You Win Some, You Lose Some

After voting yesterday, we headed to Wendy's for breakfast. It's a rare opportunity to have breakfast out. We arrived at Wendy's before six in the morning and soon enough a number of senior citizens arrived too. 

While eating I felt some sadness. I realized it's the first time we went to vote without my Mom. I checked the voters list and only me and Miggy were on it. Mom didn't vote during the presidential elections even though we went to pick her up. She wasn't feeling well and told us to go ahead and vote. 

One thing I also looked forward to was seeing our neighbors, the Titos and Titas and friends I grew up with. Sadly, I didn't see any of my Mom's friends and just saw one of my friends. I may have been too early, but then my Mom would've been 90 years old this year. 

I'm writing this post while watching the news. I'm happy to see two of those I voted for senators are in the top 5 and the party list I voted for is #1 on the results. The rest of those I voted for did not win (maybe only the vice mayor?). Oh well, you win some, you lose some. At least there's still hope. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Voted Early (Philippine Elections 2025)

I'm really grateful to COMELEC for opening the precincts early for PWDs, senior citizens and pregnant women. We went at 5 in the morning to vote to avoid the crowds and more importantly, the heat. 

I wasn't feeling well yesterday. My mind willed my body to cooperate. I did not want to miss exercising my right to vote. I was still a bit unstable when we arrived at 5:06am. 

The process was pretty straightforward. Check your name on the list and cluster, go to your precinct, show your ID, sign on the list, get your ballot, vote, feed your ballot to the machine, check the receipt and then get inked. We were done in less than 15 minutes considering I kept making sure I did not overbite (of course I had a kodigo).

I was expecting to see my Mom's friends. I belatedly realized my Mom would've been 90 this year, so most of her friends would be +/- 10 years of her age. I'd usually see Tito Mel overseeing the PPCRV and childhood friends running around as volunteers. I've been away too long and the PPCRV volunteers now we're probably kids when I lived abroad.

I never changed my precinct. My voters ID is still the original one they issued when I registered for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections. My whole family voted in the same precinct and I actually found my Mama Lola's voters ID from the 70s. That's what you call legacy :)

Vote wisely!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Public Office is a Public Trust, Time to Break Political Dynasties

 "Public office is a public trust" is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution (Article XI, Section 1). It is a clause that all of us should remember, especially candidates.

What we've been going through in the past 9 years has been disenheartening. Year after year, candidates promise to do things better, to make our lives easier. Sadly, we're still plagued by so many issues, especially corruption. I remember during PNoy's time, it was Secretary Butch Abad's job to put controls on spending and regular reports on reducing corruption was made. We saw a lot of improvements especially in our economy. 

A big problem that contributes to backward progress are the political dynasties. My professor, Dr. Julio Teehankee, has made a study on this and discussing why electing the same family is bad for us. In the city I live in, the same family has been ruling over the local positions for over a decade now. They just switch around positions (congress/mayor/vice mayor etc.). You'd think that after ruling over our city for over a decade they would have at least solved all flooding issues.

Sweetie sent me a list of local candidates. He noted that there are 5 people with the same family name. They are obviously from the same family. I hope they realize that public office is not meant to be a business or security blanket for you and your family. There are surely a lot of talented and skilled people who can manage our city. 

Vote wisely tomorrow!

#BeKind #StaySafe #VoteWisely