http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=542667&publicationSubCategoryId=66
Public and media reaction to the Presidential Policy Forum organized by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation at AIM last Jan. 14 has run the gamut from enthusiastic (how exciting to see the presidential candidates facing-off with one another), to supportive (how good of the Romulo Foundation and ANC to stage the event), to interesting (how revealing that Villar will visit Saudi Arabia first if elected), to disappointed (what a pity that Noynoy Aquino and Erap Estrada did not show up). Others criticized the question panel for not asking substantive questions.
I should also mention that there were some who said the forum was irrelevant and useless because the masses of voters (classes CDE) do not care about seeing the candidates debate.
If this were true, it would mean that the Filipino electorate does not care about the current campaign. Yet key indicators – survey responses, TV viewership and public comments – are telling us otherwise. Our people are keenly discussing the progress of the campaign and what the leading candidates are doing. Without a doubt voter turnout will be high in May.
I think this idea of voter indifference to debates is coming mainly from the camps of Noynoy and Erap who got roasted in the media and coffee shops for their non-appearance in the policy forum. Some said they were scared by the prospect of being questioned by experts on policy issues. Others commented that both can only function with prepared scripts. And most thought Noynoy is trying to sit on his lead in the surveys, afraid to take any risks in a face-off against presidential rivals.
If this were true, it would mean that the Filipino electorate does not care about the current campaign. Yet key indicators – survey responses, TV viewership and public comments – are telling us otherwise. Our people are keenly discussing the progress of the campaign and what the leading candidates are doing. Without a doubt voter turnout will be high in May.
I think this idea of voter indifference to debates is coming mainly from the camps of Noynoy and Erap who got roasted in the media and coffee shops for their non-appearance in the policy forum. Some said they were scared by the prospect of being questioned by experts on policy issues. Others commented that both can only function with prepared scripts. And most thought Noynoy is trying to sit on his lead in the surveys, afraid to take any risks in a face-off against presidential rivals.
