We're done with the first week of Cong.
Cesar Sarmiento's campaign. This is my first-ever real experience of an election in
Catanduanes -- hearing jingles and seeing candidates visit every house in a
barangay. It's even made special like an extra scoop of ice cream on top of my
halo-halo because I'm part of the campaign team and I could see both faces of
an election. This experience gives me a broader view of what election is -- the
anticipation and reaction of every person you meet and the hard works of every
man in the team.
Now, I deeply understand how things work
and the dedication these candidates give during this time. With all the
hardship a candidate may encounter along the way and after he/she wins, I must
say that it takes so much passion and love for one to decide to enter politics
or public service.
People outside the walls of a politician or
an aspiring politician's world don't realize this until they become part of
this world... just like what happened to me. Before I knew Cong. Cesar and
became part of his team, I view election as a nonsense parade of faces, hands
and promises soon to be broken. They just come and go... they never seemed
striking at all.
After joining and walking with Cong. Cesar
Vergara Sarmiento in the barangay sorties or the house-to-house campaign, a
lot of these views changed. This made me even more convinced that he is truly
different from other politicians who only think of quotas per visit. He would
give time to chat with every person in the house -- old or young, healthy or
sick and neat or not... everyone was treated equally as if they've known each
other for so long. Then I realized that with this style, he connects to the
people so the people remember not just his name but also his character. This is
also a way for him to thank the people and for people who appreciate his work
thank him, too.
Today, campaign period for me is not just a
mere nonsense parade, it's already a
time to create a relationship with people whom you're going to serve; to
understand what they need so in time when you set foot in your chosen position,
you know where to start and what to do.
