Ang Kapatiran Party’s old-fashioned recruitment

While the major political parties are busy trawling for recruits wherever they can in preparation for next year’s elections, the small lay-based Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) is content with attracting members, supporters and candidates the old-fashioned way—by writing them a letter.

AKP founding president Nandy Pacheco in an interview said the party needed candidates who “are coherent with the professed faith, have moral firmness, a capacity for educated judgment, professional competence and a passion for service to the common good.”

They must also be senior citizens. Four months before the filing of certificates of candidacy, Pacheco said Kapatiran hoped to recruit candidates from the seniors sector.

“Kapatiran is appealing to all Filipinos aged between 60 and 75 who are retired from government, private companies or international organizations and have been blessed by God with good health, talent and treasure to become members of Kapatiran and run for congressman, senator, president or vice president or for other local positions to serve and not to be served for one term only,” he said in the letter.

The letter will be sent to prospective candidates and will be posted on the party’s website and in various news outlets.

Asked if the AKP might find it difficult to recruit members and candidates because of its “platform-based” politics, Pacheco told the Inquirer, “All good things are difficult to do.”

In the letter, Pacheco speaks about the “stewardship of politics,” citing a passage in the Bible: “Much is required from the person to whom much has been given; much more is required from the person to whom much more has been given (Luke 12:48).”

Pacheco blamed the major traditional political parties for promoting personality-based candidates who contribute little or no socioeconomic change to society.

“During their campaign, they offer platforms but these are couched in general terms; there are no specifics,” he said.

In the letter, Pacheco used the analogy of a musical score titled “Common Good” which embodies specific legislation all aimed at enhancing the common good.

“What the Kapatiran Party needs are a conductor (the president) and members of the orchestra (congressmen and senators) who can play the musical score harmoniously and produce a perfect symphony. No discordant note will be allowed,” he said.–Jerome Aning