MM Leadership Call to Arms speech - Leighna Abarquez

Leadership – MM Ateneo Graduate School of Business

Leader Leighna Katrina Sitoy-Abarquez

Call to Arms Speech

Why Your Vote Matters

In a democracy like that of the Philippines, the individual and his existence is recognized and given value. Such is acknowledged in the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution. As a consequence of this Democracy, a correlative right is conferred upon the individual, which is anchored on his citizenship. The individual who is a citizen can vote in the choice of people who are to run the reigns of Government. In fact, recognizing the right to vote as a fundamental human right, no less than our Constitution prohibits any imposition on literacy, property, or other substantive requirement on the exercise of suffrage.

The right to vote shows that the Government's power to make it run, emanates from the individual, whose collective exercise indicates consent. Our act of exercising our right to vote is an indication that we still believe in our political system. Our participation in the elections is our positive act of acknowledging the legitimacy of our Democratic system. That is why, the individual vote matters for the consent of the majority is sought after, to make democracy work in the country.

In Palatino et al. vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 189868, 15 December 2009, the Philippine Supreme Court, reiterated the significance and primordial importance accorded to a citizen's right to vote, to quote:  "The right of suffrage lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy. Preserving the sanctity of the right of suffrage ensures that the State derives its power from the consent of the governed. The paramount importance of this right is also a function of the State policy of people empowerment articulated in the constitutional declaration that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them, bolstered by the recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation-building and directive to the State to encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs."

Thus, when we cast our votes, we are actually empowering ourselves to be involved in nation-building, allowing ourselves to be catalysts for change. And when used wisely and sensibly, and when dignity is accorded on each of our ballots, we are actually telling those candidates who seek to be elected that—their fate, and the fate of our country resides primarily on us—the voters, us alone. Then, the elections will put those candidates on guard, and will make them realize that, their tenure, their stay in Government is dependent on our trust and confidence in them—and our ballots come election time are their report cards. They stay only as and when our trust still resides on them.

No matter what, in whatever manner, it is still impossible regardless of the advancement in communication and technology for all to be able to be heard by everybody. From the rice terraces in Aparri to the coastline in Jolo, not everyone can have the chance to react on certain issues, the preference over one candidate over another included. Thus, such is the evolution of Republicanism in a Democracy. It is in the letter that the citizens are conferred rights including the right to vote. But the exercise of such rights will go down the drain, unless these are expressed in so many ways.  Republicanism provides the forum for all to be heard. Being able to vote is one, and representation in Congress, in the Supreme Court, and in the executive department is another. Clearly, the representatives chosen by the people to run the reigns of Government do not own the corresponding powers conferred upon them. As enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, Government power emanates from the people who chose them through the ballot. That explains why every vote matters. For when exercised collectively, we are able to put representatives in Government who will translate our choices and preferences through programs, projects, jurisprudence and laws. If our Government fails because of corruption and incompetence, the votes are to be blamed. It is the voters' choice that caused the problem. It is the voters' collective action, through the ballot that undermines the program and development of a country. And who is to be blamed for the Daang Matuwid to fail? We the sovereign Filipino voter.

So, this coming elections—let us be true leaders—good examples to the next generation, voices of our children and the marginalized—let us consider this right to vote, not only as a blessing of Democracy—but also as an important responsibility that we should take. On the 9th of May next year—each of us here—are called to lead—and when we cast our votes wisely and judiciously, we respond to that call and live up to that responsibility.

And I would like to end with the words of Franklin Roosevelt, "nobody will deprive the people of the right to vote except the people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting." Your vote matters, because our future, and our children's future, and future of this country and how it will be run for the next six years or so—depends on it. Your vote matters, because your children matters, your country matters, because—you matter.