Monday, October 29, 2007

Let the Peso Speak

I did not vote today despite the irritating prodding of my mother (because she thinks it is morally not right), despite being an able-bodied, mature and eligible Filipino (who has no class or work to be preoccupied with), despite the proximity of the voting precincts from our home (a minute ride because of the free transportation provided for by the local government), and despite the urge of the socially proactive spirit in me (would have been an activist if not for my personal struggles I am in no mood to discuss...hehe).

Now let me recount the reasons why.

1. As early as evening of yesterday (October 28) envelopes have been flying around town distributing themselves to innocent voters. Enclosed with it is a list of possible barangay officials who I think out of desperation has resorted to vote-buying to become a part of the bureaucratic government in newly-slated city of Naga (by the way a barangay councilor's pay is P8000 apart from the possible corruption). My mother received a whopping P900 for three voters (me, my mom and my dad). There were six candidates, what if they all payed for votes? Do the math.

If I were you, would you rather have a hand in electing such corrupt persons whom despite not being elected yet has shown as much hunger for power as those who would kill their brothers or sisters to be favored for a throne? No thank you. I would rather renounce my right to suffrage as of the moment because I find the electees incompetent, good-for-nothing, and power-savoring posers of righteousness, honesty and justice.

2. I am not based in our town. I live in the city and I am not blessed with having as much familiriaty as i want with all the candidates. Some of whom I know only by name and the others I have never heard of.

I have once said in another post that some ounce of familiarity will always be a good ally and I still live by that. I would rather not vote than risk putting into office someone I do not personally know nor recognize even.

There are other reasons why I did not vote but they are far less significant than these two. I am regretful that my birth-right to vote was not exercised but am equally pleased that I bear no burden in my conscience. There will be better times to vote and better people befitting the positions in contest. I just hope this time happens in my lifetime because honestly, politics is far more dirty than a landfill.

Enough of my ranting.

Signing off.

19 comments:

Joy0z said...

Hi..thanks for hopping in my page..did you really sign up for PPP?..why you don't have thier widget installed on your page?you really won't be approved pg wala ka ng widget nila?..once you submitted a blog make sure may widget ka nila..get the html code..according to my source pg 3mos old na blog mo..maaprove ka as long as walang violation ang posts mo to their terms of service...i'l links you to mine..

Joy0z said...

Nakita ko profile mo May kpa member as blogger kaya pwede na yan...just make sure you get the code of PPP and put it in your widget..kelan kpa nagsign sa PPP at nag submit ng blog ba?

Anonymous said...

HI there, thanks for hopping into my blog. I like this post of yours, this is really true.

Joy0z said...

do you have ym?just add me..view my full profile sa blog then you can find my yahoo id..im wondering why I can leave message on your tag board..there is no option for me eh...?

Anonymous said...

It's been years now since I lost my hope with our government in the Phils. It's really hopeless..

Tong naa pa ko diha, if not only that I needed my voters affidavit for some documents, like you..magboykot pud ko.

Graft and corruption runs through the veins of those politicians, they're all leeches and predators..ambot na lang gyud.

julai said...

hi rey,it's me again.I'm going to add you to my blogroll after this.speaking of barangay elections, my uncle lose the brgy. captain race for his last term..sad, but ok..yess I want my uncle to win, but I really don't like politics.u'r right, it's dirtier than a landfill..

""rarejonRez"" said...

oh wow!!! i am not a mathematician but i could do the math as what u have shared about the vote buying thing. ouch! if i am there i would have voted but only for my brother-in-law in one of the barangays in davao city who ran for a councilor. hehe! he didn't have enough money and i'm sure he didn't buy votes from peeps. i wonder if he won! haven't heard from them yet! hahaha

thanks nga pala sa visit mo. xlink tayo, ok ba? i'm gonna add u right now sa domain ko. see u around!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Thanks! I added you already.

Mommy Lutchi said...

my goodness! wala na talagang katapusan ang ganitong bagay...I just hope kong sino ang manalo sa election would serve the people right. thanks sa dalaw Rey.

Nova said...

so am i here, i didn't vote for this SK barangay election...whoaaa.. i'm a flying voter.... anyways, i don't know maybe i got discourage with all of this politic stupidity that was been involved and had names/position.. the country isn't working any better anyhow...

thanks for the visit...ingatz

The Daily Matters said...

Thanks for stopping by and for the comments. I appreciate it. I will add you up!

Prettymom said...

vote buying will always be part of the election. you won't buy votes you will not win. pagnaumpisahan na kasi people tend to wait jud. i wonder na dagku ang panghateg sa cebu kay katong nagtour kami sa Lahug and Brgy Luz taas man jud ira salary taas pa ngani sa teacher.at lahug the brgy. kagawad paid 12,000 so may tendenct jud na man hatag ug big amount kay sa amo gani 1,500 lang intawon ang honorarium dire pere magvote buying jud.

Anonymous said...

I left the Philippines 19 years ago and never have anything to do with politics there. Wala namang nagbago since I left.

Re: I speak bisaya from Davao. Sure, X-change link tayo!

Anonymous said...

iboto diay nimo ang mga tarong nga politico? katapulan pud nimo

bob said...

didnt vote either. couldnt care less. hahaha! kidding!

LORD MANILA STONE said...

same thoughts here, my hometown is in baguio, but right now, i live in a small barangay in caloocan and i so despise the candidates for being visible only when they need people to deceive by their doggy smiles and deceitful tongues, wala naman silang ginagawa para sa kabutihan ng barangay, ni simpleng cleanliness projects wala, nga eh, lagi tuloy baha ang kawawang barangay na to

Anonymous said...

hello rey! sikat na imong blog da!

i didn't vote either... my father was gonna vote, he was gonna take the entire family para mamotar mig dungan... dali ra kau ko nakaconvince not to vote... "kaila ka sa mga nanagan pa?" he said "wala", then i said "di nalang ta mamotar uy, kung magpataka ra tag butang ug ngalan makonsensya pa lang ta sa unsay buhaton anang mga tawhana kung sila ang ma-elect" hehehe then just like that wa na mi mudayon. bow haha!

Kris Canimo said...

i dont know but sk, for me, should be abolished. its non performing.

Heart of Rachel said...

Hi! Sorry I wasn't able to get back to you sooner. Sure, it would be a pleasure to exchange links.

It's really sad how elections have become tainted in our country. Dirty politics can be really discouraging so I don't blame you.

I, on the other hand, voted to support someone we know and believe in.