LATE BLOOMING VOTER

I am a late bloomer—in all aspects of my life, hehe. And on May 10, 2010 at the age of 30, I finally practice MY RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE!

I know it took me 12 years to realize that I need to make an active stance on what I want for my country. There is no room for passivity in today’s times. I want our country to be delivered from poverty, corruption and mediocrity. And we need better leaders for that. After a careful researching, reading and thinking, I have decided on whom to vote for and I know I am going GREEN.

May 10, 2010…..

My sister-in-law was tasked to be a poll watcher in her district so I was left to tag along my 5 year old nephew while I vote. Since it’s my first time to vote, I am not quite familiar the where and how and what to do in my voting precinct. I was jubilant that I was indeed registered. Woohoo! The assisting volunteer listed my voter’s number though I was quite disappointed that he was too lazy and not helpful when I wanted to know where I am going to line up to vote. My voting precinct is in a public elementary school and it was situated in rooms with the gym in the middle. There were crowds of people, several vendors with their own tables & chairs for their customers, and never-ending lines of people. Several times I lined up in the wrong line and several times I went back to the assistance volunteer to ask for assistance but he was just no help at all.  Finally after asking several people, I found my line. It was blazing hot but it warms my heart to see these Ilonggos braving the summer heat just to have a voice for the future of our country.

However, an hour has past standing in a line that haven’t move at all under the scorching sun, the complaining and grumbling started. Some people would go between some people who had been lining up for hours. And it is taking forever to reach the room where we are going to vote. My 5 year old mature-for-his-age nephew bear the heat and waiting without any complain so I awarded him with a sandwich and a Mountain Dew,hehe.

 To entertain myself with the waiting, I picked out some peoples comments with lining up…. (Tnx to A.D. for the English translations, hehe)

“Ay ambot, matakan ko, mapuli na lang ko” (If this is taking too long, I’m  going home)

“Kainit gd ah. Daw impyerno ang kalibotan”. (It’s too hot. It feels like hell here)

“Ngaa kadugay gid niya subong haw? Tung-una sang manual counting it takes 1 hour lang, now nga PCOS machine ginagamit, gakalab-utan ta ni 3 kaoras ba.” (How come this is taking so long? Before when we use manual counting, it takes 1 hour now that we use PCOS machine, its taking us 3 hours)

“Tani senior citizen man ta para mauna kita.” (I wish we are senior citizen so we can be the 1^st in line)

“Uy, damu ya gasal-ot sa linya hu amu na wala nagahulag linya ta. Amu na wala gauswag ang pilipinas kay sa mga batasan sang mga tawo”. (Hey, there are people going in between the lines. That’s the reason why our country does progress because of the mentality of the people)

“Hala, malunch break pa sila ya kuno ang mga pollwatchers. Hoy, hindi na kamo maglunch break. Sacripisyo lang kamu anay para sa pilipinas. Pareho man ta gutom. At least kamu gani maysweldo ya, kami wala.”  (What?!! The pollwatchers are going on lunch break. Hey, don’t go on a lunch break. Sacrifice even just for a day for your country. We all are hungry too. At least you are paid, we are not paid at all.)

“Lantawa na bala ang babaye. Kilala ko na siya sang highschool. Nanu na naitsura ya man. Daw baboy na itsura ya.) (Look at her. I know her from high school. She looks like a pig now.”)

*I hope the last statement wasn’t directed to me, hehe

So after 2 and a half hours of standing, waiting and listening to the impatient clamors of my covoters, we were in!!!

And so I thought… When we reached the door and they announced that at 12:00 noon, they’ll close the precinct for lunch. The people frantically push themselves to get into the room. Now there is no distinct line, who’s first, who’s second. Maybe Guy # 5 was right in saying that that is why we are not a progressive country because we all need a constructive spanking on the butt to realize that we need DISCIPLINE. We don’t need to be spoon-fed and spoiled and to indulge ourselves self(country)-pity. We act like we have nothing but in reality we are rich in natural resources, talent and innovative ideas. So sad..

      Finally, I was ready to vote……. Weeee! Signature, Shaded, Thumb Mark, Insert Ballot…. Yes!! Congratulations blink the PCOS machine.

 May 15, 2010

Yes. My presidential bet didn’t win and conceded to the leading front runner, son of the late President Cory Aquino, Senator Noynoy Aquino. I am a bit sad but I congratulate the yellow army. I’m not yet convinced. You still have a lot to prove Noynoy… I hope you won’t let us down.