(L-R) Senatorial candidates Risa Hontiveros, Grace Poe, Bam Aquino, Teddy Casiño, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Richard Gordon were present at the Rappler Senatorial Debate last Saturday. Photo by Apa M. Agbayani.

A LACK of clash between speakers marked an otherwise strong debate, as six senatorial candidates—Risa Hontiveros (Team PNoy), Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), Bam Aquino (Team PNoy), Richard Gordon (UNA), Teddy Casiño (Makabayan) and Grace Poe (Team PNoy)—took the opportunity to introduce themselves and to push forward their respective platforms and agendas during the Rappler Senatorial Debates last April 14 at the Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle.

This was a change from the usual, formal debates as it was hosted in an open space, allowing for a vibrant and informative forum among the senatorial candidates’ respective supporters. This, in addition to the presence of those who were undecided, allowed for a more inclusive discourse on what is needed for the country.

Incoming Sanggunian President Dan Remo, one of the few Ateneans present at the debates, said that the location allowed for a raw and unfiltered viewing of the candidates.

“This is why we need these kinds of forums. We can’t really flesh out everything. These kinds of forums allow us to interact with them more closely. You can only learn so much from hearsay, jingles, campaign posters, and the Internet,” he said.

Rationales all around

However, even if the event itself was a success, it appeared that the senatorial candidates viewed the event as more of a rehearsal as the campaigns enter the home stretch, using the allotted time to instead sell why he or she should be part of the Senate.

Casiño argued that his past as a “voice of the regular people” is why people should vote for him, reminding them that even if “[he] is not rich in money, [he is] rich in principles.”

Hontiveros of Team PNoy explained why people should vote for her based on her resolute stand on some of the country’s recently passed bills such as the Reproductive Health Bill. She also regularly reminded people that her candidacy was based on her track record, rather than on her name.

“I may not have a popular surname, but I believe that the fruits of ‘Daang Matuwid’ should go to ordinary people, not in the pockets of a few,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.

Fellow members of Team PNoy, Aquino and Poe, agreed with Hontiveros, pointing out that their campaigns are in support of the second phase of President Aquino’s 2010 campaign slogan: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap. (If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor.)”

Aquino, like Hontiveros, also stressed his track record as a reason for people to vote for him, pointing out his achievements as a social entrepreneur and as a youth commissioner in teaching Filipinos enterprise. He, like many Aquinos who sought Senate seats before him, also referenced his martyred uncle, Benigno Aquino Jr.

“Si Bam Aquino ay anak ng People Power. Nakita ko ang pagpatay sa Tito Ninoy ko. Dito ko nahanap ang kagustuhang magsilbi para sa publiko.” (Bam Aquino is a son of People Power. I saw the murder of my Uncle Ninoy. This is how I found the desire to serve the public.)

Poe, on the other hand, was forced to defend herself when a question from the social media asked her what political legacy she was trying to continue when her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr, had no experience in politics.

“It’s about service and helping the people,” she explained in Filipino, referring to her father’s propensity to help the poor.

In contrast to Team PNoy’s support of President Aquino’s term, Gordon decided to criticize Aquino’s term as president, grilling Aquino by pointing out issues such as smuggling, power outages, and motorcycle killings. This, along with statements revealing his pride as a “self-made man,” often made him a foil to candidates such as Poe and Aquino.

“I did not inherit my father’s name, or my mother’s name, or their work. I perform my responsibilities because I was told, ‘You earn everything. You do not inherit fame,’” Gordon said.

Villanueva also used past achievements as his rationale, often pointing out the fact that he was jailed under the Marcos regime. This, as well as his expertise in economics and his role as a religious leader, has made him believe that he is suitable for the job.

“Moral leadership brings good governance, good governance brings a good economy, and a good economy is key to pushing our country forward,” Villanueva said.

A lack of clash

As informative as the debates were, it was puzzling to see that only a few of the candidates, like Gordon and Hontiveros, ever came out with guns blazing. The Casiño-Hontiveros debate was certainly fiery, often eliciting cheers (or jeers) from their respective supporters and critics.

However, the majority of the other contests often seemed conciliatory, with debaters asking questions not conducive for a vigorous debate. Questions such as “How can we work together?” from Aquino to Gordon often displayed that there appeared to be a lack of animosity.

A probable reason for the lack of clash is the candidates’ agreement on what is needed for the country. Issues such as poverty, corruption and a lack of education were often the thrusts in each candidate’s platform.

However, there were also some concerns that the debate often ignored some of the more pressing issues in society. Junior economics major James Domingo, who listened to the debate on radio, noted, “The debates often lacked description on a myriad of topics. For example, they are saying a lot of stuff, but they are not really showing us how they are going to do it.”

In contrast to this, Remo argues back that maybe it was due to certain constraints, saying, “As with any debate, you’re limited by time, by the venue, by the organization, so there’s always a lot of things you can talk about, especially when it comes to the issues of our country.”

However, he also conceded that there could have have been more said in topics, such as the youth.

“I would’ve preferred if they talked more about things that cater to our sector: The youth. Education was of course touched on, but there are others things such as the unemployability of college graduates, for example, or the fact that a lot of our grads go abroad after secondary education.”