EDITORIAL – And now, for the real change

It all boils down to this. The five candidates have come to the homestretch of a hotly-contested race to win the votes of the country’s 54 million electorate who will be picking the nation’s leader in the next six years.
Aside from the president and vice president, the nation will also pick 12 senators, House and Party-list representatives, provincial governors and vice governors, provincial board members, city and municipal mayors and vice mayors, and city and municipal councilors.
Throughout the campaign period, sparks were thrown from all corners typical of Philippine elections. One thing perhaps that emerged as a new experience in the history of Philippine politics is the awareness level of the electorate and the expression of disgust of the national government that has resulted to the loud clamor for change.
This election has seen an outspoken nation express themselves in support of change in many ways they can—from social media to the household word-of-mouth.
This electoral exercise has also seen people identify with messages of change rather than promises of heavenly progress.
Whether this awakening will translate to the realization of genuine change will be known in the next few days leading up to Monday’s polls.
The old evils will be there—vote-buying, intimidation, cheating—out to challenge this newfound force of the Filipino electorate. We will know if this new force can withstand the test.
Bring it on. This is our fight.