Majority or about 47 percent of voters for the Philippine general elections in 2016 are millennials, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. And these young voters, who will be aged 18 to 36 next year, are those who are classified as “always connected,” “confident” and “open to change” but also “cynical.”
While the youth could very well dictate the outcome of the upcoming election, experts and officials believe however that the youth sector has grown apathetic and does not easily believe that elections bring positive change. But for young author Rei Lemuel Crizaldo, choosing our next leaders is an enormous and “sacred” task.
In his book published under OMF Literature entitled BOBOto ba Ako?: How to Think Smart and Vote Right, Crizaldo, who has a degree in Theology, uses a Biblical lens in giving the exercise of voting a deeper meaning.
“Recognizing that the leaders we are putting into office are not just public servants but, as the Bible says in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2, ‘God’s ministers’ to put order and implement justice in society, voting becomes a sacred task – a Godly endeavor of selecting people who shall govern well,” he says.
As the title suggests, BOBOto ba Ako? also provides a guide for Filipinos to see whether they are well-informed voters or clueless of the true value of this right.
“The book is an invitation to reflect deeper on this fundamental human right, something so many Filipinos are seemingly prepared to throw in the garbage can, perhaps out of ignorance of its inherent value or disillusionment on the state of politics in the Philippines,” explains Crizaldo.
But even in the face of a seemingly problematic government, this writer, educator and advocate of public theology, encourages every eligible citizen to assert his right and fulfill his responsibility to carry out this “sacred task” of casting a ballot on election day.
“Despite what most politicians would like us to think that the destiny of our beloved country lies in their hands, we need to remind ourselves that they are actually at the mercy of a discerning voter. Our Constitution insists: power resides in the people,” asserts Crizaldo.
With this power comes the responsibility to vote wisely. But when each candidate claims to be the “redeemer” of the nation, how does the average Filipino discern a worthy leader from the pack?
Crizaldo has this challenge for everyone before casting that ballot.
“Put today’s political candidates side-by-side with Jesus Christ. Up until today, He remains to be the gold standard of what it means to be a servant-leader willing to sacrifice His own life for the welfare of those in need, brave enough to stand with those at the margins of society, and wise enough to handle well the trappings of power as one enters the dirty game of politics.”
BOBOto ba Ako?: How to Think Smart and Vote Right is available at all OMF Literature bookstores, National Bookstore, and Philippine Christian Bookstore.
OMF Literature is the Philippines’ longest-running publisher of inspirational, instructional and insightful reading materials. OMF Literature books address people’s continuing need for spiritual nourishment, personal development and biblical guidance for everyday life. To know more about their books, visit www.omflit.com.
