The Anatomy of Barangay Election

The Anatomy of Barangay Election
By Taga Ibaan Ako

Barangay. The smallest political unit in the Philippines.

This is the level where national election begins. But for itself, it writes script and directs its own set of scenes by the people directly taking part up close and personal. This can’t be ignored. Everyone, from candidates to political patriarchs, down to the the voters themselves, are all part of the drama. And 2010 election is not an exception.

The Beginning

During the earlier times, the Philippines is composed of different tribes or barangays (balangay) distributed among thousands of islands, and were ruled by Datu or Rajah. They belong to rich clans who claim power out of reach from ordinary people. The change of leadership was based on the family’s hierarchy of succession with, generally, the eldest taking power as his own.

When the Spaniards came, they kept the barangay structure but took the power off the Datus/Rajas and have it centralized to the Governor General, and locally to to the encomendero, and later in the alcalder mayor and the gobernadorcillo.

The coming of Americans made barangays into barrios. They were then recognized as quasi-municipal corporations under Republic Act No. 3590 or The Revised Barrio Charter. Autonomy was also granted by virtue of Republic Act No. 2370 (Barrio Charter)

The barrio was again renamed back to barangay during martial law through Presidential Decree No. 86 and 557. Then, pursuant to Batas Pambansa Blg. 222, the FIRST election for Punong Barangay and six Kagawads was held on May 17, 1982. Local Government Code of 1983 fixed the term of office at 6 years, to be changed to 3 years by the Local Government Code of 1991, with the inclusion of SK election as part of the barangay level election.

The Setting

Barangay election has not evolved or changed that much since it was first introduced. From Datus/Rajas’ time, the power usually still belongs to the, if not, rich ones and also to those with connections from from national, provincial to municipal level politicians. Although the Constitution explicitly grants democracy and equality among people to vote and be voted upon, this somehow has gone in vain through the years. Sometimes, there is always a tendency of concentration of power with people playing the role of a fool, blindly following orders from these people.

However, in most cases, looking at the brighter side, a Pangulo keeps his seat through continued support and belief of/from the constituents on his ability to govern the barangay effectively, not to mention their generosity. In Brgy. Kagitingan, Baguio City, Maria De Vera Cordoviz, Nana Maria or “Kapitana” to everyone, served as Barangay Chairman for 41 years until her death in January 26, 2010. This is recognized as the longest time that a person held the position in the country. People would speak of her generosity as if God has given her all of that since time immemorial.

Unfortunately, Kapitana’s story is just one of those millions cases that we have here. Barangay political landscape is often designed through deception. machination and manipulation by those who wish make the most of it in, probably, provincial and municipal level point of view. Guns, goons and gold still find their way before someone’s house’s door to remind them of what to write on E-day.

On October 25, Monday, around 50 million voters will make their way to voting precincts to elect one (1) Barangay Chairman and seven (7) Kagawads for each of the 43,025 barangays in the country. Ahead of this, the PNP has already recorded election-related violent incidents since gun-ban was implemented last September25 this year. The incidents consist of either killing or injuring of candidates and their supporters, including 543 gun ban violations. However, the relieving part of this is that, the number is lower compared to that of 2007 Barangay and SK election. The bottom line is, violence remains.

The Circus and its Players

Life is a circus by itself. And barangay election is a bigger one, specially with players craving for a bigger slice of the pie.

Barangay election follows next after concluding the Municipal level election. With this, politicians belonging to this level are the most proximate ones to be affected by the latter’s results. To avoid, or at least to cushion its impact on their career, they would often do two things in the shadow; either (1) to play favorites or (2) to play safe.

When municipal level politicians run for election (assuming they won), they go to political patriarchs in different barangays. Relationships were established and sometimes sealed with some vague promises to be claimed in the future. When barangay election hits the calendar, payback time makes its scene. A good return must be made either by endorsing and supporting the candidacy of his barangay foot soldiers who gave him numbers during the last municipal election, much more in the provincial level. Anyway, this is expected. Or else, back lashes will be evident the next time around. At this point, playing favorites is on the run. However, the player can’t go bold nor speak about it in public. The player also get to worry about others’ sentiments who also voted for him, much more if his wards decide to go up against each other. His chess pieces will definitely begin to rot like tomatoes if his throwing of support to one of his pawns explodes out of proportion in the public; tug-of-war ensues next to his plate full of politics. He’ll be dead meat the following day.

On the other hand, there are wise players who would just let things happen as they commence from day one. So as not to be skinned alive and to put out the fire burning in his backyard, the player would ingenuously express his concern for the general welfare of his constituents by keeping himself on leash from giving his blessing to any of his opposing boys running for the same position in the barangay election. And to clear his name from any accusation of playing favorites, everyone will receive his grace, usually in the form of financial support for their campaign expenditures. This way, barangay tigers are tamed and admiration or respect from the people will runlet over his cup for letting democracy take its course among those who wish to be in barangay position. An act of playing safe hardly hurt any of his ward.

To add more glam to the player’s genuine love for freedom, his family members are also subjected to his micro-management skills; to the point of hand-cuffing them from filing their certificate of candidacy, suspending their political rights and freedom of expression on the fear of being charged of building political dynasty. He’d rather have his family members and relatives, mostly the less fortunate ones, as sacrificial lambs to save his skin. What people have to say is more important that the density and color of his blood.

This of course is a reversal of some players’ strategy to deepen their political claws in barangay level.

The Drama

Selling the drama is probably one of the most difficult thing to do for a wannabe in barangay election. While others who find it easy to get in to the game based on different factors, there are those having difficulty staying afloat in the battle field as they try to prove their worth for another term.

To keep up the fight, a seasoned politician would make a list of his administration’s accomplishments, along with what he has done for the barangay during his term. A litany of this will be made to be compared with his opponent’s experience or something. And if given the chance to post with any prominent politician, such photo will also form part of his election paraphernalia such as tarpaulins and flyers. This is a show of force that even build a tower our of clay with the support of the chosen one.

Erstwhile, some would bank on the number of his family members. Filipinos are regionalistic or tribal by nature, and this can be clearly seen on any level of election, including the barangay level. In this view, they are almost assured of votes multiplied by the some more votes that their family member can bring on his door steps. Barangay is basically starts with few families. Generations after generations, their members would scatter around the area and eventually making friends with the new member of the community. Thus, the family tree perfectly works in this level.

At some point, dark horses emerge out of nowhere. This is a situation where an underdog would bravely take his chances against the seasoned one. A David versus Goliath in the making. This again calls for an army of the family, specially when they have been a victim of any form of injustices or discrimination perpetrated by the one in position. Sentiments from voters are gathered through emotional appeal by making them realize that they may also fall prey and experience the same ordeal. Displaying how weak they are in the face of an iron maiden often results to strong sympathy from the people, almost enough to build platoons of supporters to take them to barangay hall.

Remembering the tag lines of Senator Ralph Rectp when he first ran as Congressman of 4th District, it says “Ang Ipinaglaban ng Lolo, Ipagpapatuloy ng Apo“. I say this is one of those dramas that was successfully sold to the voting public. And again, the family is behind this. However, family name’s reputation played a greater role on this. Recto’s was a respected former President of Republic of the Philippines and was able to maintain a clean slate until his last days in Malacanang. And Recto was able to illuminate this fact during his campaign. Is this applicable in barangay level? Yes. Barangay is too small a community for people not to know the goodness of one’s folks back in time. Had the forefathers been a responsible member of the community, no doubt this will be a big factor when E-day comes along.

Some candidates who lost in municipal level election feel bad about it. Frustrations sink in to the point of losing faith to people. Unfortunately, hardly they realize that their being a failure can give them a fast and furious ticket to barangay hall. Have they forgotten that their barangay has embraced them and made them feel proud of their boldness to run in the municipal level? Now this might still be converted into winning numbers if they run in the barangay. But then, as we’ve mentioned, we are tribal in nature. And our barangay consists of more sub-groups divided into different categories. Sometimes not in perfect harmony with each other. But then, if this can mastered and polished, there is still hope of winning. They’ve taken them once during municipal level, they’ll do better in barangay level. The drama here is that, they can sell their municipal plans like hot cakes to his fellow barangay men.

Barangay election is actually as complicated as any level of election in the country. It’s just matter of understanding its anatomical parts to formulate the right campaign strategy. The only thing that makes it different is that, in other levels, people vote for a candidate even if they have not seen, talked or even have not met the candidate. In barangay election, a house-to-house campaign style is essential. There is a need to talk with everyone, as in everyoe. At this level, people are more sensitive and often cry out loud when a candidate missed shaking one’s hand. It’s a “no show, no vote” system no matter how qualified the candidate is.