Proem

I have been making poll surveys in Bohol since 1978. After 29 years of experience, I could not fail to notice the changes in Boholano culture.

Results of Surveys

For this coming May 14, 2007 election I have already finished three poll surveys for three separate candidates in three different towns in Bohol. Since the surveys were conducted in order to develop campaign strategies, the questions were detailed.

Here is a particular question in Sugboanon Bisaya. (Note: Words in parenthesis are English equivalent for this article while those in brackets are part of the question).

Question: Unsa ang ana-a sa kandidato nga makapaaghat kanamo pagbotar kaniya?
(What is in a candidate that can entice you to vote for him?)

The results for this question are:

Maayo og batasan (Good behavior)- 66.06%

Matinabangon (Helpful)- 56.62%

Adunay kabangkaagan [edukasyon] (Has education)- 49.67%

Adunay plataporma (Has a platform)- 23.01%

Maayo mosulti (Good speaker)- 14.57%

Akong kabanay or paryente (My family relative)- 10.39%

Mohatag kanako og kuwarta (Will give me money)- 4.97%

Sakop sa akong partido sa politika (Member of my political party)- 2.98%

Tim-os [Honest] - 2.32%

The number of samples taken in the survey gave a ±4% error with a confidence level of 95%.

Tim-os [Honest]

When I wrote the question, I was just trying to segregate "Maayong batasan" because batasan can also mean character, habit, trait, or behavior. It turns out, matinabangon, which is part of maayong batasan, obtained a high rating also.

To my surprise, "Tim-os [Honest]" obtained a low rating of 2.32%. Maybe the respondents did not understood "Tim-os [Honest]" even with its accompanying English equivalent word. The word tim-os is the old Bisayan word for honest. However, even in the 1950s, when I was still young, tim-os, as in "Tim-os nga gugma" already means sincere, pure, and honest in its combined English meaning. Even then, the "sincere" aspect of the meaning should merit understanding since the sample-taker was present to explain.

There is no other conclusion to make than that the question was understood and the 2.32% response is correct. It therefore means that nowadays, Boholanos no longer expect a candidate to be honest. What are important are maayo og batasan, matinabangon, and matinagdanon.

Mohatag og kuwarta

"Mohatag kanako og kuwarta (Will give me money)" has only 4.97% response. Is the result of this question not in conflict with the answer "modawat sa kuwarta og mobotar (will accept the money and vote)" with 30.30% response? The answer is no!

The "Mohatag og kuwarta" is viewed in Bohol as vote-buying, locally called as "pusil = 5%." The "Modawat og mobotar" is viewed as inangayan. The inangayan is viewed as a token of appreciation and viewed as a request by the candidate for help.

Many Boholanos will help someone in a bad situation. If you will want to pay, they will not cite an amount. If you will just say "Thank you" it will be okay with them. If you will give any amount as a token of appreciation, it would be much better. This is how inangayan is viewed in Bohol.

If a candidate will brag that he will win because he will give money, that money has little effect. It will be viewed as pusil and only 5% wants it. The money must be accompanied by a request for a vote to be viewed as inangayan. There is a ritual how to do it through hangyò - padili-dili. The giver must say, this is only the amount I can afford because I am poor (Pasensiya na ha? Mao ra gayod kini ang maabot sa akong ka pobrehon.)

Partido (Party)

Before the declaration of martial law in 1971, the membership to a political party was ver important. The two political parties then were the Nacionalista and Liberal parties.

Many people were members of political parties. They will vote according to their political party. If a candidate was not a member of either the Nacionalista or Liberal party, he had a slim chance to win.

Nowadays, we have a multi-party system. It is so confusing that the survey shows that only 2.98% of the voters will vote according to his political party.

Comment

Now think about how our culture has changed. Present day voters no longer factor in honesty as a trait of a candidate. Therefore, calling your opponent as kawatan (thief), limbongan (cheater), and tikasan (crook) will have a 2.32% effect.

So again, I will ask the question, "What happened to our value system?" Where did our schools and churches fail in teaching moral values?