A Night of Sinigang

Now there are claims about massive vote-buying. And this is not an isolated case. The news have been reporting about it everyday. And I heard that our town, this happened, too.

Again, good bloggers and writers are writing about it everywhere. So, I leave it up to them to send their messages to these politicians that are allegedly guilty of this act.

I, again, will talk to Juan. Because I believe that every person will have to be the change he's looking for, as Mother Teresa said. This is also why I started this blog. Because I believe that Filipinos are one of the best people in the world. We only have to get our acts together for a better Philippines.

Anyway, this might be the wrong channel to say what I wanted to say to Juan. Because the Juan I am trying to talk to this time barely knows how to read. He starts and ends his day trying to find money to feed him and his family, even just for today. So, how can he even access the internet?

This Juan chose to sell his vote for about Php 300. Just enough to buy him and his family one meal. I imagine that he's going to buy a kilo of pork and vegetables for sinigang, which is one of the most delicious Filipino dishes we have.

He chose a night of sinigang over six years of what? You know the answer.

Yeah, yeah. You can always say get the money and don't vote for him. But there are claims that these people get their fingers dotted with indelible ink after getting the money. So, how else can he vote? Again, I leave this charge to those who are best in this field.

Vote-buying has been and will always be there.

But not if there's someone who's not selling his vote. It's like the worldwide campaign they have for the products that come from sharks.

No one will shop for Juan's vote if Juan isn't selling.

Monday Musings

I haven't walked even a day last week. The week was kinda loaded that I feared that it would rob me of the strength to last me through the long days. Today, I am supposed to but didn't. I must admit I got a little lazy again.

I went to the courier service to get a quote for those three books that I am hoping to sell before this week ends. But I am not very hopeful on that since I discovered that they do not have a branch at the town where these books are supposed to go. The nearest would be either Antipolo or Angono; and my buyer is just supposed to pick it up. I really wonder how it would be if there is a very efficient courier system here in our country. Now that online shopping is on its way to the top, these guys should get their acts together to think about a more efficient service. We currently enjoy the pleasant service of their very nice crews, not to mention that theirs is the lowest rate of those available here in our town. JRS should reinvent itself, now that the business seems to be gaining a lot of market.

I found this website on Twitter where you can search for your precinct in preparation for the upcoming May elections. I immediately looked for my dad's and sister's and quickly found them. Unfortunately, I couldn't find mine. So, this answers my doubts that I was struck out of the list. I was disenfranchised during the last presidential elections. The irony of it all is that I was a PPCRV volunteer at that time. What happened was there was a list that came out a day before the elections where I couldn't find my name. I wondered but, like any other ordinary citizen, what could I do? So, I let it be and did my duty. At about one o'clock that afternoon, there was another list from the Comelec wherein I found my name. But since I was a volunteer, things were already busy at that time so I didn't vote. For this 2010 elections, I was able to register as an overseas voter, but a medical condition made me go home and prevented me from getting myself registered. You might be wondering who I will vote for if I can vote but I'd rather keep it to myself.

Still on these 2010 elections, we (since I am helping my Dad and sis decide on whom to vote) are now contemplating on the senators. But we are still somewhat clueless as to who are running. My sister is now very eager to make her list, but we cannot get the names. I said there will be. But when? Well, they normally come out a day or two before the day. But is there anyway for ordinary people like us to get hold of the names and their parties at this point in time?

My beloved dog, Pepe

The night before last night, I dreamed of a blue snake. I was riding a bike and it was getting in my way. I couldn't remember anymore what I did, but after I got over it, the next scene was my old video store. Inside, there is a fridge full of M&M's. Last night, it wasn't such a good dream. I dreamed that their preparing to cook my dog for pulutan and I was crying like hell. I wonder what makes me remember my dreams right now. Ever since I got home from Dubai and had the operation, I don't even remember remembering my dreams. I don't even remember if I was having dreams at all. Now, I wonder if this is a good sign or if it is a good thing at all. The snake dream is rather a good thing to remember since they say dreaming of snakes is a lucky thing. But dreaming about your dog getting cooked is something you'd rather not remember, right?

Shaded

My friends were here last night. It has become a Sunday thing since my operation and I kinda miss it when they don't come over when they have other things/errands to do. It used to be in time for dinner but they were a little late last night. But they came.

They came with the sample ballot. My friend's mom is a teacher and I guess they must have started their seminars/briefings or whatever for the upcoming elections, which to date, is just 42 days away.

Here is the heading of the sample ballot:

The instructions are clear. We will never miss it because it is in Filipino.

Shade the oval. This took me back to high school days of NCEE where I heard many students failed the exam because they did not follow the instructions. Now, this isn't an exam wherein if we fail, we get ourselves affected and only ourselves. This time, it's one vote... one vote less or one vote more for a candidate to win or lose his most dreaded seat. One vote less or one vote more for the person who will rule our country, who will change our country's future. You might say I am thinking too much, but isn't it true?

Anyway.

My friend said this is the most important thing: "Di baleng kulang, huwag lang sobra," referring to the number of candidates for those seats that require more than one person.

I really hope this works.

Rated

A few weeks ago, they released this video on the internet as part of the campaign AmBisyon 2010.

Then there was a showcase of Filipino directors like Brilliante Mendoza and Jeffrey Jeturian. They both have videos featured.

Yesterday, on twitter, I read that these video, along with Jeturian's were given an X rating by the MTRCB. So, I went to back-read my FB (and discovered I posted it March 5) and searched for the video to see it again. I actually did post it on my FB with some kind of excitement because I find the video on a positive light. I know it shows poverty. But just like Brillante said, it's what he sees and that's the reality.

I don't see anything wrong about the video. The scenes are true and as real as they can be. The music? Full of hope. FULL OF HOPE. It is actually inviting the youth (and all of us) to start the change.

The board said that video is injurious to the image of our country. I don't see how.

The song is not actually about the scene. But as Brillante puts it, if you will just simply interpret the song, it is somewhat elementary. He was (oh so) right about that.

Perhaps, the board saw it this way: since the song was in the Filipino language, the whole world will not understand, so they'd probably just rely on the scenes. I think it would be good to put subtitle and review it and pass it.

Orange and Lemon

They're on top of the surveys.

Others follow.

We get to choose.

For the future of our country. Our people.

*Orange image copied from here and the lemon from here.

Search

It was already around 10.00 when I decided to go to my designated precinct. But I had myself ready for whatever would be the outcome. I didn't want to overexcite myself only to find out that I couldn't express my right.

Anyway, I've always remembered where my 'room' is. I went there straight so that I would have enough time just in case the line would be long. But there wasn't a line. There were people though, swarming over this list that would determine if you indeed belong to that room. This was how it went... always. You will have to squeeze yourself in order to get the chance to see your name. But mine wasn't there as it has always been.

I tried the next, and the next and the next. Nothing. Then in the room at the far side of the school's entrance, I saw my high school classmate, Nenita. I asked her if they still hold the same list as before. She said there were a little changes so I might not belong to the room I've come to know. But I had to confirm one thing though.

2005. I was disenfranchised. This means that my name was taken off the list. I discovered this because that election, I voluntered as a PPCRV/COMELEC officer. I got to hold a list of voters a day before the elections and was wondering why my name wasn't there. The fact that I thought that there was no need to register yet since I have been voting every elections gave me the idea that probably it was my fault that I didn't re-register. Off I went at the precinct that I was assigned to (which was where I was registered) and gave in to the fact that I couldn't vote that time.

2.00 p.m. that day. We were surprised that another set of list came out that late. Why was there another list at such a late time? I was asking myself. I as even more surprised when I learned that I was in this second list! I wasn't able to vote since I was head of the whole school and the situation was so busy at that time because counting was to start in less than an hour and we are not to leave our posts. But part of my responsibility was to make myself visible in all of those 15 or more precincts in that school to make sure that all problems would be dealt with. This, and the fact that I lost my enthusiasm to vote in such a cramped time were the reasons why I didn't vote.

I was disenfranchised.

2007. Last May, I wasn't able to vote because I was out of the country.

I found out through my classmate that your name would automatically be deactivated and taken out of the list if you didn't vote for the past two consecutive elections. That is the reason why I wasn't able to vote this Oct. 29 local elections.

Reminds Me...

i'm looking into a calm weekend. the last day of the campaign was yesterday, so it's a more peaceful Sundaym since no more vehicles would be passing by the house blasting songs and speeches and whatever. But tomorrow being the election day, I guess today is going to be the calm bofore the storm... or better yet, the eye of the storm.

And I am right... I woke up and it was rainy. Had a long, good sleep after last night's visit to a friend's dad who just got out of the hospital.

The cats are on their usual slumber, just like this. I feel better now afer days of intermittent attacks of dizziness. Yesterday's blood tests proved normal levels which was no cause for alarm. I felt better later in the day so I decided to unearth some of my memoirs from the past years, but that's another story. What interested me was the DJ on 99.5 radio station asking listeners to call in and say what the song she's playing reminds them. And right now, I'm adapting it on this post. One said it reminds him of a friend who taught him to smoke pot, the other of a palarong pambansa... two contrasting memories. I can't remember the song though.

Let's use our right to vote, no matter what state our country is in.