My vote is in!

So after very, very frustrating experience at my precinct assignment early this morning, I was finally able to cast my vote for this year's elections. Returning to our precinct at around 2pm when the sun is at its fieriest, we were surprised to see a 'pila-free' room. Happppyyyy!!!!

After I've verified my identity by signing and thumb-printing, I received a white folder with the ballot inside and I went to find my seat inside the almost dilapidated classroom. It's been awhile since I last exercise this right and I feel like a first timer yet again. I was excited to vote but was quite anxious that the PCOS machine might reject my ballot for some weird reasons. After waiting for about 30secs though, I was so happy to read "CONGRATULATIONS! Your vote has been registered!" on the machine.

I guess this year's elections has already made it's mark since the polls opened this morning. The fact that the fear of a nationwide failure of election was hurdled is already a milestone on its own. And at 7pm tonight when the precincts close and the votes are read, we are one step closer to realizing the success of this automation experiment. And finally when the winners are announced tomorrow or hopefully later tonight (?), this automated elections will finally take it's place on our history books.

I know a lot of people are still skeptical of this automation thing. But change always does bring some sort of struggle with it. Not everyone is a fan after all. I have high hopes for this on the other hand. I believe that give or take 2 more elections, this move to automate will eventually bring about a cleaner and more trustworthy elections.

Residing in Salawag where a lot of low cost housing is situated, poverty is almost visible everywhere. But I can see hope in the faces of the people I bump into since this morning.

Now that I've cast my vote, I can only hope that whoever emerges as the winner in this elections will go back to his/her promise of a corruption-free, poverty free Philippines. And I do wish too that all the others who won't get that most coveted seat in Malacanang will continue to fight for a corruption-free and poverty-free Philippines. Because politics is not the only way to serve the people.