BOBOTANTE – The Key to the Future of the Philippines

Ballot boxes were used for the 2007 Philippine barangay elections. | Photo by Keith Bacongco via Wikimedia

The next national elections in the Philippines will be on May 12, 2025. Twelve senators and all members of the House of Representatives, as well as local officials, are up for election. Theoretically, this presents an opportunity for change. Since 1946, the Philippines has seen progress. The Philippines is among only 13 countries that have elected a female leader. Both came to power after non-violent civil uprisings. Clearly, Filipinos have what it takes and the leaders necessary for such change.

However, whether these events evidence a mature electorate remains doubtful, particularly in local contests. Unfortunately, it is in local government that the most palpable reform is needed and lacking. It has been 78 years since this experiment was called the Republic of the Philippines. Apparently, not long enough to jettison feudal tendencies brought about by centuries of colonization, a cultural division based on language and attendant regionalism, resulting in political dynasties, legitimization of landed estates that were born of the encomienda system, the legacy of treason by the encomiendero and the makapili.

Our flailing democracy is, at best, the worst version of “every man for himself.” Lately, this has deteriorated into “buying the peace” through unmitigated welfare programs and handouts, fondly called “ayuda.” Leaders who think these are sustainable lack the vision, are utterly bereft of imaginative thought, and are quick to turn a national shame into national pride in the form of an unending diaspora. Worse, depicting the effects of the resulting remittances in the form of gleaming condominium towers as a collective achievement.

In reality, each worker sent abroad cannot find a living wage and professional fulfillment at home.

What role does the BOBOTANTE have in this milieu? The short answer is everything. BOBOTANTE is the satirical merging of BOBO (uninformed) and BOTANTE (Voter).

BOBOTANTES come in different varieties.

The APATHETIC BOBOTANTE is the worst of all—those who will not even register to vote. They are resigned, pessimistic, and defeated. Always the first to criticize and complain, they are ironically not lacking in opinion and conjectured solutions but ultimately will not wield the one last weapon at their disposal to rid the system of its ills—going to the polls.

The “PISTAHAN” BOBOTANTE has one interest and has nothing to do with electing the rightful candidates – just the ones that will win him the bet that he can list the most likely winners – as in listing the most out of 12 senators, for instance against anyone willing to wager anything, even a case of beer with eat-all-you-can “pulutan.” This BOBOTANTE couldn’t care less for what candidates stand for. This BOBOTANTE will vote for the candidates with the best name recognition regardless of political party, ideology, or campaign platform. This BOBOTANTE has all the attributes of the apathetic BOBOTANTE, except he will take pains to register and vote – this often results in electing legislators who can submit resolutions to name a street or roadway or airport but not much else. Under the best circumstances, this legislator will co-author bills.

The BOBOTANTE FOR SALE are likely the majority of all voters. These voters are lifelong fixtures in campaign rallies, all sides if they can get away with it, always queued up in “ayuda” lines, and the loudest cheerers of campaign speeches. Some are even tasked with ‘gapangan’ duties on election day – they turn out the vote. There is no future except today and tomorrow because that’s all that matters – the next meal.

The unsung casualties of what ails the Philippines are those who have chosen to leave for greener pastures abroad—contract workers or migrants—the BOBOTANTE of the Filipino diaspora. If one considers the friends and family they have left behind, they are a mixture of all the varieties above of BOBOTANTE.

A typical campaign rally in the Philippines is splattered with promises such as these: expansion or new construction of a public hospital, a new or expansion of public schools which may or may not include a public university (paranasal), daycare centers, health centers, etc. The BOBOTANTE will provide applause, some jumping up and down while others are swayed. In the messaging, the deeper meaning of the promises is lost. There is a failure to recognize that the promises are, at least in the context of the supposed beneficiaries, the poor, promises to address the anticipated increase in numbers of the poor – why else would all the added public institutions become necessary in the next term of the elected? Think for a second. Shouldn’t the promises be the exact opposite? As in closing down the public hospital because there are no patients requiring such services because they’ve attained affordability of private facilities? No wonder the poor keep growing in numbers – the politicians are delivering on their promises – more public facilities for an increasing number of poor? Think.

BOBOTANTE will vote for their economic demise. It is common for voters to vote for a candidate whose business presents a conflict of interest with their constituents. Why vote for the person who owns the most riceland if you are a farmer – it is not in the interest of the candidate and politician to support his competition – simply human nature.

BOBOTANTE will stand in awe of the politician who visibly has “coincidentally” acquired a mansion in the middle of his term – instead of being outraged.

THINK. The worst a BOBOTANTE can do is seek favors from politicians who bribed their way into office.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Crispin Fernandez advocates for overseas Filipinos, public health, transformative political change, and patriotic economics. He is also a community organizer, leader, and freelance writer.