Of all social sciences, i used to believe that political science is the least useful. I was proven wrong, of course. Like the soap operas we usually see on television, i was like a protagonist who believes that life is but a sweet candy.
My mother is the incumbent chairman. She is not perfect, i admit, but i know she really strives to fulfill her promise to the people that she will reform her government. Truly, there is a result. Our barangay looked like a province seldom reached, but located in a city. When my mother took chairmanship, she and her colleagues really developed the place into something more pleasing to the people. Just a flashback when she was not yet the chairman, her organization really worked for the water and electricy supply to reach some parts of our barangay. The organization even gave school supplies to less fortunate youths.
As i said, she was not perfect but good enough to be an exemplary public servant. I thought everything was flowing smoothly until her friends when she was still a private citizen started to say and do negative things to her. While she was busy implementing her programs, her "friends" were also busy destroying her name. As we talked about it, she said it was fine but the pain in her eyes was really so obvious. I started hating those people.
Her job as the chairman was also an uphill climb. Four of her councilors battled her. One of those used to be a very good friend who began to do her bad after not favoring him on his unlawful acts. The four councilors even filed her a case of corruption. An obvious falsity because, I, as her son knew that we also have money problems.
Many problems had she encountered on her term. Her "popularity" even reached the papers when a provincial newspaper owned by our, of all people, neighbor started writing negative articles about my mother including corruption and abuse of authority. Issues, who also happen to be fallacious, beacause how can we not have bountiful monetary sources if she really is corrupt and if she abuses her power, how can the barangay become more peaceful?
Unsurpringly, the irresponsible journalist ran as barangay chairman this last election. I do not want to say that he cheated beacuse i am so sick of the cliche that all those who lost say they were cheated on. But there are so many obvious reasons to say that the journalist indeed cheated. Unfortunately he won.
She lost the chairmanship to someone who has been petitioned from his last residency and was not even our ka-barangay for more than 5 years.
More painfully, her used to be friends really supported her destroyer. On the race, her votes were not even close to the winner. I wonder what happened to the 45% who did not vote. I wonder what are the paid voters thinking when they accepted a cheap bribe of a kilo of rice, a noodle, and some 200-500 peso bill. I wonder most how those who supported the fraud could even boast to the public how they cheated.
Politics is us, i now advocate. How could i not say so when i see it by myself. The people whom my mother considered to be her friends destroys her much as her life continues to be better.
The people now should learn the great difference of long-term and short-term thinking. If electoral cheating, turncoatism, and betrayal happens in the smallest political unit of the country, i will never wonder again how they happen in bigger units.
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