FILING COCs OF
The month of May can also be considered as a wonderful time of the year as you can hear jingles that will make you sing, crowds cheer, and happy greetings in every meeting. It’s not Christmas but it’s elections for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan.
Last April 14, 2018, hundreds of hopefuls from different barangays in three congressional districts of the city flocked to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office at Magsaysay Park in Davao City to file their certificates of candidacy (COC).
It was a full house as early as 8 a.m., from the incumbent barangay executives down to the neophytes of the barangay politics, they filled the park.
There I met a farmer who hails from Calinan, Davao City trying his luck in the political arena to become a Barangay Captain of their area. It is not every day we see a farmer trying his luck in the Barangay polls.
On the sides and corners of the vicinity, are the Sangguniang Kabataan hopefuls filling out their COCs against the walls. For only P60, others approached the make-shift photo studio for the rush ID picture.
Though you can’t still feel the stiff competition between rivals at the moment, a jolly environment takes over as supporters cheer for their candidates after filing their COCs. There is of course the mandatory photo with the COC and a matching hand gesture.
The mood feels like an audition to a reality show, there are those who are tensed, excited, doubtful, and even aggressive. However, we cannot yet judge these hopefuls as the campaign period will not start until May 4.
I’ve seen familiar faces, even close friends to be exact but this will not make me vote for them right away. Hearing the platforms of the candidates and knowing them religiously should be the priority of the voters.
Nonetheless, the best is yet to come, best promises, best speeches and best gimmicks from the candidates. Do not be deceived by the sweet words of the candidates but rather choose those who are in the good side of the force. And may the votes be in their favor.