Doing My Part of Being a Filipino

Last May 10, 2010 marked a big day for the Filipinos. It was National Elections 2010. It was also the first automated election of the country. That's why even though I had slept late the night before, I still make it a point to wake up early and take part of me being a Filipino.

I am expecting a 'no queue' election day for it was automated. Last elections, I did not queue to cast my vote. Upon arriving at our precinct, I immediately got my ballot, cast my vote, and drop it in the boxes to have it counted. But, to my surprise, here is what welcomed me:



A considerable number of voters looking for their names on the list and falling in line (which I never knew where it starts and ends). But well, these huge crowd won't hinder me of casting my vote. So, after verifying our names, we fall in line.

It ain't obvious who I voted for, right?

But since my mother belongs to the senior citizens group already, they were prioritized (me included for I have to assist her in shading her ballot). And worry not, I do respect my mother's choice. I shaded the names that appeared on her list (not mine).

As I put on my ballot to the PCOS machine, I am expecting for a receipt of sort (the least I expected) showing me the names of the candidates that I had voted for. But the volunteer told me that a receipt will be printed after all the votes had been inserted on the machine. I hesitated and told her, 'How am I suppose to know that the machine really counted the persons I had voted for?'. She just assured me that they had tested the machine prior to the election.

I took a deep breath and thought of the controversies before the big day. There's nothing I can do but to wait for the result of the elections and see if I'll be satisfied or not. Nonetheless, I am proud to take part and perform one of my major duties as a FILIPINO.



With the end result of the automated election, let me say this (even if I have to eat my words back then):

Congratulations COMELEC, teachers, volunteers, candidates, and most of all FILIPINOS for [so far] a successful and clean ELECTIONS!