The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters 1 The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters A Research Paper Presented to Prof. Marites T. Fagaragan Mapúa Institute of Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements in English for Academic Purposes 2 (ENG11) by Jennifer G. Diga Dominique C. Dominguez Nico L. Duran
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The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters
1
The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables
Most Preferred by Mapua Voters
A Research Paper Presented to
Prof. Marites T. Fagaragan
Mapúa Institute of Technology
in partial fulfillment
of the requirements in
English for Academic Purposes 2
(ENG11)
by
Jennifer G. Diga
Dominique C. Dominguez
Nico L. Duran
March 2010
The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters
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ABSTRACT
Election is a form of direct democracy in which all citizens in a
community have the opportunity to participate personally in
collective deliberation and decision-making about how they will
be governed. Alongside with this kind of decision-making is how
the citizens, most especially our youths who take a large portion
in the voting public, will perceive the right qualifications of a
candidate for him to hold the office. There is a need for
awareness of the proper qualifications that the voters should
look for so that they are able to choose the right person for the
right position.
The research team gathered information through intensive readings
of articles from useful references, conduction of surveys and few
interviews with some students and an interview with an expert
specializing in Philippine Politics and Governance. The research
team has found out that the simple qualifications based from our
Constitution are not only the things they focused on, but instead
some other qualifications, accomplishments and skills also
matters to the public. Thus, it is still the public who decide
for their fate and the fate for the nation. Their expectations to
their candidates are neither realistic nor believable unless
already proven.
The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters
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In a phone interview with Spokesman for the Peoples’
Primaries, Ricky Xavier, he said about elections, “it’s a people
empowerment process. In the present system right now, we only
have a few politicians, rich or powerful individuals, deciding
the fate of the nation. Whoever the candidate chosen among the
people who join, will, in effect, be the choice of the people.”
Election is just months from now and the people are going to use
their rights of suffrage to express what they desire and what do
they want to happen for our country. Vote-buying is afflicting
our political system which will affect the voting decisions of
the public. Since they are free to choose whoever they want for
the position, more often that unworthy candidates get elected.
The research study will show that democracy is not simply
about popular participation in elections. Qualifications of
elective positions must be improved so that we can prevent our
country from unorganized manner of governance. Through the top
three (3) Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables most preferred
by our voters will show what kind of governance they want to
experience and how do they choose their preferred candidate
accordingly. To be sure, universal education plays a very crucial
role not only in uplifting the standard of life of its recipient
The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters
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but also in contributing to better style and quality of public
governance by the nation’s politicians.
As stated in the Philippine Constitution, a President should
be a natural born Filipino citizen, besides being a registered
voter, also able to read and write. Furthermore, he must be at
least forty (40) years of age and must be a resident of the
Philippines for at least ten (10) years. The constitution does
not prescribe any educational, academic or literary qualification
except for the ability to read and write. (De Leon, 2008)
Still based on the Philippine Constitution, a candidate for
Vice President must have the same qualification as the President.
Similarly with the President, a Vice President should be a
natural born citizen, a registered voter, also able to read and
write. He must also be at least forty (40) years of age and must
be a resident of the Philippines for at least ten (10) years. The
Constitution does not also require any educational, academic or
literary qualification for the Vice President, except for the
ability to read and write. (De Leon, 2008)
In any case, the qualifications for elective officials
requires under the Constitution are minimal and simple. The
purpose is to accommodate wider participation of those who desire
to serve the country under the democratic concept. Given the
The Top Three Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables Most Preferred by Mapua Voters
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legal qualification, granted the right of anyone who can vote to
run for public office cannot be abridged. Nevertheless, it is
believed that the Constitution assumes, specifically in the case
of the President, to be sure that he is morally and
intellectually fit and possesses executive ability to occupy the
highest office of the land. (De Leon, 2008)
According to Sureta (2010), a presidential candidate who is
principled, “tested in serving the country,” “courageous,” “has a
good plan for the country,” and “pro-poor” topped the
qualifications that voters want, a survey held by STRATPolls, a
Makati-based polling firm. However, according to the students of
Mapua Institute of Technology, they would prefer a “good
administrator/speaker/debater,” “popular” and “successful
businessman.” It follows that the elder voters have different
thoughts and opinions with that of the students. Although they
look for different qualifications, most of the respondents are
pointing Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino possessing most of the
qualifications. Moreover, Noynoy, being the son of late Senator
Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and late former President Corazon
Aquino did not affect the decision of the respondents. On the
contrary, this result does not indicate who will win this coming
election.
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Sharma (2001) said, “Every President has their Vice at their
back.” This coming election we are looking forward to whom will
be our next President. On the other hand, most of the voters
never mind what kind of Vice they wanted to have. Still, student
voters are looking forward the most to whom will be our next Vice
President. In general, the Vice President they want must be a