My list is in progress
(Campaign groups in Laguna, armed with the appropriate summer hat.)
The absentee voting has started on 10th of April and my list is still in progress.
The ongoing campaign for the 2010 elections in the Philippines is, so far, the best and worst alike. Since I was fetched from the airport, Joey Marquez’s posters surprised me as I reunited with the Metro Manila sunset. Wow, he is racing again to be the Mayor of Paranaque. And as we passed by the towns in Laguna, ER Ejercito’s (George Estregan III, the incumbent mayor of Pagsanjan) photos welcomed us. He is running for governor.
I also got numerous spam SMS, trying to discredit some presidentiables. How strange that the spamming stopped when I roamed on again my Philippine sim card. The campaign tactics had progressed (worsen) a lot, to the extent that it is going to haunt you even when you are asleep (i.e. campaign jingles, etc.).
[Taken on Palm Sunday. On the campaign posters are some of my school mates in highschool, running to be the town's Mayor (incumbent Vice-Mayor) and the other one as a Councilor re-electionist.]
What piqued me most was when I recognized familiar faces (i.e. people from my highschool) on the campaign materials in my hometown. It is not that surprising though since they have the “politico material” in them since student council days. If I were not an absentee voter, I will definitely vote for them, as I told my family and relatives. But I have been debated just by saying that. Since they have a different (but unanimous) choice. It is a relief that I am voting overseas. Otherwise, I will go for my candidates again, whom they do not prefer (like the first time I voted, in 1998). I love it when we exercise freedom in making choices, and it does not affect the blood and consanguinity relations.
I hope and pray that we are all mature now, that we are making our choices not just to win affiliation and/or friends, that we do not decide based on emotions. The truth is, the candidates are all making big (almost impossible) promises. There comes the moment that you have to select blindly, with the sole basis that because you believe in that person.
If you are in this part of the world, see you this weekend at the Philippine Embassy. I think by that time my list would be complete.
so you will be voting from there? that’s great.
Yes, Angeli. Casted my vote yesterday.
Hello Wits
My list is far from complete 
I’m very nervous about this election though. I pray that things will go smoothly. God bless our country.
I think that this is one of the riskier presidential elections ever.
i saw one of my elem classmates’ face in last election season’s campaign posters. kakagulat din pero OK lang. buti di siya sa municipality namen.
hehe…
this election, i ‘know’ who’s gonna win but i’m hoping a whole lot na mag-mature na nga tayo and manalo yung kailangan naten, hindi yung sikat lang.
At this point, it is very obvious who’s going to win. I didn’t vote for the “obvious winners”.
I get irritated kapag nakikita ko yung ads nila na all over the walls talaga. Dudumihan nila yung lansangan tapos pag nanalo na sila, hahayaan nalang nila? Hindi yun dapat. Saka diba bawal na yun?
I hope you pick the right person to lead the country.
The campaign period always creates a lot of jobs for several type of people. That’s why even if the trash out there is irritating most of the times, when I think of the groups who “only” occasionally benefit from it, it starts to look acceptable.
I think I did pick the right candidate.
naku dami kong nareceive na mga negative remarks sa text. gusto ko ng patulan. i have a former schoolmate who will be running again in our town but this time as Mayor. just dont know if he will win.
Will you vote for that schoolmate of yours?
We cast our votes last week here in Riyadh but I was shocked to see the ballot boxes were made of carton.
I wonder how it is in the Philippine Embassy there?
I casted my vote yesterday. I guess we have the same (carton type) ballot boxes.
i hate how dirty politics is in our country but nonetheless, i so appreciate that we’re still exercising democracy thru voting.
good luck and God bless you as you cast your votes soon before we do.
Thanks, Doc Gelo. I hope we have the same candidate. If not, I will campaign for him to you and your family. Haha.
good to hear you seem to be up to date with local politics and shall i assume you’re exercising your civic duty as well?
it’s a crazy fun time in the philippines right now. sometimes i wish i was there to witness all these from the sidelines.
I also thought of coinciding my vacation with the elections. Sabi ko nga sa pinsan ko, sana May na lang yung wedding nila (the main reason I went home recently).
decisions, decisions. i despise any dirty political tactics, but i’m hoping the Philippines will get it right this time.
We could only hope and pray for better things to happen.
that’s good that you are actually making a list. some people decide usually just when they already have the ballots in hand. Time is crucial now, and I am glad some people like you take time to deliberate.
Thanks, Mordsith. It’s not everyday that we cast votes, so I want to give my best in it. Even if it’s actually ONE vote that’s coming from me. Whether there’ll be cheating afterwards, that’s beyond my control.
I hope the election’s going to be at least 50% clean.
aren’t we all getting more and more cynical about our political situation here in pinas? don’t you think its time to look things in a different way? i know, i know its tiring to hear our candidates mudslinging each other and all we want is to end our plight.
nakakaawa na rin kasi mga politiko at times, they really want a change in this country pero tayo mismong mga tao nag nagsasabing WALA nang pagbabago. kung yun lang thinking natin, better not vote at all.
its noble of you sir/mam to exercise your right. i wish all of the filipinos abroad will do the same. and our right doesnt end in just casting our votes. we NEED to help our public officials realize these dreams. whether we voted for them or not.
if we want our bet to win–make your OWN voluntary move to campaign him!
I think it’s human to become cynical at times because of the system. But the good thing is that people don’t lose hope and that there are candidates who still have honest intention to lead. Now, if only we’re looking at the same vision, it’s easy just like that.
All of us won’t have the same candidates. But whoever would win, I will support him.
Thanks for dropping by.
It’s great that you’re practicing your right to vote even though you’re far away.
Honestly, there was a time I became hesitant to register for the absentee voting, for some reasons. Then since I am a registered voter, for a time I thought I’ll just pass on my chance. But then I returned to my senses and thought that one vote matters a lot.
campaigning has taking on a different level this time. pati sms, facebook, whatever, have been taken over!
ako wala pa list, kahit isang ivovote,, la pa…
I’d be more than willing to share my list with you and you may copy it anytime. Hahaha. Just kidding. Don’t worry, you still have enough time.
I strongly agree with you (I hope and pray that we are all mature now, that we are making our choices not just to win affiliation and/or friends, that we do not decide based on emotions)…
I wonder who you’ll vote for as governor (in Laguna).
I’m still uncertain whether to vote for the one who have been there , done that and more (Lina) or a younger one and a fellow Calambeño who may have something new to offer (Hernandez)
balak ko rin magbakasyon ngayon May sana maaprubahan!
marami kasing pwedeng ikwento pag dating ng eleksyon!…isa na ang tawanan nalang daw ang problema.
Sana naapproved na yung leave request mo by this time. Colorful ang election sa Pilipinas.
i am curious about absentee voting. what if a person votes abroad and decides to come home on election day, will he still be able to cast a second vote here if he desires? hmmm… LOL on the jingles, i have nightmares about them too.
No casting of second vote. Just the same, the voter will only be allowed to vote in the precint (country) that he or she is registered. Of course, the assumption is that there was no double registration.
I’m not a dual citizen so I can’t vote. It would be interesting to do so though.
Were you able to vote in the Philippines, even for once? The first time I did was in 1998. Second time was here, yesterday.
I lost my Philippine citizenship when i became a US citizen when I was a teenager, so I never got to vote in Pinas. They didn’t have dual citizenship then.
Philippine elections are quite unique with all that fiesta-like atmosphere bombarding radio, television, print media, SMS and campaign sorties. The US pales in comparison!
i’m praying for all of those who are voting. eventhough i’m not a voter, i’m hoping for a peaceful and fair elections.
good luck to you!
This election scares and excites me.
And yes, I guess I’ve to agree with http://subterfugeonline.blogspot.com/. Botante ang may sala, hindi ang mga pulitiko. Our voting taste should change in order for them to change, too.
Sana sa eleksyong ito, maging mas matalino ang mga botante.