The boo-boo of the bobo?

Or is the poor vote a stupid vote?

WHEN one is poor in the Philippines, it is supposed that one is also stupid.

That’s why the masa – the ignorant masses – are much sought after when elections are just around the corner. Their sheer numerical power in a country where millions consider themselves poor is too powerful for any politician or any religious leader to ignore.

Their numbers may vary, depending on who conducts the count. A Social Weather Stations survey showed that at least 11.5 million poor families consider themselves “poor” as of June 2014, up by more than 600,000 in March, also this year.

Recently, the term “mahirap” or “poor” in Filipino took on a different meaning when Senator Antonio Trillanes IV remarked that Vice-President Jejomar Binay is portraying himself to be “poor” even as he was supposedly leading a lavish lifestyle.

SEN. ANTONIO TRILLANES IV. Anti-mahirap? Elitist? | Photo from Senate of the Philippines Gallery

The senator, one of the investigators in the ongoing Senate probe on the alleged corruption charges against the vice-president, was quoted as saying after a visit to the farm that Binay allegedly owns: “Ang nakita natin dito sa ocular visit na ito ay ‘yung dalawang mundo ni Vice President Binay. ‘Yung isang mundo na nagpapanggap siya na asal-mahirap, na galing siya sa hirap na maki-mahirap. Even pati ‘yung kulay niya pinagmamalaki niya na ‘I am mahirap’.”

(What we are seeing here in this ocular visit are the worlds of Vice President Binay. One is the world where he pretends to be poor, that he comes from the poor. He is even proud that his color is like that of the poor.)

Trillanes’s comment sent Netizens to anger. Some called him elitist, a charge that he now denies, saying that his statements had only been taken out of context by the camp of Binay.

VICE-PRESIDENT BINAY, left, with President Benigno S. Aquino III. Is Binay pretending to be poor? | Photo from PCOO

Binay, responding to the allegations, had labeled those behind what his deputies had called “Oplan Stop Nognog 2016” as “elitists” and “anti- poor” for calling him “kulay-mahirap” and “asal-mahirap.”

But what exactly is the poor vote? Is it really an “unthinking” vote?

In 2004, PCIJ Founding Executive Director Sheila S. Coronel and Yvonne T. Chua wrote a two-part series on the characteristics of the so-called poor vote. Its key findings include:

The poor ranked education, experience, platform, and track record as among the most important criteria for choosing candidates.

They do not necessarily have high regard for the wealthy and powerful. What they do have are idealistic notions of leadership, valuing qualities such as piety (makadiyos), helpfulness, sincerity, and responsibility.

Celebrities are not necessarily preferred by poor voters. Many said they value educational qualifications, but they were also suspicious about those with superior education. They said experience and good intentions more than compensate for a lack of college education.

The most important sources of influence in the choice of candidates among the poor are, in declining order: the media, the family, the church, and political parties. Surveys come in last on the list.

Coronel and Chua also reported:

“While elections are seen as a spectator sport, the poor are not passive spectators. They cheer on or boo and take part wholeheartedly. ‘Perhaps their ambivalent attitudes toward elections are subsumed by the notion of a game of chance, which provides elections with an inherent validity as well as entertainment value,” says the IPC report. “Hence, they will participate in it by following certain criteria and principles. Most are not swayed by survey results. But, given their material needs, they will also take advantage of the money and goods that circulate widely at this time, if they can somehow escape the consequences.'”

Click on the photo below to continue reading the story “The poor vote is a thinking vote.”

A SUGARWORKER in one of the haciendas or plantations in the Philippines | Photo by Julius D. Mariveles