Rex Education and PPCRV call for voters to discern well, vote according to our values, and be Maka-Pilipinas
Rex Education and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) are working together to help educate voters about the values we should be looking for in the leaders we will elect.
“How the Philippines will come out of this pandemic and handle the impending global economic recession will rely on the next 6 years. This is why it is crucial that the leaders we will elect in the upcoming May 9 elections share the heart of the Filipino people and possess the values to stand for and serve our country. We have to choose well and vote for someone who is truly Maka-Pilipinas,” said Rex Education CEO, Don Timothy Buhain.
The leader we deserve is Maka-Pilipinas
Varying standards, opinions, and principles come into play in the bid for national and local positions. What matters in the end when electing a leader is that it’s not enough to choose someone wise and experienced; we must also choose a leader who embodies the virtues of a true Filipino citizen and champion. PPCRV launched the voter education program that highlights what it takes to be Maka-Pilipinas to emphasize the values that make a true Filipino leader,
To be Maka-Pilipinas is to be maka-Diyos(faithful to God), maka-tao (respects life and people), maka-bayan(patriotic), at maka-kalikasan (environmentally concerned). These are the four good citizenship core values embedded in the 1987 Constitution, which highlights these core values’ roots and importance in our culture and history.
To help Filipinos better understand what makes a leader truly Maka-Pilipinas, PPCRV broke down the four core values—maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-bayan, at maka-kalikasan—into 16 good citizenship values. Does your candidate tick all the boxes of this checklist?
“We believe that through the living and the sharing of these basic values—not only by ourselves, but especially by our candidates—can our national vision of improving moral standards in government and in society be achieved,” PPCRV Chair Myla Villanueva said during the launch of the Maka-Pilipinas voter education program.
A champion of the people is a champion of education
Everyone is part of the solution. As champions of education—as Edukampyons—it is every Filipino’s duty to embody the 16 good citizenship values that we wish to see in our leaders. It is also up to each of us to encourage our fellow Edukampyons to live these values, so they may also know what it means to elect a leader who is truly Maka-Pilipinas.
“Voter’s education starts at home, where values are introduced and cultivated in our families. Under REX’s Edukampyon campaign, we want to give every Filipino learner an opportunity to have a good education, stable well-being, and a future where they can be their best selves. To do that, we must have the support of government leaders who value the same things, after our own heart, and cares just as much for the development of our learners,” Buhain shared further.
To serve as a reminder to choose with discernment and vote responsibly this coming election, PPCRV created a Maka-Pilipinas comics that promote the 16 good citizenship values. A line from the comics read: “Your vote is your hope. Your vote is your prayer. Vote wisely.”
The Maka-Pilipinas comics in English can be read through the PPCRV Facebook page here. Printed copies of the comics were also sponsored by Rex Education and distributed to various schools and communities.
Things to Remember This Election
With the National Elections less than a week away, everyone is preparing for this much-awaited day — last-minute campaigns (online and offline), deciding their official list of candidates to vote for, etc. And to help you prepare for the upcoming elections, we’ve come up with a list of things to remember on election day.
Election Schedule
As previously announced by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM on May 9, 2022, Monday. The local government has not announced yet whether or not it will be a non-working holiday.
Precinct Location
Make sure that you check where your polling place will be to avoid inconvenience on election day. Thanks to technology, you can now verify it via an online Precinct Finder.
Bring your ID
Don’t forget to bring a valid ID, it can be your voter’s ID or other government ID, for identification purposes which will be presented upon your arrival at the poll site.
List down the candidates you want to vote for
To avoid confusion or mistakes, make your own list of people you want to vote for. Write it on a piece of paper, in this way, you can avoid making mistakes on your ballot.
Any form of campaign materials is strictly prohibited
The campaign period officially ends on May 7. Bringing any form of campaign materials including caps, t-shirts, etc. is an election offense. This also means that you are not allowed to wear anything that contains a candidate’s name.
Taking a photo of/with your ballot is also an offense.
It is an election offense to take a photo of your ballot or take a selfie with it. It’s better to keep your hands off your mobile phone while you’re voting to avoid misconceptions.
Inspect the ballot before accepting it
A ballot with tears, marks, or unnecessary shades can nullify your vote. So make sure that you check it before you accept it. Because once you left the desk and take your seat, any marks found will be presumed yours.
Wait until the vote-counting machine accepts your ballot
Make sure that the vote-counting machine processed your ballot before leaving. If there are any discrepancies, report them to the inspectors and file a complaint immediately. Protect your right to vote and make this election fair and square.
