Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2016 Halalan Debate Grace Poe Analysis
2016 Halalan Debate Grace Poe Analysis
2016 Halalan Debate Grace Poe Analysis
2018-68611
Evaluating Political Rhetoric
The 2016 Philippine Presidential Debate was one of highlights of the election campaign
of those vying for the highest seat of power in the country. Administered by the Commission on
Elections with assistance from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the debate offered
an avenue for the voting populace to get to know their candidates. Our focus for this paper would
be then presidential hopeful Grace Poe, her closing remarks, and how she applied strategies used
in political rhetoric.
To win the hearts and minds of the Filipino masses, these candidates must be able to
convince these voters that they are worthy of their vote and that they are credible. This concept
of credibility is what was greatly emphasized by Aristotle with the concept of ethos. In order to
attain and maintain this level of credibility, Condor et al. (2013) posed four strategies that could
be used in political rhetoric.
The one of these strategies is taking or avoiding sides where political communicators
associate themselves with specific groups during the speech. Poe does this in her speech by
subscribing to the women, more specifically mothers. “Bilang isang nanay, matitiis mo ba na
malaman na milyun-milyong mga bata pa rin ang hindi makakain sa ating bansa?”. Here we see
that Poe associates herself with motherhood and the traits that come along with it, such as child-
rearing and how mothers usually prepare food for the household. This allows her to disassociate
with the concept that she is elite, framing her to be simply a mother.
Another strategy is the explicit appeals to common in-group message where you find a
common thing about your diverse audience and run with it. Poe does this by regrouping the
audience as Filipinos. Puti ka man, pula, dilaw o kung anumang kulay. Pagkatapos ng halalan,
tayo ay iisa. Pilipinong nagmamahal sa bansa. Here she says to disregard previous affiliations
that are concerned with the election and the political candidates for after the elections we are all
Filipinos who care for their country. Implying the she too cares for the Philippines and that is
why you should vote for her.
The third strategy would be a political rhetors construction of an aspirational identity.
, bagong bayan, bagong pag-asa at bagong Pilipinas kung saan ang bawat bata sa public
elementary school ay puwedeng kumain ng libreng pananghalian, na puwedeng makatapos ang
anak ng mahihirap, na ang ating magsasaka ay magkakaroon ng libreng irigasiyon, na maraming
magkakagustong mamuhunan sa ating bansa sapagkat lalabanan natin ang kurapsyon,
Of these four, the strategy used most effectively by Poe for me would be her use of
constructing aspirational identities.
While reviewing her speech, it became apparent how much work and careful calculation
goes into speeches as they’re not only mean to be heard, but to be understood (and in this case to
persuade as well). With this in mind, I think I’d try to take my time when writing my speeches.