Elections in Many Directions

Good thing that I was able to make it past 6 am on my precinct. Yes, I am a person with disability. After 7, there were still many of us, other PWDs, senior citizens, pregnant women and PNP personal on the priority lane. On the past elections, I would just come at any time. I would be accommodated with priority; and in less than 30 minutes, I would be on my way out. But with these 5 to 7 am priority window, I stayed at the school longer than before.

Why do candidates still have watchers? Traditionally, watchers would watch when their candidate’s votes are tallied on the board in the classrooms; making sure that they get their votes and they are counted right. But with this automation, there are no more physical tallies on chalkboards. Anyone could ‘watch” online as votes are counted. So, what are watchers doing outside voting precincts?

Finally, this is progress. Gone are the days when counting of votes took days and weeks. Gratefully, there are no controversies with the counting machines. Finally, the Philippines has caught up with technology.

So, he still won despite his inadequacy and unimpressive response right after typhoon Kristine? What’s the matter with you all? Was that okay with you? Did you all forget? Maybe, in some areas he was a good government official. Among other winners, there were familiar last names with unfamiliar first names. There were entirely new names. In some towns, there were dynasties which met their ends with the coming of new leaders. There were victories which were expected because before and through the campaign, the candidates did not face significant opposition.

I’m glad that some candidates who struck me with modesty, honesty and commitment towards good governance, finally made it after failed attempts on previous elections. I am grateful that there are still good people like them in government. At least, when I get suffocated with the negative cloud that overcomes the national level, I could turn to little corners where good public service is being exercised.

It’s astounding, gratifying and rewarding how some candidates failed to win positions despite the massive effort of free 5 kilo packs of rice, free concerts, medical and dental missions, distribution of food packs and different sorts of gimmicks even before the campaign period, after typhoon Kristine and throughout the actual campaign period. Of course, with all those freebies, they would naturally gain popularity among common folk. There was even observable growing strong acceptance among common people of the disparagements made by the camp of this candidate against his opponent. Supporters received a couple of thousands each. Despite all these, the candidate who did all those lost. What a relief! How gratifying!

In other districts, some familiar names still found their way to victory. There were traditional names. There were a few new names. I could not still get over the idea that those who were inefficient in the crisis of typhoon Kristine still received large shares of votes. That was their test of efficiency in public service, which they failed. I guess, people still like them despite that. I hope they do better on the next time that another crisis or calamity comes along; but I doubt it.

There are candidates who displayed indecency, less than honorable ethics, propensity towards name calling and other sorts of negative behavior in social media. One candidate was also involved in what I would call “modified purchase of votes” with a couple of thousands for each individual. Well, what do you know, these type of candidates still won. I guess, many people have a different definition or measure of decency and ethics. Maybe, for many people, decency and ethics don’t matter anymore. Okay, let’s see what we’ll get on the next three years.

I like looking at colorful pictures. I might even set one of those as desktop background on my laptop monitor. Have you seen the partial unofficial list of senators-elect? Now, that’s a picture of reds, pinks, greens and colors that I don’t even know of. I would repeat what they have been saying on news reports. The results does not faithfully reflect what they have been showing on surveys. Survey experts say that voters changed their minds within the three weeks after the last survey. Really? I’m not an expert, but I doubt it. In most cases, we have held our choice of candidates for months now. Did millions of voters flipped their decisions within those three weeks? I just find that hard to believe. Maybe, there was something wrong with the surveys all along.

“For lack of guidance a nation falls,…” Proverbs 11:14