I got a call inviting me to help in the campaign of Peds for mayor early this year. To sell out or not to sell out.. but I figured, we local artists spend a lot of time and energy complaining about the city government's lack of support for the arts, but when the time comes when we, just like every ordinary citizen, can make a difference in Baguio, most of us choose to sit it out and watch the elections pass. Mock the whole exercise, even (though a lot of times not without reason, I must add).
Call it whatever you want but I chose to actively participate in this year's local elections. You see a good movie and you tell your friends about it, you listen to some good music and you burn a cd copy for your friends, you read a good book and you can't wait to lend it to a friend after... There are so many things that have been said about Peds, but looking at the other candidates running for the same position, I chose him. And I told my friends about it.
If he does well, then I'll be proud to have contributed to his victory. If he doesn't, then I have all the right to complain for I have been a participant in shaping Baguio's future when I placed my thumbprint on that ballot for him last Monday.
Call it whatever you want, but I just don't believe that sitting on that fence and then jumping to whichever side's convenient when the smoke clears just isn't right.
