The practice is widespread in the width and breadth of this country. It subverts what is good for us. Those who bought will certainly recoup their investment several times over. It is a gross form of corruption. It will further the difficulties we are facing as a country.
A friend comes to mind about what he said long ago. “Sana maghirap pa tayo para magising ang Pilipino.” But it might not result in our awakening. That, however, was said in resignation.
They only way might be, is to start with ourselves not to buy votes and not to encourage the practice. Let us not vote for those who are, or who had been, doing it.
Let us also try to influence others not to fall into that trap. So much better if group influencers are made to exert effort to make groups that are accessible to them see the light of day. That while vote buying will cause some benefit to a few, it will in the end result in our becoming morally bankrupt. Then other immoral acts will follow.
Starting within reachable people seems to be quixotic, but the people reached can reach others and if our situation is really ripe for change, the numbers can increase in an exponential way. Before we know it, we might be changing a well-entrenched bad habit or norms and accepted ways.
The ones best positioned to initiate such change are the churches and similar institutions as they had been there since time immemorial and they proved unable to go far. Not because they are impotent but because of the enormity of the problem and its tentacles. And they are so deeply entrenched no less than a cataclysmic effort can result in appreciable results.
So, we should not be afraid or timid about it. We just have to try and keep trying. Otherwise, we are doomed to live in a hellish environment. Certainly, we don’t like to see that for our progeny or the upcoming generations.**