My 2010 Election Thoughts

          This election (so far) is the most memorable for me as I take part in the Philippine’s first automated election. Thanks to Sen. Gordon for the Election Automation Law, we looked civilized citizens of the world. ^,^

The Election Process

Thanks to automation, the election results would be available more quickly BUT thanks to the 1 PCOS machine to 1000 voters ratio, it took us 3 hours to vote - 3 hours to wait for our turn to shade the ballot and accomplish other forms for 2 minutes, which would result to 6 years of new Philippine government.

          I hope next election, the ratio would be at most 1:500 para naman  1-1/2 hr na lang kami pipila and hindi na kami masyado magagastusan sa pagbili ng kung ano-anong makakain while in line. 

          The thought that the voter gets to feed his/her ballot to the PCOS machine got me so excited, to the point that I dreamt about it – I immediately fed my ballot after shading my president & VP! kawawa naman gov & mayor.

The Voters

          The long wait in line exposed the different kinds of people we are. Nakakainis pero andami pa ring walang discipline - “makapal ang mukha” na sumingit sa pila. There were people who were honest enough na hindi sumingit dahil lang may kakilala - great people! But then, there were those “not so honorable” people who would be given special treatment. haiz! So happy to see old faces din - my elementary teachers, some classmates, and of course my neighbors!

          I’m also proud that our precincts cared for the elderly, pregnant, and disabled; we had an “express lane” for them.

The Candidates

          Compared to the 2004 election (my first one), I had choices for presidency. Among these presidentia-boys - Mama’s Boy, Little Boy, Chick Boy, AmBoy, Amazing Boy, Pretty Boy, Poor Boy, Good Boy, and Feeling Boy - I honestly feel that there’s only one candidate that I was really bothered if elected president. It was like choosing which one is the best and not just the lesser evil.

          This is also the election that I attended a presidential forum. A political forum that made me cry. I got teary-eyed, but my heart was flooded. His statements aroused my desperation to see a new Philippines where people don’t beg and ask for help (the poverty mentality), but people who would stand with dignity and pride as a Filipino.

The Election Coverage

ABS and GMA wowed me. Need not ask why - the sets and the gimmicks were great! HI-TECH! But in how they covered the campaign, it didn’t surprise me. Their “biased” coverage was expected - more exposure for the big names, less exposure for the rest. It’s okay. I don’t think there are a lot to cover if the candidate does not have a big concert-like meeting de avance full of celebrities. 

          And by the way, we also covered my youngest sister’s first time to vote. We had a family pic showing our indelibly inked index fingers while proudly wearing red under the 1PM heat of the sun (just imagine). Unfortunately, i deleted my pictures’ folder in my SD card. Of course I cried! haha!

The Election Results

          Man, that’s really fast! New local officials were proclaimed within 48 hours. No more maze-like blackboards or whiteboards lined up in gymnasiums. I can access the internet from time to time to see updated results. WOW! I just hope I can really trust the integrity of these results.

The New Government

I got disappointed with the top 5 senators (except for Defensor), moreso, with the top 2 presidentiable. What kind of voters do we have?!?! It broke my heart that the Filipinos seem to have forgotten EDSA 1 & EDSA 2.

Noynoy is leading the presidential race, no doubt he’s gonna be the next president. But I have other doubts. Does he have the Filipinos’ mandate even his votes were less than 50%? He might be a clean slate, but he hasn’t proven anything yet. People might have liked him because of Ninoy & Cory. Without the proven track record, I hope he would have servant-hearted people to advise him. I’ve mentioned once that I think I’m more afraid of him winning the presidency than if it is Villar. The reason - i fear another doll would be erected along EDSA, just like the one in Ortigas.          

I pray that we Filipinos would not just rely on the one sitting in Malacañan. It’s a collective effort, and so let’s help build this nation. We might have supported different presidentiables, but once the new officials are proclaimed, the bible tells us…

          ¹Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. ²So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. (Romans 13:1-2,NLT)

¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4,NIV)

          God Bless the Philippines!