2022 Presidential Election: An end or continuance of hunger?

A year of seclusion and a year of misery. These are the biggest tests the Philippines is going through today due to the widespread impact of Coronavirus in the world. Due to successive lockdowns and quarantines in the country, the government and its officials are where people rely for financial assistance. But most of them failed and their only grievance was "if now is the election, campaigners would have lined up to help." But now that the election is upcoming, are Filipinos ready for a change in history?

The Presidential Election 2022 is fast approaching and the names that want to run for national office are coming out. However, according to a statement by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, next year's election could be "the dirtiest and most vicious" yet in the history of the country, because President Rodrigo Duterte will allegedly fight and protect for the policies made in his administration. Indeed, in spite of the fact that under the current constitution, President Duterte isn’t qualified for re-election and with the election just year away, Dutertismo shows up to be prepared for a second term. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the President’s daughter; Representative Bong Go, his previous long-time aide; and PDP-LABAN Manny Pacquiao are topping the surveys in pre-election presidential overviews. Even though Sara Duterte insist she won’t run for presidency, posters and banners have popped up across country despite restriction. If in matter Sara runs presidency or not, she is the only one who can shield her father from the court cases that will surely hound him after his term ends. Even previous Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, who’s Duterte’s second in command in 2016, is in second place in the survey polls. The fact that a Duterte and a Marcos are in the lead of presidency survey, suggests that Filipinos never learn from history and destined to repeat it again.

Be that as it may, opposition groups within the Philippines have joined strengths in a bid to defeat the party or anointed successor of Duterte, named 1Sambayan (One Nation/One People) which highlights the call for solidarity to overcome Duterte. Driving the opposition is retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio and emphasized the require for Anti-Duterte forces to join together ahead of the 2022 surveys. The opposition is working to cement their ground and they have most of the goods on their side since the present government has only bungled from one crisis to another. Will the opposition, as everybody craves, be the new administration that will save the country?

The election results will define Philippine history’s heroes and reprobates. To the people who are eligible to vote, choose someone who go beyond general statements and offers a clear policy on dealing with the country’s problems. And remember that those who have inkling on the economic growth of the Philippines are the best candidates for presidency. Hopefully Philippines will be able to have a celebration for the 2022 election. Intervene, render your judgment through votes and be part of the change.