I just might run as a list MP in the NZ Parliament

Photo c/o RMO

"United we stand; divided we fall" (Filipino proverb). The country was preoccupied with fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, and now that we have seemingly beaten it, the next big thing to focus now is rebuilding the country, our economy. But it is also an election year and we are beginning to see political parties ramping up their platform and candidates. We already have the first Filipino MP in the person of Atty. Paulo Garcia from the National Party. I was listening to former MP and former Auckland City mayor John Banks in one of his radio show on Magic Talk (afternoons) mistake Paulo for a woman. Perhaps it is time to up the media presence of Paulo. With only months to go before the elections, expect to see more action from all the political parties.

As a Filipino-Kiwi I would be thrilled to see more MPs who are of Filipino descent join Paulo in the NZ Parliament. That is why I am a bit surprised with the candidacy of Romy Udanga (North Shore) and Monina Hernandez (East Coast Bays) from the Labour Party. I know there are heaps of Filipinos in North Shore. How about in East Coast Bays? There are two ways to get into Parliament: winning an electorate and being ranked in the list system. I don't really see a future of two Filipino Labour MPs in Parliament even with the popularity of Auntie Jacinda. Perhaps one is a possibility. Is this a strategy to field two candidates to get as much Filipino votes as possible? Will the Filipino votes be enough for a Filipino list MP from Labour? Do Filipinos in NZ vote for parties or for personalities? I understand Paulo is also running as a Filipino list MP for National. Now that jobs are threatened, I dread the day when I get redundant or lose my job, and put my hat in the ring to run as a list MP for a third party. But that's another ekwento mo!