Now that it’s over
The dust from last Monday’s voting hasn’t quite settled despite winners generally known across the country. Finally we have candidates decent and mature enough to have conceded when it appeared that winning was no longer in the realm of the possible. To them we tip our hats and may their tribe increase.
There are still those, however, who hew to the belief that there are no losers in Philippine elections, only those who were cheated. Some claim it’s not in their DNA to concede, for to do so would be tantamount to quitting. Others are apparently so arrogant – or so beyond the realm of reality – they cannot wrap their heads around the fact that they could actually lose an election, that not everyone loves them, and so they cry out, “I wuz robbed!” These are the same people who applaud surveys and quick counts when they’re ahead, and cry rigging and manipulation when they’re behind. To them we say “Get real” and may their tribe decrease.
Fortunately there aren’t that many of them. People across political factions are calling for unity and support for the winners, especially the president. Which is a really good thing because the tasks ahead are daunting and enormous indeed, and the new government will need all the help – and none of the crap – they can get.
I sympathize with the voters whose election experience was arduous, those who had to wait for hours to get their ballots, and then again when their vote counting machines (VCMs) were not working and they had to wait yet again to make sure their votes were properly registered. I was one of those who had an easy time at the polling place last Monday. Yes, there was a line to get the ballot (folders were limited so we had to wait for voters ahead of us to finish) but there was no confusion or chaos. It was nice to see neighbors and friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. Our VCM worked fine, and the receipt confirmed our votes.
I know a lot of groups are complaining – and they could have legitimate reasons – but considering all the hiccups and obstacles encountered along the way, Comelec did a decent job getting this show on the road last Monday. Kudos too to the teachers who worked as BEIs, some of whom started their day really early – our BEIs in San Juan had to pick up the ballots at the municipio at 3 a.m. As well the watchers and volunteers, who were tirelessly helping lost voters and senior citizens… Bravo and thank you, and may your tribe increase.
Workers in the government bureaucracy are stereotyped to be slow and inefficient, but that could be quite unfair. Like the teachers who served in the BEIs and the police and soldiers who were on duty at the polling places, there are many government workers today who know their jobs, do their best and are nice about it. I went to the SSS office in San Juan the other day to get my UMID (unified multipurpose ID) card done, and the process was orderly and painless. I expected to spend an hour or two there, but my kasambahay and I were done in about half an hour. But we have to wait four months for our UMID to be delivered to us, as there is some kind of backlog in the main processing center.