May 14, 2007. This is the very day I have been waiting for. The day when I can exercise my right again to VOTE! I was not able to vote last 2004 Elections because I was on my missionary duty in Tacloban City. All I can do then for the country is to clean the election’s wastes like the posters of the candidates posted on the walls on the different part of the city.
I woke up around 6:00AMfeeling somewhat lazy because I have to leave my house this early to be able to vote early and not rush into traffic and the heat of the temperature due to summer season. As I go out and vote, I was approached by my aunt and told me about the candidates that they think are qualified for their respective positions. It is in this view that I had reflected on my experiences as a media reporter having the chance to talk to some political figures both national and local positions. I have tackled in my former stories about a mayor who have not given his employee’s salary due to conflicts of interests, etc. Now I am here, standing before my aunt and listening to the same situation, that she wanted me to vote this particular guy because he is better than the other candidates. I just gave my aunt a smile because since I haven’t been living in my home province, most of the candidates are not familiar to me and so I left the local positions to my aunt’s decision. She then gave me a list of which to vote. But for the NATIONAL POSITIONS, I make my self clear that I would be the one to decide on this. As I look for my designated precinct, I was still accompanied by my aunt rehearsing on and on the people she wanted me to vote. Again, I gave her a smile. At last I found the precinct and now I am ready to vote.
I woke up around 6:00AMfeeling somewhat lazy because I have to leave my house this early to be able to vote early and not rush into traffic and the heat of the temperature due to summer season. As I go out and vote, I was approached by my aunt and told me about the candidates that they think are qualified for their respective positions. It is in this view that I had reflected on my experiences as a media reporter having the chance to talk to some political figures both national and local positions. I have tackled in my former stories about a mayor who have not given his employee’s salary due to conflicts of interests, etc. Now I am here, standing before my aunt and listening to the same situation, that she wanted me to vote this particular guy because he is better than the other candidates. I just gave my aunt a smile because since I haven’t been living in my home province, most of the candidates are not familiar to me and so I left the local positions to my aunt’s decision. She then gave me a list of which to vote. But for the NATIONAL POSITIONS, I make my self clear that I would be the one to decide on this. As I look for my designated precinct, I was still accompanied by my aunt rehearsing on and on the people she wanted me to vote. Again, I gave her a smile. At last I found the precinct and now I am ready to vote.
As I hold the election sheet and look for the nearest chair, I look around and I sat on the chair which I think is the same chair I had used during my elementary years in the school were the voting is being held, and even the same room I had spent my first grade. And so I am all set to fill out the blank page of the election sheet but there is somewhat a problem… At the precinct which I think should be free from harassment is now so crowded with flashing eyes of the poll watchers of the different parties of the elections. And so the supposed to be five minute writing/voting became like 10 minutes because I am avoiding this poll watcher who is like walking back and forth at my back I think making sure which I voted for? I hated to make people think I am so sensitive but I have to cover my paper as if I am in an examination room and filling out the blank sheet of the test paper. Truly, this is a test of courage, voting for the people whom you know can be able to help every member of the citizenry.
As I am voting, writing the names of which I have trusted, I was brought to the scene where television news brought to people the election’s whereabouts and the different happenings as the country reach the May 14 election.
The TV networks has made this day a very special day that they pull all their efforts and force for a wide range of election coverage! News here and abroad dominates the airwaves about people on their choices and even their struggles for free election. Sad to learn that the absentee-voting for the OFWs was not that successful; maybe because of the week-long voting period seem to be not enough to make the Filipinos abroad be excited on the election. A lot of factors have been laid as consideration of the failure.Ahhh…. Whew! At last, I am done. I have made myself proud for I have voted; I had exercised my right and the freedom to choose in some way. Though the election is generally for me a not so in-order process, still I am counting myself as one citizen who is helping the country bring changes to its history even in politics!
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