Democracy without...Democracy at the expense of...

I feel lucky that I was born a Filipino. Not only do I enjoy an environment fostering compassion that comes from being a Christian and a society that places equal value to both men and women, but I possess the freedom to choose my leader, even if it means myself.
The Philippines is not the first to exercise democracy in the world, but it is the birthplace of the first constitutional democracy in Asia in 1899. However, many times in the past the Philippines has been ravaged by colonizers and at one time a dictator. But our ancestors then, gifted with courage, were able to survive numerous battles either in a bloody or peaceful means, all for the noble cause of freedom. In 1986, the people united to oust the dictator that took away the Philippines’ liberty and freedom in many aspects of life. Since then, threats to ensure that our interest as a people stays on top and not just of the few who seek power for their benefit have been constantly condemned. The Filipinos were able to do many tremendous feats such as those embedded in history because of formal as well as informal education. Learning our history in books and through first hand experience from the past passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, grandparents to apo have taught us Filipinos to fight for freedom with a fervor that can only come from those who know what it means to be deprived of it.
Still now and then, the solid walls of democracy that is the people’s protection from self-serving individuals endure varied assaults. Learning from history, we know that as long as we keep educating ourselves, keep valuing freedom; whatever assault will never crack it down.
However, democracy has its downside.
It is true that there is no perfect form of government existent. But that is in fact only a ripple of truth from the one that says, “There is no perfect human being alive or otherwise.” True, even to a fairy tale, there is a flipside. And this isn’t even one.
All of us can feel a few of it especially now that one of the major components of preserving democracy is drawing close. We see familiar faces everywhere (the roadside, the television, even around us) when they never used to be there. These persons are using the protection of the names and emblems that we so respect and pay to keep existing, in order to ensure that they stay in power. And yet what can they do, because they still want to serve the citizenry (if that indeed is what they want) and have only that means to fish out voters?
But then, ideas come to mind.
It is pretty much realistic that being an archipelago is a bit of a disadvantage to communication and thus dissemination of information. But not anymore. What with the many forms of media now present. So why don’t they blog their acts daily as does many nowadays? Increase their effort of informing the people of what good they do all year round and not just during campaign period? Call yearly meetings/gatherings and give detailed reports of accomplishments even giving a piece of pan de sal to every Filipino present during such. Surely, that would not even amount higher to the sum of the merienda they order for every little meeting they have.
A few of this and more others could yield to them not cramming to be remembered by the citizens when they cast their ballots. Cramming=desperation=loss of morals=blablabla.
Whatever. I still want democracy. And I’m going to keep myself informed to ensure the meaning stays, even literally: demos “people” and kratein “to rule”.
Before I go, I thank the Greeks for inventing democracy.