these commercials, we saw who smiles the best and would best make the perfect autograph. We saw who has the makings of a future actor – he who can make his face look worried and concerned as effortlessly as a professional would. And most importantly, we saw who budgets his money the most effective way, knowing that these 30-second commercials cost more or less a million pesos each.
So then, friends, let us not be fooled. May we not use these TV ads as basis on who do we write on our ballots. Let us not be touched when these commercials say ‘Mr. So and So loves you.’ because it actually means “Mr. So and So loves your vote.’ Let us not vote for this one just because he always wears t-shirts of our favorite color. Let us not vote for that one either just because his jingle is very pleasing to the ears. Because there a re more to what meets the eye. And we must use our minds and hearts to see them. And as I quote the Little Prince, ‘What is important is invisible to the eye.’
Our dear politicians surely have some innovative and creative ways in making their intentions of running for a public office in the upcoming elections clear and highly publicized. With perfectly ironed clothes on their trademark colors, they face the cameras, and like what marketers do to their products, ‘sell’ themselves to their audiences. Then they embark on a litany of their humble beginnings to their roster of achievements and ending up with their competitive edge over their fellow contenders. They talk as if they are saints incapable of any fault, when in fact, they actually look like clowns full of heavy make-up and wearing masks which conceal their other side from the public eye. Just but mere pretentions.
But as we come to think of it, these ads definitely had some positive effects too. Through these commercials, we saw who smiles the best and would best make the perfect autograph. We saw who has the makings of a future actor – he who can make his face look worried and concerned as effortlessly as a professional would. And most importantly, we saw who budgets his money the most effective way, knowing that these 30-second commercials cost more or less a million pesos each.
So then, friends, let us not be fooled. May we not use these TV ads as basis on who do we write on our ballots. Let us not be touched when these commercials say ‘Mr. So and So loves you.’ because it actually means “Mr. So and So loves your vote.’ Let us not vote for this one just because he always wears t-shirts of our favorite color. Let us not vote for that one either just because his jingle is very pleasing to the ears. Because there a re more to what meets the eye. And we must use our minds and hearts to see them. And as I quote the Little Prince, ‘What is important is invisible to the eye.’
So the next time Mr. Manny Villar’s face pops out of your screens, why not grab the remote and switch channels to National Geographic. And then perhaps, your viewing hours will never be disrupted again.
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