Can you smell that?

There is something foul in the air.

The stench is filling the air. And it will get worse.

The COMELEC pegged the campaign period for candidates for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List groups to start on February 9, 2010. The campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials will should start March 26, 2010.

But how come we smell something foul in the air this early?

It is because, politicians can not contain themselves. They reek.

There is no shortage of laws in the Philippines. There is just an absence of true enforcement.

In jest, somebody once told me that the people in the Philippines are the freest in the world. So free in fact that they can do anything they want. They pee in the streets, they cross where they want, etc. So much for democracy. Pwede. Pero hindi dapat.

Laws were made so that we do not slide into anarchy. Enforcement should not be lip service. Bawal lang pag nahuli. The spirit of the law should have the greater good in mind. It should have a purpose: to serve the majority. They say it should be blind. It should apply to the rich and the poor equally. Wow. Sarap isipin.

Going back to the candidates who are campaigning early. These are the kind of crappy leaders we can look forward to. Those who think the law does not apply to them. The ones who put their mug on every freaking billboard they can buy. Money that usually is the government's people's money.

These are the same people who after their term, will pass on the office to their wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, et al. Nepotism. Political dynasties. They say the Philippines is ruled by a handful for last names. Tsk. Tsk. In a country of 96 million people, these are the only choices we have?

If you are not outraged, then you are not paying attention.