AS SEEN ON TV
A political early warning device
I beat the red light at a major junction in Quezon City last March because I did (could) not see the traffic light turn red. A banner of a city councilor who wants everyone to know she was “proud of the graduates of 2009” was blocking my view. The same councilor greeted me “Happy Valentines Day” a month earlier, not with a Hallmark card (as I would have preferred) but with a hideous tarp mounted on an electric post.
Self advertisement using banners and tarpaulin is becoming rampant as the election nears. It’s the best early campaign strategy of politicians who cannot afford media ads. These streamers mostly brandish every imaginable occasion or advocacy. And they’re getting creative with the tarps which contain (in bold font) their full names, nick names and what appears to be their best picture, (probably taken in the 80’s as they don’t even look like the shadow of these images today).
One Manila councilor had banners to encourage new voters to sign up at Comelec, while another Quezon City official just wanted to wish everyone a “Happy Summer Vacation” with what I’d call “streamerettes” (about 1 foot by 6 inches, framed with bamboo or sticks). These are almost invisible hence useless, even for their own unlawful and immoral purpose.
An anonymous group of concerned young Filipinos set up a Multiply account “Nobanners” (http://nobanners.multiply.com), to protest “political bannering”. These eye sores are not just hazardous to the beholder but to the one who mounted them close to a live wire.
“Nobanners” is not really “politically motivated”. Its campaign against self promotion is largely designed to push for cleaner cities. Here’s its modus:
- Do not vote for politicians who self-promote, using taxpayers’ money to advertise themselves or their work through banners (many times common in provinces where even a lowly waiting shed is “thru the efforts of” some politician whose job is really to improve public convenience)
- Keep a copy of the latest list (per city) to know whom not to vote for
- Spread or e-mail to others who want to have cleaner cities too
- Contribute photos of banners and streamers so the politician's name can be added to the boycott list. E-mail: nobanners@yahoo.com to send names and/or pictures of self-promotion
- Alert “Nobanners” if a politician takes down his banners so his name can be taken off the boycott list (to play fair)
- Continue to pray for the country and help find ways to "be the change you want to see"
I admire the revival of “care” and the hunger for change displayed by today’s youth which has long wallowed in indifference. “Nobanners” is rekindling public involvement, vigilance and volunteerism even in the simplest ways (reporting and condemning banners).
The brain behind the advocacy encourages the public to use resources that are already within reach (as reachable as one’s mobile phone) to fight the corrupt and abusive. The move is reminiscent of ABS CBN’s “Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo: Ako Ang Simula”, a similar culture change campaign which has been getting positive response from the youth. It also encourages the use of multimedia technology (SMS, MMS or the internet) as tool to report anomalies related to the elections or governance in general.
Choosing candidates can be tough and one really needs to sit down, do his own list (checking it twice?), and conduct performance audits or background checks. But for purposes of short listing, “Nobanners” proposes the process of elimination, to first determine whom not to vote for.
Judging politicians just by their banners may not be the best way to choose a candidate but it’s an effective way of weeding out those devoid of decency and respect for the law, public property, safety (and even beauty). These candidates would most likely fail their future constituents and further their abuses, once in power.
It’s just a matter of seeing the “signs”, early.