ABSTRACT: The Philippines, in its form, is a democratic and a republican state with Presidential in form. Thus, with its being democratic, it is in the people where sovereignty resides. It is in their hands that people signifying intentions to occupy elected positions are to be instituted to do such. While good governance is the process by which institutions conduct the affairs of the government as they manage the resources of the public in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. The study endeavored to describe and analyze the elements that determine and influence the teachers’ decision to vote for particular candidates in the Philippine 2013 midterm election, through the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Survey questionnaires were administered to a sample composing twenty percent of the total number of teachers per school. The study revealed that teachers’ choice did not match with the voters’ choice in the 2013 midterm election for Senators and party list. The result posts a great challenge to education as an agent of socio-political transformation. It implies that education must help people fully understand the political condition of the country; and teachers are tasked to engage themselves seriously in shaping political consciousness and attitudes among their clients.

KEY WORD: Voting Behavior; Teachers; Midterm Election; Senators and Party List; Socio-Political Transformation.

IKHTISAR: “Tindakan Pemberian Suara Guru-guru di Filipina Utara dan Implikasinya terhadap Pendidikan”. Filipina, dalam kenyataannya, adalah negara demokratis dan republik dengan bentuk Presidensial. Dengan menjadi negara demokratis, maka kedaulatan berada di tangan rakyat. Di tangan rakyat pula mereka yang ingin menduduki posisi wakil rakyat dipilih dan harus terus dilembagakan. Sementara itu pemerintah yang baik adalah proses dimana lembaga melakukan urusan pemerintahan karena mereka mengelola sumber daya publik untuk menjamin realisasi hak asasi manusia. Studi ini berusaha untuk menggambarkan dan menganalisis unsur-unsur yang menentukan dan mempengaruhi keputusan para guru dalam memilih calon wakil mereka dalam pemilihan umum daerah di Filipina tahun 2013, melalui penggunaan metode penelitian kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Kuesioner survei diberikan kepada sampel yang terdiri atas 20% dari jumlah guru per sekolah. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa pilihan guru tidak sejalan dengan pilihan masyarakat pemberi suara dalam pemilihan umum daerah tahun 2013 untuk memilih Senator dan daftar calon partai politik. Hasil kajian ini merupakan tantangan besar bagi dunia pendidikan sebagai agen transformasi sosial-politik. Ini menyiratkan bahwa pendidikan harus membantu masyarakat memahami kondisi politik negara; dan para guru bertugas melibatkan diri secara serius dalam membentuk kesadaran dan sikap politik peserta didik mereka.

KATA KUNCI: Tindakan Pemberian Suara; Guru-guru; Pemilihan Umum Daerah; Senator dan Daftar Partai; Transformasi Sosial-Politik.

About the Authors: Prof. Dr. Agnes S. Reyes and Prof. Dr. Judith R. Garcia are the Lecturers at the PNU (Philippine Normal University) in North Luzon, Aurora, Alicia, Isabela, the Philippines. For academic interests, the authors are able to be contacted via e-mail at: cardona.rs@pnu.edu.ph

How to cite this article? Reyes, Agnes S. & Judith R. Garcia. (2015). “Voting Behavior of Teachers in North Philippines and its Implication to Education” in SUSURGALUR: Jurnal Kajian Sejarah & Pendidikan Sejarah, Vol.3(2), September, pp.205-216. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press and UBD Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, ISSN 2302-5808.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (July 31, 2015); Revised (August 30, 2015); and Published (September 30, 2015).

Voting Behavior; Teachers; Midterm Election; Senators and Party List; Socio-Political Transformation

Barrete, R.J. (2013). “How the Filipino Electorate Chooses its Leaders” in The Philippine Online Chronicles. Available online also at: www.thepoc.net) [accessed in Manila, Philippines: July 17, 2015].

Bianco, W. & D. Canon. (2010) American Politics Today. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company.

Bongcac, R.A. (2000). Voting Behavior and Factors in the Election of a Philippine President: Their Relation to Voter-Related Variables. Manila: PNU [Philippine Normal University] Press.

CNPL [Chief’s Notes on Political Law]. (2007). Bar Operations Commission. Manila: Center for Legal Education and Research, Arellano University School of Law.

De Leon, H.S. & H.M. De Leon Jr. (1997). The Law on Public Offices and Election Law. Manila: Rex Book Store, 3rd edition.

Ericta, C. & E. Fabian. (2009). “A Documentation of the Philippines’ Family Income and Expenditure Survey”. Available online at: http://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/ris/dps/pidsdps0918.pdf [accessed in Manila, Philippines: August 17, 2015].

Ericta, C.N. & F.C. Varona. (2003). “Profile of Philippine Voters”. Paper presented in the PSA Annual Conference at Sulu Hotel, Quezon City, Philippines, on November 12.

Garcia, J.R. (2014). “Voter’s Choice: Evaluating Political Alternatives of Alicia, Isabela”. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Manila: Philippine Normal University.

http://www.ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CMO-No.26-s2005.pdf [accessed in North Luzon, the Philippines: 17 July 2015].

http://www.iper.org.ph [accessed in Manila, Philippines: July 17, 2015].

Interview with Respondent A, one of the teachers of PNU (Philippine Normal University) in Manila, Philippines, on 9 October 2013.

Juma, Kakuba Sultan. (2012). “Voting Behavior in Uganda Since 1996: An Investigation into the Factors Likely to Determine Voters’ Choices in the 2011 Elections”. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Uganda: Islamic University in Uganda.

LWV [League of Women Voters]. (2010). “How to Judge a Candidate”. Available online at: www.smarter.org [accessed in Manila, Philippines: July 17, 2015].

McElroy, G. & M. Marsh. (2009). “Candidate, Gender, and Voter Choice: Analysis from a Multimember Preferential Voting System” in Political Research Quarterly. Philippines: University of Utah. Available online also at: http://prq.sagepub.com [accessed in Manila, Philippines: July 17, 2015].

O’Neil, P. (2012). Essentials of Comparative Politics. USA [United States of America]: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Puscas, Vasile. (2010). Managing Global Interdependencies. Cluj-Napoca, Philippines: Eikon Publication.

Sevilla, C. et al. (2004). Research Method. Manila: Rex Book Store.

Yeban, H. et al. (2013). Teachers’ Voting Behavior. Manila: PNU [Philippine Normal University] Press.

Zaide, G.F. & S.M. Zaide. (2005). History of Asian Nations. Quezon City: All Nations Publishing Co., Inc., 7th edition.

Zaide, S.M. (1994). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. Manila: All-Nations Publishing Co., Inc.

Zulueta, F.M. (2002). General Sociology. Mandaluyong City: Academic Publishing Corporation, revised edition.