On everyday politics

You may wonder about this type of post here samantalang hindi naman mala The Professional Heckler  ang category ng blog ko. Also, it isn't even timely, given the campaign period and national elections are long over. Let's just say wala lang, feel ko lang. Kasi ganun naman ako pag inspired sumulat eh. I just write from the heart. 

So moving on to the topic - Politics. The dictionary defines this as "the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs". Through this post, I would just like to show the many valuable lessons we could learn from this science because politics is not only found in a nation, it is evident in any entity such as the workplace, school, or home. Basta anything being governed, administered or controlled, something that has a system.

So to start off syempre in a political system, we have to nominate/elect/appoint who will take control of the entity. Sila ang magiging leaders/bosses/administrators. So who are our usual cast of candidates or nominees? Unfortunately, not all are qualified, if not most are unqualified. For me, here are the usual suspects:

image from the web

1.  Manok ni San Pedro - Such a very lucky candidate/nominee, as they would say, eto ung the favored one. Paano, padrino/backer lang naman nya ang may hawak ng susi ng langit. Sureball na ang panalo, promotion o appointment nya.

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" - George Orwell, The Animal Farm

image from the web

2.  Nancy Binay - Eto ung mga tipong anak ng vice president o may-ari ng kompanya with questionable qualifications/performance. Sige na pagbigyan na, nagOJT naman daw ng ilang taon eh, at andyan naman ung tatay to guide and support her.

“It is better to deserve without receiving, than to receive without deserving.” - Robert Green Ingersoll

image from the web

3.  Bitter Ocampo - Eto ung walang ibang ginawa kundi mag question bakit ung iba ang nanalo, napromote or naappoint. "Bakit hindi ako? Di hamak naman na lamang ako ng ilang paligo sa kanya. Bakit sya eh wala namang laman utak nyan?" Instead of assessing another individual's abilities/performance objectively, they tend to veer towards self-righteousness and have a biased view of themselves.

image from the web

4.  Cut-off - Parang sa instant noodles commercial lang na umiiyak ung bata: "12 lang ang nakuha sa practice, pang 13 ako, practice ako ng practice, may uniform pa ko, nay bakit?" Or by comparing with the recent senatorial elections, eto ung kawawang nasa 13th place. Dahil may cut-off, kahit na qualified ka pa, hindi ka makakapag-lingkod.

5.  Pity vote/Pasang-awa - Eto ung mga nakalusot, nanalo, napromote. o naappoint ng dahil sa awa at hindi dahil sa exceptional qualifications. Perhaps magaling ung campaign manager o image consultant nila. 

6.  Highly qualified but low popularity/unrecognized/underrated - Parang Dick Gordon o Risa Hontiveros lang. Eto ung mga kahit may very impressive track record na, sadyang hindi talaga mataas sa survey ratings at hindi nakakalusot sa election. Aantayin pa bang mamatay kagaya ni Jesse Robredo bago makarecognize ng mga matitinong leader o tagapaglingkod? For companies or organizations naman, you should nurture this rare breed of talents, otherwise run the risk of them resigning or being pirated by your competitors.

Here are some wonderful insights when you encounter the aforementioned in any entity you are in such as the workplace, school, or at home. I got these from The Prince and the Pauper by Jaachynma N.E. Agu:

1. “Don't underestimate your worth by comparing yourself with others.” - You are a unique individual, capable of contributing something to this world which others are unable to. So never let yourself be intimidated by what others can do. 
2. “Don't blow off another's candle for it won't make yours shine brighter.” - In other words itigil na ang crab mentality. In the end baka pati ikaw mahila pababa. Try to be the one that pull others up. Working together may actually bring out the best results.
3. “Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.” - You alone can know what matters most to you and what your own definition of success is.
4. “You are not in competition with anybody except yourself; plan to outdo your past not other people.” - Like the 1st and 2nd quote, just give your best in everything you do for God's greater glory. Keber na sa ginagawa ng iba. Always try to be a better version of yourself.

Lastly, you really cannot change the system but you can change how you react to the system. You can chose to go or stay. I leave you with a nice verse I got off the internet from an anonymous author, just to keep things in perspective: 

You need not stay where you are; 

there are other places you could occupy, possibly more happily than where you are now.
What keeps you were you are?
If there is nothing, walk away.
If there is something, you will know why you stay.