The Philippine Joint National Convassing Committee (Congress) commenced the official counting with the Overseas Filipinos absentee voting which resoundingly favoured the Aquino-Roxas (Noy-Mar) tandem. The number of qualified voters who cast their votes is disappointingly low and will have little influence on the final results. For all the campaigns and hard-won triumph on dual citizenship, the struggle continues for overseas Filipinos to make a difference in Philippine politics.
Whatever happens in the Philippines reflect on overseas Filipinos. A progressive and developed Philippines with good, transparent and corrupt-free government raises our esteem, otherwise, we are looked upon as mirrors of its third-world status.
Labor’s troubles
Australia’s political landscape has also changed dramatically in the last three to six months. From the soaring popularity of Kevin Rudd, the Labor government is under threat to become a “one termer.” The honest Tony Abbott now presents himself as an alternative Prime Minister. The federal elections which will most probably be in October this year is a battle between the big-spending and wasteful Labor and the genuinely fiscal conversative Liberal Coalition.
In the meantime, the New South Wales Labor government continues to be troubled by corruption scandals with Karyn Palluzano, Labor State Member for Penrith, resigning in disgrace and the scheduled by-elections in June is now conceded to the Liberal candidate Stuart Ayres. Penrith electorate has significant number of Filipinos and their votes can make a difference there.
Playing “catch-up”
Blacktown City is jostling for a declaration by the New South Wales state government as a Regional City.
In the Council’s submission to the Metropolitan Strategy, it lists 17 attributes of a Regional City that Blacktown will have by 2036. However, it has been pointed out that comparable cities already have as much attributes while Blacktown is only playing “catching up.”
The Summary in the Submission is an indictment of the neglect and failure of the Labor held council for 16 years and Labor’s representation in both the State and Federal Parliament when it concluded, “why then is Blacktown, as a key element of GWS, not given the attention it clearly deserves?
It could be a perception problem with government agencies which are not aware of Blacktown’s attributes and specifically the pivotal role it can play in helping to achieve the State government’s ambitious targets”.
Living with two peak bodies?
There are now two major Independence Day Balls on June 12 sparked by two peak bodies, the Philippine Community Council and the Alliance of Philippine Community Organizations. When a mediation was offered to avert the crisis, one group countered, “what crisis?” They will now have to live up to the folly of the so-called “reform” at the wrong time and ill-advised process.
*** Lawyer Jess Diaz is a councillor of Blacktown City Council. More about Jess Diaz…
Other post/s by Jess Diaz
- Year End Political Perspective - January 1st, 2012
- Provocative: Why Rizal Today? - December 30th, 2011
- A bat to king hit the NSW State Labor! - January 22nd, 2011
- Asylum seekers' dreams ended on Australian shores - January 21st, 2011
- A case in point on mental health - December 4th, 2010
About Jess Diaz
Hi Jess
I agree with your observation that the number of absentee voters who cast their votes is disappointingly low and will have little influence on the final results. I think it may take time before dual citizens can really make a difference in Philippine politics.
Where we can make a difference I think is on the politics of the countries we have adopted. Sad to say, despite our numbers in certain Australian electoral districts, we are still a marginal political group.
It seems this is not only happening in Australia, but in the United States as well. Some few days ago, Consular General (Emeritus) Edwin D. Bael wrote for emanila his address to a group of community leaders of Arizona USA where in that address he was also advocating for expatriates to be more involved in the politics of their adoptive countries.
Short of lamenting, he said: “We might also want to consider that it is for us, expatriates, to effectively participate in the politics of the countries we have adopted, that we may have a place in decision-making circles to help benefit our Inang Bayan and Jewel of the Orient Seas. So, can we be more effective in political action? Yes, of course. Rizal said: ‘If the Filipino wills, he can.’ Let us then just summon that needed community will.”
Romy