| Monday was quite a start of the week, but with the National Elections in the Philippines had build-up to this since the majority of the candidates were pushing their candidacy by way of rallies around the country. Particularly, in the major cities of Metro Manila where people in droves campaigned for their presidential candidate.
It was very much an intense weekend, and this Election Day was definitely for the books if you’re looking for something not done in other countries. Filipinos take their voting to the next level and it’s not the way you’ve seen 12 years ago. Just anyone who is a registered voter for this country, this time I get to experience and observe. |
You can define passion, but never mix it up the intensity at the cost of others. That happened the past weekend, and election time is here things have been expected to wind down in the afternoon. But I was definitely wrong when people arrive in droves showing up to stand in line to vote for their candidates.
Back then it used to be held in a covered gym (where I voted 12 years ago), but since they demolished it and turn it into a ‘Community Centre’ it was relocated to the local Elementary and High School buildings in the Makati City area.
Both locations has been crowded since lunch time, and it was intense that the calm and silent election became more like a Filipino-style Fiesta, where street vendors started selling food and drinks. Not to forget, there were also people soliciting stuff.
Stood in a Very Long Line
I arrived past 2:30 PM (Manila Time) and the long lines have been in a zigzag kind of setup, where the very long line stretched past the school spilling through Mayapis Street, which was for someone not from this country would say that’s quite a sight.
From the long lines I was patiently observed the people who were lining up. There were families, groupies, and people who have been known in these parts. There are also individuals that don’t usually go to this area. Personally, this was the second time I’ve been in this school to vote just can’t recall that year after I got back here.
You can see also Senior Citizens, parents with small children, and PWDs that’s been carted from their wheelchairs. It was not entirely wild, but the atmosphere is not that you’re going to vote for the national elections.
People and Distractions
I’ve seen how it used to be decent, but this was quite the opposite in the last time I went to vote. There were people eating in the line, and there are also the ones who packed their snacks that included the lawn folding chairs. There were also individuals glued to their mobile phones to get entertained while there others who brought in their handheld gaming consoles.
Some don’t even have their headphones as they entertain themselves not being mindful about the others around them. It is the calmer version of how people in the Makati CBD over the weekend went wild and absolutely bonkers.
Arriving on a Delay
It took me two hours to get inside the school where everyone that got their voting coupons that directed them to this area. I got inside just to see how not to try being disappointed that there’s another line to be called before you can actually vote. It was definitely intense for some who have been waiting.
A volunteer saw my coupon and told me to sit with the Senior Citizens, but I already know which floor and room to go. I couldn’t wait any longer just to be called after 5 minutes I went straight to those calling out the room numbers. Fortunately, the staff calling the numbers didn’t need to ask me to wait and I preceded to the third level.
By time I got there, the room was not packed and people outside the corridors in other rooms are the ones still waiting for their turn to vote. It only took me 15-20 minutes to cast my vote. I really have taken my time unlike the previous years.
Honestly, I’m not ‘in tune’ with who’s who of candidates. I’m not going to let a ‘word of mouth’ or ‘who’s better’ let the best of me. I know who ‘Not to Vote’ for this city because you need to give the chance to others to see if they can better govern than the previous elected that has been quite a family legacy.
Based on Observations
After casting my votes and have seen what I noticed about the things that’s been happening in a local election. My take on this is for what the organizers and people should do the next election happens:
- Senior Citizens & PWDs should be granted ‘mail-in’ votes instead of being physically present there. It is a case-to-case basis for Senior Citizens, but for those who can’t walk or wheelchair bound, they should be granted that option.
- Mediacal, Tradees, & Retail should be also granted ‘mail-in’ vote options as not everyone can vote in the morning as some of them won’t be able to vote after work. It is important that everyone should be given the chance to vote.
- Don’t bring small children on Election Day, surely parents can leave their little ones to a relative or family member who can vote in the afternoon or they can plan to schedule and not go there together like it’s a picnic party.
Unfortunately, ‘mail-in votes’ or ‘Absentee Voter’ is only given access to Media who are reporting for the elections. But the COMELEC (organizers of the election) should give everyone the opportunity to vote for those who won’t be able to because they’re unable to walk or those PWDs.
Election Day is not a picnic party, but not all Filipinos have the patience or discipline to stand in line and be still. The ones in front definitely did stop at every street vendor either chugging a juice or devouring every street food unimaginable.
Sure, everyone have their thing but the part of being not mindful with others while you turn up the volume of your device is truly wanting to be noticed. It was really intense and I’m just glad this thing is behind me, and whoever the elected candidate as for the Filipinos hope to see a better country.
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