The right of Suffrage and all that

So May 13 marks the midterm elections in the Philippines. We are to vote in local and outgoing Senate members who in the next few years will mark what policies and laws will affect our lives.

If you are not familiar with the Philippines Politics it is a grand circus where politicians will lie, cheat and buy their way into power. I know because at some point of my life I worked as an aide to someone who ran for governor in a little sleepy town in the province.

I remember transporting wads of cash covertly in the dead of the night to various places in order for the local leaders to give to their people in exchange of votes. Yet that is another life.

I live a very different one now. I have been suffering from depression lately and one of the things it affected is my desire to go out of the house.

This May 13 marks the 2nd time that I left my house for the past 6 months. It was strange seeing droves of people going to the nearest public school which is used as a voting precinct. It was weird seeing people giving out sample ballots and free water. These so called volunteers of course would say that they are not paid by the candidates to give water and to not so subtlely remind you to vote for their candidate. I walk past them never minding the heat because I do not want to be lectured.

I make my way to the 3rd floor and look for my name. I see what classroom I am supposed to go and see that there is no line which is awesome because I did not want to wait long. I had come prepared though. Dressed in a hoodie (which is very hot during the summer), earphones, sunglasses and completing it is a book in my hand. This was my I do not want to talk to anyone OOTD.

(Credits to Parker Johnson from Unsplash)

I was in and telling the volunteer my name, she goes through the list, sees my name and the picture I took years ago for my Voters ID. The face looks so different. A man in another lifetime that seems so distant.

I am handed the ballot and a black marker to shade the candidates of my choice. To be honest I do not know any of the local candidates. The time that I have spent in isolation rendered me unable to make a decision on who to vote for the local politics. I did not know their platforms, their opinion on topics nor know if they were in any issues. I had to leave that blank.

Now for the Senators, I knew who I wanted to vote for. Months of ads, videos, social media posts have shown me what they intended to do. I know what their stance in certain issues and the platforms they want to push if they hold the reigns of the government.

So in less than 5 minutes I did my right and voted for those who I thought would be good for the country. I submitted my ballot to the poll watcher, had my finger doused with a dab of indelible ink to mark that I already voted and made my way out.

All that is left to do is wait for the results.