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It's Good Election'07 is Over! (II)

It was almost eight o’clock in the morning when we finished taking our breakfast. We had to be in the polling precinct earlier to avoid the crowd of voters. So I took on my wheels with my wife and proceed driving towards Mayamot Public School where we are one of the tens of thousand registered voters in the area.

Mayamot Public School is just less than a kilometer from where we left at Kingsville Court. It is the only public school in this barangay that serves as polling place during election periods. With an area of barely a hectare, it accommodates about ten medium sized two-storey school buildings of twelve classrooms each. There are also several single storey buildings with four classrooms each. Each classroom is used as a polling precinct. Hence, this public school is a host of more than a hundred precincts for all registered voters in the area. With an average of about two hundred voters per precinct one could imagine the horde of people going into that place from 7:00AM up to 3:00PM.

At 8:15AM we were now driving along the stretch of Sumulong Highway where Mayamot Public School is located. But then, before we crossed the intersection of Marcos Highway near Masinag Public Market vehicles were already piling up a long line waiting for the traffic signal to reverse to green. There was a hell of a bumper-to-bumper traffic waiting to take turn crossing the Marcos Highway intersection. It took us four stops or about twenty minutes before we were able to cross that intersection.

I decided to park my car at the Masinag Public Market parking lot. Heavy traffic near the polling place could be just as terrible and would not help us avoid the heat outside. I was quiet lucky for having one slot left to park. When we were already outside the car we felt the air begun to increase in degrees for it was about 8:35 in the morning. I was concerned with my wife’s ailment. Could she be able to manage to brave the heat of the sun up to the polling precinct?

We took a passenger jeep heading for Marikina. Its regular route passes along Mayamot Public School that is located less than a hundred meters from Masinag Public Market. While on board the passenger jeep several campaign errands of the candidates were distributing sample ballots to each of the passengers inside. We tried to have the last glimpse of candidates in the lists. In reality, we totally don’t have any idea of the candidates vying for local elective posts from Municipal Mayor down to the Municipal Councilors! We really don’t know who these candidates are! And now we were there heading ourselves towards the polling precinct with almost nothing in our minds. What a petty concern in us on who would be the next and the most deserving officials to take the stewardship of the different local posts or offices!

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It's Good Election'07 is Over!

It was a good day indeed having out of the election precincts with my wife before lunchtime. That was Monday, May 14, 2007 at 10:30 in the morning.

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As early at 6:30 in the morning I was already out of my bed to face the new day after having done my morning rituals. My first priority for that day was to cast my ballot. My wife and I planned this task in that evening while in bed before we went to sleep. When I went out of my room that morning my wife was still lying half awake (not naked please). I presumed she was not interested to vote this time not only because she knew nothing about the candidates with good credentials but also because of the hassles in looking for the precinct where we are assigned. Besides, the hot air outside at 28C and the sweating crowd of voters were so discouraging that one has to have a good patience in maneuvering oneself moving around that crowded place looking for one's precinct. We had been experiencing this kind of a situation during the previous elections that my wife is again sighed off because of her heart ailment (an angioplasty patient 3 yrs. ago).

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I am so thankful of our caring housemaid, Maricel who always wakes up earlier than I. I saw the table now all ready for breakfast that morning. It was already almost seven when I looked at the wall clock. I went back to my room to wake my wife up but then she was already out of bed and did her morning ritual too inside the master's T&B. I took turn changing my clothes, a sports T-shirt, a pair of short pants, and a pair of cheap rubber shoes. When I was almost finish grooming myself my wife came out of the bathroom. "Matrapik ngayon at mahirap magparking, dadalhin ba natin ang sasakyan?", she asked. Oh my God, I was at least assured that my wife would now go with me to the polling precinct to cast her vote also. At least her vote could now be counted!

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We took our breakfast together while watching the Poll Watch programs in local TV Networks. It was already 7:30 AM. Election hot spots were thoroughly covered in the news. Nothing violent was covered and it meant quite a relief compared with the past elections. Situations in several polling precincts were also flashed in their programs. Wow, voting had already started in most of the precincts covered. However there were precincts still closed because election paraphernalia were still nowhere in the area. But TV viewers could see voters already piling in line for the seasonal exercise (once in every four sumners?). What an exercise! The coverage that impressed me most was how GMA voted in Lubao, San Fernando, Pampanga. I just couldn't imagine what time GMA woke up in Malacanang that morning that she could be in her polling precinct on the dot, 8:00AM! Or was she sleepless that night thinking about how her candidates could brace well strong enough to win in the election? Or did she had the thought of grabbing her cell phone later and say, "Hello Ben!"

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What's more interesting in the news was when I saw GMA falling in line with the other voters waiting for her turn. At least she portrays a good example of a learner from the teachings of her own daughter Loli who once reprimanded a retirable custom official at NAIA for giving a favor to a foreigner who wanted to avoid the queue. It's good for GMA to practice modestly our Filipino culture as well as obey the Philippine laws. Otherwise, she will be out without a retirement pay also.

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(to be continued soon)

ELECTIONS 1898-2007

Again many political 'wannabees' are now trying to hoop around many different places in our country. They are seemingly determined in extracting no honeys this time but votes from their constituents that serve as their life blood in building and strengthening their career in politics. A positive vote would mean their hope to find their seat in an elective office that promises meager salary but so glamoured with exorbitant perks and power that be. "Believe me not him!", as they rant and sling mires even killing each other. But they seem to be unified and harmonious in chanting their rhetoric's, to serve for the best interest of the public. In the guise of their commitment for public service, they spend so much money for their campaign by giving some dole outs to voters in exchange of the most needed votes in their favor. As they move around to places within their area, they choose to be blinded with the situations of the roads they pass along the way. Lubak dito, doon...! Is this public service or just the usual outcome of the Department of Public Works? Why don't they just spend their money instead in repairing all these damaged streets for their constituents to enjoy travels to and from their homes? Think of this simple scenario my dear voters?

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Political 'wannabees' during the campaign period flit and rush to places under the sweltering heat of the sun to entice the voters with smiles and handshakes. Others show their talents 'kuno' in dancing and singing. They look like flitting butterflies and stinging bees. May be they think that what is several days of campaign sacrifices when it means the crowning glory of their success for an elective office! The fact is, they are the artificial and masking individuals trying to level themselves with the masses just to gain some voters' sympathy. However, when they are already in their office they think no more of the people who voted for them and eventually send them to their elective seat in the government. All their focus now when elected (seemingly the busiest time for them) is how to get back all those money spent during their campaign and more so in enriching themselves by extracting no pure honey now but poor peoples money thru 'kick backs'. And of course giving back by means of business protections or appointive government positions, the 'utang na loob' to several padrenos who in one way or another help them financially in sponsoring their candidacy. The saddest tale of all these usual 'parang normal' practices is that our government ends up running the system ineffectively because political appointees without any brains to run the office efficiently are abound. They do nothing in their office except keeping themselves occupied in collecting protection money and 'cuts' by engaging anomalous deals with big-time treacherous businessmen who now tend to squeeze consumers hard earned money to buy their products at higher prices. And who are these consumers, are they not the impoverished masses?

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On the other hand, most of our elected lawmakers are not that intelligent enough in weighing things down in enacting laws for the land to benefit the whole citizenry, not only for the privileged few. Regrettably, they keep on making and amending laws tailored to self serving interest. The will to serve the masses they advocated in their campaign is now placed in the sideline and shelved to forgetfulness. They would not even remember when was the last time Juan de la Cruz took his meal. They would not even care to think about what and how many times an ordinary Filipino eats in a day. Do we call it 'deadma'? Most of them choose to be crooks pocketing the large portion of the peoples money when they collect their salaries and allocations. And of course, they are always aware of hidden list of the 'cuts' they expect from trickerous contractors that they poke to manipulate many overpriced government contracts. Their allocations are supposedly spent for viable projects within their area to benefit their constituents. However, because of the shameless manipulations of these corrupt officials government projects always end up with substandard quality. And what you see around now is nothing but damaged roads, lack of school buildings and classrooms, poorly trained teachers, hungry pupils, etc.? All these problems are left behind and unattended in their agenda because they keep themselves busy getting back their campaign money and enriching themselves in office. Many treacherous politicians speak in public like godly apostles of wisdom but behind the scene they wear in secret that satanic smile in irony. And silently they despicably smile and quip, "Mga bugok kayong lahat, bakit ibinuto ninyo ako. Kayo rin ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng mga ito!"

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You may not be able to read this message before May 14, 2007 but I hope this will serve as a wake up call for the voting public to learn more the way how to choose a leader, though he or she may be the littlest of all evils. We can do great things by using the power of one vote. One vote is your vote. One vote for a better country where we live. Mabuhay ang mga patay para bumuto ngayong darating na eleksyon!

THE BARRACUDAS OF BOHOL

These pictures were taken by my friend from New York City during his world tour. He was glad to arrive here in our country at my invitation though I was not able to be with him during his tour around the islands of the Philippines because of my present job in Manila. He is an amputee now using prostheses for both his legs. One wonders how he managed himself going around the world alone without any assistant. A daring person as he is enables him to wander some parts of the island of Bohol at which he enjoyed most at the beach fronts of Panglao. As an avid legless scuba diver he was able to snap photos of marine lives in the island including the school of barracudas and the tiny colorful shrimps.

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My thoughts run wild with mix enthusiasm realizing that my friend coming from the other side of the globe is way ahead of me (being a Boholano) in exploring the beauties of Bohol underwater. Now I am often haunted with my wild dream that one day I have to explore it any way. Nevertheless, I am so proud of being a Boholano ever since I carried the banner of being one in my tongue and character. More so, I am proud of what my native province is becoming now. Thanks to the good Boholano stewards for making this once sleepy kitty into such a wonderful place.

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He tried to send me these pictures via email and expressed a message of sentiment about why we Filipinos are falling short of our noble ambition of uniting the country for good. He believes the Philippine Island is really the pearl of the orient seas with abounding resources including the marine lives. "Why can't Filipinos do what the barracudas are doing? United as they are, they take the pride by freely moving around and enjoying the cool water of the vast seas as one group.” he quipped. No wonder Boholanos are the barracudas of the land. They freely wander all around the globe seeking what they call 'the greener pastures'.

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Sometimes we must try learning how to compare our behavior as humans with those lowly living creatures. We might wonder sometimes, are they doing better than we do? Think of it over my friend! Don't get offended by what you are. Times are still abounding for us to change! When it is for the better, then expect a better country where we live.

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For more information about the province please follow the link provided

http://www.bohol-island.com/

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Note: Leo Falk's childhood dream of circumnavigating the world like Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan is for him a dream come true. Unlike VDG with his galleon, Leo travelled around the world legless without any army.