Former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno led a voter education campaign called “Tamang Kandidato Local Interactive Voter Education (TamaKa LIVE)” in Puerto Princesa City on Friday.
Organized by the Bawa’t Isa Mahalaga (B1M) Movement, the event aims to help Palawan voters in choosing the right candidates on May 13.
Sereno, B1M founder, said TamaKa LIVE will help remind Filipinos that the most important thing in their lives must be reflected in the candidates that they elect.
“Kasi kalimitan kapag nagpapaliwanag tayo sa mga eleksyon, sasabihin lang natin na iboto ang mga kandidatong ganito ang criterion, ngunit kapag sinasabi mo lamang yan sa mga tao at hindi mo sila hinahayaan na sa kanila mismo manggagaling kung ano ang mahalaga sa kanila, mas hindi dikit sa boto nila,” she pointed out.
She said that TamaKa LIVE is different because of its interactive format that allows participants from different sectors to voice out the values they are looking for candidates.
“Kaiba ito kasi unang-una, interactive, sila mismo, sa kanila mismo mangagaling, pangalawa, yong mga impormasyong kailangan nila tawirin upang makarating sa tamang konklusyon kasi ang konklusyon na lagi na lang lumalabas, kailangan pala namin iboto yong magpapalaganap ng kabutihan ng mga susunod na henerasyon, ” she added.
Sereno said that based on the result of their political education campaign, voters want candidates who have faith in God and people, and patriotic.
TamaKa LIVE provides candidates’ profile that if they are the same as those of the voters.
The event also conducted a mock election for senatorial candidates before and after the activity to see if the voter education campaign affects their choices.
Sereno said the voter education campaign started in February.
“Lumabas kami with this voter education campaign starting February but we have also a transformation goal of our long term transformation as a nation kasi kailangan muna magbago sa puso ang Pilipino and it’s not just an ideal parang iniisip mo na nandon sa alapaap, hindi, konkreto ang steps for transformation to take place,” she said
Sereno is optimistic that the Filipinos view on election “can change” if programs have continuity.
She said that with the commitments from the youth and religious sectors, the movement can help more Filipinos to “value their votes.”
“Maaaring ‘yong magnitude, hindi mo pa masasabi na it is determined by this short period of February kung kailan kami nagsimula but we have had success. So kung meron naman pala na paraan ng pag-uusap at pag-uugnayan, kung gawin mo na tuloy-tuloy ‘yan and it’s a lifetime commitment to really bring about an appreciation of democracy, mahalin ng Pilipino ang demokrasya,” Sereno said.
The event, held at the Palawan State University (PSU) and co-hosted by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in partnership with the various academic, church, and non-government organizations.
