OTWOMD | Bluepanjeet.Net

I went to vote today, and guess what, the queue was endless. It’s my first time to vote in our new barangay (Village) since we moved here in 2005. I never thought residents here in our place were very eager to vote considering that in our old place, canvassers were actually counting sheep as to when will voters pour out. But my co-villagers were different. They walk for miles, stretching from their homes across the rice fields to the precincts just to vote. And as usual, the voting place was like a carnival: people in queues, papers all over, streamers and banners as eye sores and even vendors got their day break. Of course my experience wouldn’t be the same if I never saw any peculiarity even for a single moment. As I was in line, waiting for the next person in front of me to move, I noticed some changes in today’s election:

1. There are no dividers to cover the people’s voting
2. People are actually clueless where their names are listed since the Comelec has implemented the “zoning” hoopla.
3. Canvassers were not asking for IDs unlike before
4. Chairs for voting were only eight, while the people in line are ten times more.
5. Due to lack of chairs, people waiting for their turn were already given the ballots while they linger in the room and wait for a seat to be vacant (someone could ran off with the ballots.
6. the poll watchers are too close to the voters, that they can almost see the votes being cast
7. folders were not enough to cover the ballots while voting.

With some of these irregularities, I never had the chance to document them on my cam. It’s because I deliberately forgot it (is there such a thing?). Anyhow after an hour or so of waiting just to vote, I finally had my turn. I brought a list just in case I forgot who to vote for. Actually if given the choice, I wouldn’t vote because no one seems to possess the real charism of service and leadership. Yet I finally cast my votes. I only had six senatoriables in my list, 3 of whom need not to be reflected upon because of their track record and consistency (never mind the financial motives - another story actually) and 3 of whom are my choice from the lesser evil. I should have never voted for them, but I guess I have to give them (actually the six of them) the benefit of the doubt. This year’s election is quite easy. It has never been difficult to choose, I guess because I have this ridiculous personality trait that enables me to sense other people’s sincerity (again a different story - read my personality profile if you want to know what I mean). But aside from my subjective logic of some sort, I think its because I know my history and I don’t easily forget stuff, especially political baloneys. Its only a choice between three options:

1. the goody two shoes
2. the lesser evil (kinda greyish in skin tone)
3. and the ultimate infernals (whose conscience is as blank as a bond paper).

With the (1) Catholic church’s standard in voting, the (2) recent political issues, the (3) candidates track records, (4) political, spiritual and pilosophical convictions, their (5) academic, professional and personal backgrounds, and their (6) political platforms (the last I considered), I have voted for my conscience with enough knowledge of the senatoriables and local candidates. Not because I play Santa Clause who keeps the list of who’s naughty or nice, but because I made an effort to thoroughly and carefully scrutinize each candidate according to their profiles and performance.I cannot tell you who I voted for (it’s for me to know, and for you to find out), nevertheless, I can tell you right now who I won’t and did not vote for. Hehehe this is fun. lets see now… Uhmmm…

1. Tessie Aquino Oreta, Nikki Coseteng, and John Osmena - I never forget what they stood for during the Jose Velarde controversy. They were the ones who blocked the opening of the second envelope. I can never forget my reaction in 2001 when I saw Mrs. Oreta dance her way to shame on national television. For me, mocking the truth, democracy and the people’s intelligence is unforgivable.

2. Prospero Pichay and Miguel Zubiri - They were the ones who were so eager to pass the 2 failed initiatives of the chacha express in congress last year, playing deaf and dumb to people’s sentiments and plea. Now its my turn to play deaf, mute and blind to their plea for vote.

3. Edgardo Angara and Panfilo Lacson - They can’t stand each other in the same room, then why the heck would I give them my vote. What if they win? what will happen to the senate? a cockpit arena? (Seriously, their motives and sincerity are very dubious in nature). Birds of the same feather, flocks together.

4. Tito Sotto - As much as I want to vote for him because Eat Bulaga has been my favorite TV show ever since, but I can’t. Im not that stupid to return the favor of making me laugh for 27 years in exchange for my vote. I won’t forget his very words as he aggressively lambast every journalist and Broadcasters during the height of FPJ’s candidacy. He maybe one of my favorite pinoy comedian, but he’s definitely not my favorite electoral candidate. Showbiz and Politics only gets mixed up on TV and Campaign, but not on real life.

5. Cesar Montano and Victor Wood - why the heck did they run? exactly!

6. Richard Gomez - This guy really gets on my nerves. I have seen his interview with Korina Sanchez months before the actual election, and I tell you, this poor guy is oozing with pride. If holy statues and pictures exudes mysterious oil, this unholy actor exudes enough self confidence that can blast his head away to Jupiter. If there are really living prototypes of psychological archetype like Narcissism, then you have the man. He is definitely delusional, thinking that he has everything to win and everything to lead and legislate. Ironically, out of 85 million Filipinos, he is the only one who cannot see himself as we actually see him. too bad he cannot row his way out of trouble and mess where ever he goes.

7. Chavit Singson and Vic Magsaysay - I don’t like trapos (Traditional Politicians) with dubious source of wealth, the mafia looks and has a cloned godfather style. Seriously, they have bad track records, no impressive academic background, no experience in legislation and tons of accusations hailed at them pertaining to Guns, Goons and Gold.

8. Gringo Honasan - One is enough, two is too much, three is stupidity.

9. Loren Legarda - I have three words for her: Loyalty, Integrity and Sincerity

10. Manny Villar - He is so wealthy. If he only knows how to give and help the hungry and the dying. Spending as much as 150 Million pesos for advertisements alone is very unreasonable. it could have fed millions of hungry children and starving street dwellers, house squatters and educate the uneducated. But what do I care? it’s his money, right? And what does he care? it’s my vote!

After I voted, I went back home to eat my brunch. I saw this interview of Korina Sanchez and Ted Failon with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on how to be a senator. I listened attentively and her points were very well founded on reality, reason and coherence. Of course, it wouldn’t be Miriam if she would not spit words and hurl witty one liners that cracks the host in burst of laughter. Miriam was actually talking about the seriousness of a Senator’s job description. She said, being a senator is a no joke for it entails wisdom and knowledge of the law. She added (which made my stomach ache) :

“kung ganyan na kahit sino ang pwedeng kumandidato, eh kahit sinong gago pwedeng tumakbo”

Miriam in the past has been labeled as Patroness of Crackpots because she always do odd and eerie things which no civilized or tamed politician would ever do. She continuously colored the Senate with her insanity, spurts of flaming temper and occasional elbow jabs on innocent staffs. She is my favorite political character: feisty yet humorous, monstrous yet articulate and Insane yet witty all at the same time. But in all her political upheavals, Miriam never denied all of this, in fact she admitted that she is willing to undergo psychiatric test just to prove that her sprockets and bolts in her head are still intact. You see, Miriam, in all her political ads, never said that she was kind, she was gentle nor she is tamed. In her ads before, she showed herself as the fighting amazon warrior in defense of the constitution. And up to this day, she showed the people that she meant it when she said that she is the prostitute of law. Though she has been toppled many times to the dregs by the same people who voted her, but she always manage to redeem herself, not through ads showing her hugging children, working with the farmers, marching with throngs of people or doing the “boom tarat” with priests, nuns, doctors and nurses, but through her efforts of being open and transparent to the Filipino People with her thoughts, actions and unfortunately, even with her emotions. Maybe nobody likes her, but i do. If only the National Center for Mental Health would allow me to found a fans club inside the 30 hectare compound, I would definitely do it for Miriam and become her first Fans Club President (haha). simply because she has the courage to tell everyone what she feels and what she thinks even if the people dont actually like it. In some cultures, it is appreciated as honesty. When she flared up in the senate during the JBC’s decision to dump her from the official list of Chief Justice wannabes, she actually has a point. What’s interesting is, the person whom we label and call as insane and crazy is the only one making sense and tangency in the rule of law. 90% of candidates running for the senate doesn’t even know what law means in the literal sense. They only know how to pretend as the People’s sweethearts. Now in comparison: between actors wanting to be politicians - politicians wanting to be actors, and Miriam Defensor Santiago, who do you think is crazy?

These are the reasons why I like Miriam… for now

By the way, in case someone from Mandaluyong or Mental Hospital read this post, I just want to clear that im just kidding when I said I wanted to found a fans club, I’ll just settle for ordinary spectator