A Rare Moment in Philippine Elections History: Men Accepting Defeat

The people has spoken. By that, I meant the non-calculating masses have spoken.

Noynoy Aquino got the highest votes for the presidential seat. Despite the complaints currently filed by former President Estrada, it is apparent that Noynoy’s got the sure win with 13 million votes in the lead compared to Estrada’s 8 million-plus votes.

Noynoy Aquino will be our 15th president. That is pretty obvious at this point in time.

After the automated elections, we have just witnessed one rare moment in Philippine election history. Not Noynoy’s installment, but because of the four people showing the exemplary attitude of being able to accept defeat honorably.

What these people have gone through was never easy. Manny Villar, Sen. Richard Gordon, Councilor JC delos Reyes, and Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. braved the months of hard-fought campaign, few hours of sleep, and showing up to different fora and debates in the different islands of the country. Kapoy pud na oi.

But I salute these people. They have showed us that there is nobility in defeat after all. They have left a positive mark for the nation’s present and next generations. Defeat is not easy to accept, but they did it valiantly and they have fought a good fight.

These citizens deserve our adulation for they have even invited the whole nation to unite and work with peace and harmony rather than "the usual" protest and rally. May this be the start of our candidates being statesmen enough to accept the electorate’s will in all succeeding elections.

Let us remember that the May 10 election was the first-time we had the polls automated. Despite the long lines and breaking down of PCOS machines, the results from the Automated Elections came out fast and become more credible. I believe this prodded the candidates to concede early on and not throw claims of cheating. Senator Dick Gordon, if you happen to stumble in this blog, I tell you this: You are also a winner. The automation elections was part of your legacy. ###

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To my fellow Filipinos:

It has been a few days after the elections.
Our responsibility does not end today. Even if the majority have elected Noynoy as our president, it is still us, the Filipino people who must make the difference for our country.

This is definitely not just about putting an individual on the pedestal and wait for him to change our poor status quo, Each one of us should do what we ought to do. All hands should be lifting the country up.

Let us pray for our country. Let us pray for our leaders. And let us pray for each other.
May God bless our beloved country.

May 2010 Election Day

So far, so good.
I am watching GMA 7's coverage on the elections.

In general, the PCOS were able to do well. But some were defective.
7.8% of the polls nationwide were able to start after 9:30 a.m.
It is also noted that due to the clustering of the precincts, the problem of the voters is on the long queu to vote (some became tired of waiting and just went home).
Because of the delay, the Commission on Elections extended one hour to 6:00 p.m.
This means the polls will close at 7:00 p.m.

Let us join the country in prayer for safe and successful elections.
Both in the national and local positions, we pray that we will be able to choose the right people for the job.

Automated Elections: Tips on How to Vote

I was able to compile some information about the automated elections.

Here are some tips on how to vote for tomorrow’s election.

Feel free to share this to others.

PCOS stand for Precinct Count Optical Scan. It’s a machine that could help us count the votes faster and get the results in 48 hours (2 days). Blackouts? No worries. PCOS have internal batteries that can last 16 hours (the voting lasts 10 hours) in case of power outages.

1. You may find out beforehand (through your barangay), your Voter’s ID number, precinct number, and your sequence number (which is beside your name in the voter’s list).

2. Bring a valid ID. Voter's ID is best. Driver's license, passport, or any ID with your address and preferably a photo is all right). Present this to the Board of Elections Inspector (BEI).

3. The polls open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

4. You will get ONE CHANCE to have your ballot changed if you don't like it. That's when they first hand it to you. The key is inspection. Inspect the ballot right away for scratches, folds, etc. Additional tip: There will be a barcode going around the ballot. If this is marked, even scratched, in any way, the ballot will be spoiled. That is why, if anyone else handles the ballot, watch them well incase they would intentionally scratch the barcode with their fingernails to prevent your ballot from being counted.

5. Keep your hands very clean before voting. The ballot is very sensitive to marks, ink, water, stains, scratches, folds, or even sweat.

6. You are given 5 to 10 minutes to vote. To save time, you can bring a codigo (list of your chosen candidates on a piece of paper).

7. Don’t make mistakes.

8. Vote only the exact number you should vote for: 1 president, 1 vice president, 12 senators, 1 party list, 1 mayor, 1 vice mayor, 1 member of the House of Representatives, etc. The limit will be there on your ballot as a “Vote for not more than ____”). You can vote LESS than what is asked, just don’t OVERVOTE.

9. The ballot you are given will only be readable by one specific PCOS Unit because it's pre-registered there. Don't line up at the wrong machine or your ballot won't be read and it may spoil your vote.

10. Shade the egg-shaped hole beside your chosen candidate FULLY.

11. You will only have FOUR TRIES to put your ballot through the PCOS Unit.

12. The PCOS machine will print out the vote count in what looks like a long cash register receipt. This will be put into a sealed box that will be sent to the Comelec for proper counting. The PCOS Unit will count the number of voters who are voting based on the ballots inserted into it. Watch the screen on the machine to make sure of voter count, as well as other important messages.

13. Watch the readout on the PCOS Unit when you insert your ballot into it. If you done it right, it will show: “Congratulations! Your ballot has been scanned.” If not, it will indicate why (e.g. improper shading).

14. There will be a usual dropping of indelible ink in your right index finger. There are also the usual signing of forms and marking of thumbprints.

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Poll Results:

Question: Do you think the May 10 Elections will be a success?

Yes it will be - 11 votes (78%)

I don't know - 2 votes (14%)

No. There will surely be a failure of elections - 0 votes (0%)

I am not going to vote - 1 votes (7%)

Let us vote wisely. I pray that the elections will be a success.

Special thanks to Princess Mae Chua, a senior Political Science student at MSU-IIT, who is currently undertaking her thesis on voters’ attitude before and after the Automated Elections.

The Best Man for the Job: JRGon's President is...

I am a small voice but allow me to be heard. I’m imploring you to read the following in the hope that you’ll understand why I think there is a need choose the right president this coming elections. I hope that you will judge on the merits of this article.

We Filipinos, as a nation, lack direction and foresight. We are lost. We, as a people, do not have a clear goal of what to be as a nation in the coming years. Our “bahala na” attitude is a clear manifestation of our carefree predisposition as a people. It is not even surprising that Time Magazine calls us the Asia’s Laggard. Why? Back in the 1960’s we are Asia’s economic giant only shy to Japan. We were the country with the highest literacy rate. Koreans and other neighboring Asian countries are envious of our success. Fifty years after, look at what kind of country we are now. With trillions of dollars as debt to the World Bank, 11% of the population looking for greener pastures abroad, more than half of the 94 million below poverty line, we are clearly lagging behind our Asian counterparts. We once dreamt of becoming a newly-industrialized country by the Year 2000, but up to now, we are still dreaming.

Our government has become a kakistocracy - a government run by the least qualified or most unprincipled. A government ran by the worst of its citizens. Many of us fail to elect the right leaders for the job.

We need strong leaders in order to restore our country. It is not enough to say for a leader that he or she is “for the poor”, what is important is he or she knows what to do to uplift every individual. Like a coach to his players, we need a leader that teaches and corrects us to help us win and succeed. A coach’s words may be harsh, but that is what real love is. That is what real concern and love for country is all about.

Our Asian counterparts have already done it on their own turfs. The late Park Chung Hee has done it in South Korea. Torn after the Korean War, Park has led the country to the industrialized status by 1988. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore led the island nation to economic prosperity in a span of 29 years from 1959 to 1980. Japan on the other hand, was able to rise up and even hosted the 1964 Olympics (19 years after losing in the World War II).

We have few examples of strong leader ship here in the Philippines worthy to be followed. Despite being labeled as “The Punisher” by Time Magazine, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s iron hand in Davao made it, “The most peaceful city in Asia”. (You have to come to Davao to see for yourself because I did). Let us also not forget Mayor Alfredo Lim’s performance in Manila. It is apparent: discipline and political will is not a bad thing – it is timely and critically needed.

My president has a strong leadership. He enforces strong action, because for him it is the real essence of leadership, not a mere title.

My president studied History and Government in College.

My president did great results in an executive office. No other candidates did.

My president was visited by Margaret Thatcher, Dr. Mahatir Mohammad, and U.S. President Bill Clinton came to see the miracle of Subic’s great transformation from a sin city to a model city.

My president generated 200,000 jobs and was able to gather 8,000 volunteers to help rebuild the city after the Americans have left the bases.

My president is not a corrupt leader. His detractors filed 38 cases but all were dismissed; those cases did not even reach the Sandiganbayan.

My president, when he was still the Mayor of Olongapo, never failed to abandon his constituents during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo despite the quake happening every two minutes. He saved 9,000 Aetas and forced them to evacuate the volcano’s perimeter. My President reminds me of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was there to help after the September 11 bombing.

My president has been a volunteer of the Red Cross for more than 40 years. He was there to help during the Guzman Tech Tragedy in Quiapo (1995), Pagoda Tragedy in Bulacan (1993), Mayon eruption (2009), Cabanatuan City Quake (1990), Typhoon Frank in Iloilo (2008), Release of Abu Sayyaf hostages in March 2000, Glorietta Blast, Typhoon Ondoy, and many more.

My president was able to bring in 6 million tourists to the Philippines despite the Bali bombing, and SARS outbreak. He made us say Wow! Philippines.

My president authored the Tourism Act of 2008, Veterans Equity Bill, and co-authored many more. He was the Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee challenging the infamous ZTE-NBN Deal of the government as well as the Fertilizer Scam.

My president, when he was still a mayor, said on March 1980: “What we need is not just a change of men but a change IN men”.

My president is, like other candidates, a sweet-talker. But has ALREADY delivered what he said. He has already cleaned his own backyard in Olongapo before vying for the Senate, and now, the presidency.

I am campaigning for Senator Richard J. Gordon. I trust him my vote for I believe he can take us where we want to be. We need the one “who can get things done” and has achievements to back up the claims of his capability.

Let us leave the surveys behind, they do nothing but give us preconceived notions of who to vote. Sink or swim, my vote belongs to him for he deserves it. And by the way, did I fail to mention that Dick Gordon is the author of the Automated Elections Law? ###


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Finally, I was able to finish this article. Let us vote wisely and may God bless the Philippines! Feel free to comment on this article. Feel free to share this article to others.

We have a new survey, please vote now.