Disinformation and truth don't mix

It is the 4th day of the second month of the new year. And this will just be my first article. Sigh... It's been a busy week, and my head is spinning. Didn't expect the added workload, and it probably shocked my system. Hahaha! But then, we should always be grateful for work, not just the pay, but the trust we are given when assigned to do something.

My brain is inundated with everything political (hazards of the job) and I realize it was one of the reasons why I didn't go back to being a journalist. And especially at this time with social media doing its best to upend traditional and mainstream media, it is a headache.

I am glad though that presidential candidates are being interviewed left and right to make known their platform and stand on a host of issues that they are expected to face, should they win. Some have really been doing their homework, others while aware of the issues have yet to work out how they will address them, if the time and opportunity comes...

These should also serve as opportunities for the electorate to listen (not just hear) and get to know the persons applying to lead our country in the next six years. Better to hear it from the horse's mouth rather than be fed all this misinformation and disinformation, which are getting more creative and crazier, peddled in social media platforms!

As I've been saying since October of last year, we have to be discerning as a voter. We have to stop settling because that's how we got into this kind of mess. One vote is not just one vote. Don't devalue that one vote and give it to whoever you believe to be the one who can serve and represent us best.

Yes, I repeat, we need a servant leader. A public servant. We need someone who will serve us, the people, and one who will listen and decide what is good for many and not just a few. Most of all, we need someone who will WORK. Not just put in place minions to do the work, but actually be as hands-on as possible in getting this country running right again.

It's time the citizens of this country - if we truly love our country - do our share. While good governance is necessary, it is not all up to the government. We can demand what is due us - social services including a better public education system, healthcare system, and equitable distribution of wealth.

Let's do away with the "pwede na" attitude. That's settling. We are worth so much more. But if we don't put value in who we are and what we deserve, then it is giving the people running government the license to provide mediocre, if not no service, at all.

The elections are three months away. Let us use that time to raise our awareness, get to know the applicants for a most crucial job, and please, please learn to fact-check the information being fed you by social media. You can use this as your guide and be better informed.

The problem with too much information available just anywhere and put out by anyone, especially anonymously, is the lack of accountability. If we want to contribute to nation-building, let's start by being responsible when it comes to taking in and spreading information.

Do not make things worse by sharing disinformation. Verify them first, especially if you intend to forward it to someone else. Sometimes, we unknowingly contribute to stoking the fire about an issue that is absolutely untrue to begin with because we never take the time or effort to check if these are true. Let us especially be careful about things that can demean, destroy, or discredit someone.

If there is one thing we should discern carefully, it is the truth. If we believe in lies, then we would likely end up living a lie. Who wants that?

To de-stress, I think I need to watch "Tick...Tick...Boom!" again. What can I say? I love musicals, and this one has a great story. Imagine encapsulating one week in someone's life? And the music? Created by a genius, and performed even more brilliantly by the cast. Andrew Garfield was my least favorite Spiderman. But boy, I so admire the guy for his work here. An Oscar for him, perhaps?

Lead image from Unsplash