Miriam Santiago’s supporters: Poll rating is not everything

Patty Pasion

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Miriam Santiago’s supporters: Poll rating is not everything
Students of Our Lady of Fatima University in Caloocan says they will support Miriam Defensor Santiago despite her low ratings

MANILA, Philippines – Pulse Asia’s presidential poll results released on Friday, March 4, show another decrease in Miriam Defensor Santiago’s ratings. But her youth supporters do not mind these numbers, saying people should not vote based on popularity.

Santiago visited the Our Lady of Fatima University in Caloocan City on Friday as part of her campaign strategy of consolidating the youth vote by delivering speeches in different universities. Hundreds of students warmly received the senator.

 


For her supporters in the university – most of whom are first-time voters – survey ratings should not matter in choosing a presidential candidate. Their vote should not be decided by popularity, they said.

“Kung magbe-base lang tayo sa ratings, di tama ‘yun, kasi kailangan malaman natin…kailangan kilala natin kung sino ang iboboto natin,” 20-year-old student Timothy Clemente told Rappler. (Basing our choice for president on ratings is not right. We have to know our candidates.)

He stressed: “Kung gusto talaga natin, kailangan kilalanin talaga natin. Do research.”  (If we want to vote for someone, we need to know him or her.)

Mikaela Perez, 19, said that when voters focus on a candidate’s popularity, they would tend to overlook his or her capability and competence. 

“Sa akin po di lang sa rating natin malalaman kung ano ba ‘yung kayang gawin ng isang [presidential] candidate,” she said. (For me, ratings do not speak of the competence of a presidential candidate.)

Another first-time voter Krismela Gaspar said that voters should stand by who they believe are the rightful candidates rather than just jumping on the bandwagon.

The 18-year-old also said she believes their sector can still help pull up the senator’s ranking in the 5-way presidential race as election day draws near.

Santiago’s ratings are now at 3%, down from her 4% last February. Her running mate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr is taking big strides, gaining 3 percentage points from the last poll. Marcos, with a 26% voter preference, is tied with Senator Francis Escudero at 29%, given the survey’s margin error.

With less than 3 months are left before the elections, Santiago’s youth volunteers said they are not giving up on their candidate, but acknowledged that they have to work double time.

“Ngayon dumadalas na rin ‘yung pag-iikot ni senator. Kami namang volunteers niya nagsasagawa na kami ng probinsya caravan upang iparating sa bawat bayan, bawat probinsya, ‘yung mensahe ni Senator Santiago,” Youth for Miriam volunteer Vincent Agustin told Rappler.

(Now, Senator Santiago is doing the rounds more frequently. We, her volunteers, are doing our provincial caravan to bring the message of Senator Santiago to every town, every province.)

 


Since the campaign started, Santiago has only gone out 5 times, with her activities limited to speaking engagements in universities. The presidential aspirant has set more speaking engagements in the coming week. – Rappler.com

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Patty Pasion

Patty leads the Rappler+ membership program. She used to be a Rappler multimedia reporter who covered politics, labor, and development issues of vulnerable sectors.