This is the grassroots level of democracy and fair an election should be, ideally. Popular right of suffrage was invented by the Americans and was propagated throughout the world after the Second World War. This idea was given a class room trial at the time of the Thomasites (a term for the American teachers that came into the Philippines on-board the U.S.S. Thomas). Voting for the class officers, a class of 40 pupils, after canvassing, to the shock of the Americans, found out that a total of 53 pupils have voted. Was it a deficiency in mathematics? Beats me, better ask someone else then. Though democracy came early in our shores, electioneering and rigging comes just shortly behind.
Far from being an American and similarly so as being fair, I admit that, I participated in this “barangay” election period, as biased as I can be in favor of my ex-choir friend more so when I found out that he was running for a seat in the barangay council.
Going on, I never met him when I was on a 5-week “pearl of the orient” vacation last October 2007 not until just hours after the elections. When we did, it was kinda’ arguing about the democratic contest that he has just lost. We invited him to join us in a post-election drinking spree (I drink occasionally, and this is an occasion. Hehehe!!!). Although, during the campaign period, there was an alcohol ban, (drinking is not allowed. Well, when you are caught ofcourse. He3!!!) We nevertheless have done what all devotees of the Oktoberfest would do, DRINK & be merry!!!
I remembered the time when I were in college and ran for Grad Class Vice-Preisdent. The campaign period was rather good for me, until it was finally over. The “over” part was hard to accept. I was in the losing end of the election story. It did not fare very well to my ego. So I was accusing the other side of all conceivable things to justify their win. Rubbish. It was a landslide, it was decisive, and it was a knockout. It was uncontestable. Then ego turned to grief. Most of my running-mates cried. I did not cry with them, really. I was gazing up the sky, wondered what had had happened. There we were, on our backs on weary and weathered limestone, wallowing in despair on top of the battlements of old intramuros, looking for signs in the night, that maybe, all of these talk of defeat was just a really bad dream.
I understand my friends’ loss. I really do. I can relate with the sucker that he is now. Maybe it’s because of the sucker who I really have been. So when we were giving all his lamentations to us half-drunks, we just took it and gave encouragements and expressions of support to our recently defeated/injured friend. Sigh! That’s life.
Well, back into 2007, the winners of the barangay elections were the incumbent. And, as the gossip from the grapevine suggests (from inside the FX, from the wet market shoppers, vendors and from your regular corner bums), a PhP 1,000.00 reward was offered for those who voted for favored candidates (?). Although no legal protest were filed in Court by the aggrieved parties, the bribery issues was generally accepted as truth by the population. So, nothing could be done according to the eyes of the Law. But as far as I am concerned, the maiden Law became a whore of the highest bidder. Darn….
“The people deserve its government”. There are many things to say about his, but I will abstain, for now.
If money is the root if all evil, also, money is a requirement for election victory. money is the root of all evil. Could it be deducted then, that election victory is the root of all evil?
So, the night ended in awful sorrow for our friends’ loss. But hey, let us just account what had had happened, learn the lesson in it. And then, just move on. In the end, it is a question if you are still the man you still are and you're the man you hope to be? After this struggle, I hope you held you’re balls well. It is all that you have when you face your Creator.
As for me, we hope you do your best in life and in all jovial favor I say, let us drink to that!!!!!
Far from being an American and similarly so as being fair, I admit that, I participated in this “barangay” election period, as biased as I can be in favor of my ex-choir friend more so when I found out that he was running for a seat in the barangay council.
Going on, I never met him when I was on a 5-week “pearl of the orient” vacation last October 2007 not until just hours after the elections. When we did, it was kinda’ arguing about the democratic contest that he has just lost. We invited him to join us in a post-election drinking spree (I drink occasionally, and this is an occasion. Hehehe!!!). Although, during the campaign period, there was an alcohol ban, (drinking is not allowed. Well, when you are caught ofcourse. He3!!!) We nevertheless have done what all devotees of the Oktoberfest would do, DRINK & be merry!!!
I remembered the time when I were in college and ran for Grad Class Vice-Preisdent. The campaign period was rather good for me, until it was finally over. The “over” part was hard to accept. I was in the losing end of the election story. It did not fare very well to my ego. So I was accusing the other side of all conceivable things to justify their win. Rubbish. It was a landslide, it was decisive, and it was a knockout. It was uncontestable. Then ego turned to grief. Most of my running-mates cried. I did not cry with them, really. I was gazing up the sky, wondered what had had happened. There we were, on our backs on weary and weathered limestone, wallowing in despair on top of the battlements of old intramuros, looking for signs in the night, that maybe, all of these talk of defeat was just a really bad dream.
I understand my friends’ loss. I really do. I can relate with the sucker that he is now. Maybe it’s because of the sucker who I really have been. So when we were giving all his lamentations to us half-drunks, we just took it and gave encouragements and expressions of support to our recently defeated/injured friend. Sigh! That’s life.
Well, back into 2007, the winners of the barangay elections were the incumbent. And, as the gossip from the grapevine suggests (from inside the FX, from the wet market shoppers, vendors and from your regular corner bums), a PhP 1,000.00 reward was offered for those who voted for favored candidates (?). Although no legal protest were filed in Court by the aggrieved parties, the bribery issues was generally accepted as truth by the population. So, nothing could be done according to the eyes of the Law. But as far as I am concerned, the maiden Law became a whore of the highest bidder. Darn….
“The people deserve its government”. There are many things to say about his, but I will abstain, for now.
If money is the root if all evil, also, money is a requirement for election victory. money is the root of all evil. Could it be deducted then, that election victory is the root of all evil?
So, the night ended in awful sorrow for our friends’ loss. But hey, let us just account what had had happened, learn the lesson in it. And then, just move on. In the end, it is a question if you are still the man you still are and you're the man you hope to be? After this struggle, I hope you held you’re balls well. It is all that you have when you face your Creator.
As for me, we hope you do your best in life and in all jovial favor I say, let us drink to that!!!!!
1 comment:
It looks like, during elections, Filipino voters forget the similarity between government and computers, that is, garbage in, garbage out.
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