The unsatisfied satisfied

If, indeed, the economy is on the upswing, the last five years under the self-described competent governance of Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet, and with domestic-productivity numbers the highest ever, presumably founding the resplendent welfare Filipinos must now be enjoying, then why are voters condemning Aquino’s chosen to wallow in the darkest pits? 

The surveys show that Filipinos have never been as optimistic as they are now. Simply spin that as tacit approval of Aquino’s incumbency, as a few have, equating happiness with economic development and political competence. By international counts, we also remain one of the happiest on the planet. That takes the measure out of the parochial neighborhood and places it on a global stage, validating the local surveys’ findings.

And, yet, voters are deliberately keeping that one politician who promises continuity in the darkest pits, preferring others maligned by various multimillion-peso demolition campaigns.

Aquino’s kennels have not ceased barking. Vice President Jejomar Binay remains hounded. Never mind that he is running on a platform of proven administrative competence. Rottweilers have gone for his jugular.

The hounds from hell have no decency. Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares’s status as a foundling is being taken against her, as opponents have shed all compassion, deciding her foundling status an appropriate weakness to deny constituents a chance to have a president running on a platform of grace and compassion.

Against the manipulation of the government’s immeasurable resources applied against these frontrunners who offer change, the public has responded by forcibly thumbing down the administration candidate. Why?

The answer lies with what are offered as elements of that prospective change should the public have its way and not be cheated of their vote. What are the frontrunners offering to a public polled as optimistic?

It is intriguing. And it tells us that, perhaps, the voting public is not as bobotante as the commonly shared weltanschauung goes; that they know something we don’t, seeing from a different perspective both beneath and beyond what we see.

While both have nothing to do with economic realities because among the happiest on the planet are those interred at facilities with padded walls, by extrapolating economic elements and relating these to the optimism factor, we might be able to understand the complex character of the Filipino voter.

First, allow us a requisite assumption. Our premise is that the surveys by a credible and professional pollster reflect what the constituencies feel and mirror their desires for the future.

The latest survey conducted early December of 2015 showed 45 percent of the people expecting their quality of life to improve. Labeled “net personal optimism,” the percentage was a record high.

Against such optimism, a frequent TV talking head opined that the reason Aquino’s bet does not benefit from such is that his achievements are not reported because of a corrupt media owned by big business.

Such analysis is not only simplistic; it is downright stupid, thinking that the constituencies are similarly as brainless as the comment itself. The disconnect among the politician, optimism and economic growth is about economic inclusivity and the resiliency of the Filipino in having the capacity to bear burdens, deny the worst, and forever see the positive through the most adverse conditions.

Economic development must be felt. Reading about it—or being told that one is better off because a reporter says so—will not do. That the people may be optimistic and not associate this with Aquino’s chosen indicates that the people have a far more complex sense of what it is they want and from whom wants, desires and aspirations might be fulfilled. If, indeed, they are satisfied, such satisfaction is not as a result of anything that Aquino’s candidate has done.

Check out the frontrunners. The people want competence. More important, they want compassion. It is for these that their optimism and desire for change are founded.