Philippine Elections 2010

The festive mood outside our precinct

Being in Manila for the first time during elections since I turned 18 (in 2004, I lived in Prague, and in 2007, I lived in Leeds), I've really been keen to vote this time. After all, it seems that this year, a new President would make a lot of difference, hopefully positive ones.

After queuing for almost a day just to register last year, I was in no mood to lose my chance and be disenfranchised. Last 10 May, my family leisurely went to the voting precinct past 2 in the afternoon. More than a week prior, I already noticed my name missing from COMELEC's online precinct finder. Whatever. I am gonna go and vote.

And when I got to the designated elementary school, a young PPCRV volunteer directed me to the wrong floor (for my precinct) even if I knew already based on the boards outside. She did not check my name, just my precinct # on the stub. Then turns out, my name's not on the voter's list outside the classrooms, the masterlist next to the PICOS machines, the principal's masterlist and the ppcrv computers.

As I absolutely wanted to vote, I went to COMELEC and found out they misspelled my name and placed me in a different barangay. After much checking, somebody had to write the precinct chairman in my correct barangay and precinct to allow me to vote. So despite the hassle, I happily exercised my right to suffrage. Who knows if I will still be able to vote come the next elections?

At the time of writing, Noynoy Aquino has lead the tally with former President Estrada in second place for the top post of the land. Although I did not vote for Noynoy (I voted for Gordon, whom I believe has much more to show for in terms of demonstrated capacity and political will), my vice presidential bet is leading the race despite the controversy as the Liberal bet Mar Roxas has not conceded yet. I believe in liberal ideas but in the Philippines, theory, is certainly far from practice.

It's the second time we're having an Aquino for a president. We've had a Macapagal twice as Commander in Chief too. And although Estrada might not get a second chance, his family is well in place politically. With our entertaining array of top elected senators, and with GMA, officially proclaimed as congresswoman in Pampanga, what will happen to our country? Education, governance, political will? Whatever!

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sorry for the orange text in the middle. For some reason, despite changing the color, it stays the same - orange.