Empowering Voices and Exercising My Right!

Ballots, ballot boxes, and indelible marks? Nothing beats a community that has good leaders possessing qualities such as integrity, vision, good reputation, effective communication, adaptability, and the ability to inspire and motivate others.

After the nine-day campaign period, today marks a momentous day in my country not to mention that communities all around the Philippines are empowered, voices are heard, and we all exercised our rights to suffrage since today is the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

From the previous elections, I have been serving my country as one of the members of the Electoral Board who will accommodate the voters during the election, but since my mother is running for the position of Barangay Kagawad, I am exempting myself from serving and now, I am exercising my right to vote.

I woke up early today so that I could vote early. I was with my cousin, preciousbree and we went to the venue together. We know the place where to vote but we need to find first the room where we should go that is why we have to go early aside from avoid a huge crowd and longer lines.

The venue of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections is in Public Schools in my community so it was very accessible for us and it was just a walking distance from home. But the problem was we did not know where to go, so the first thing that we did was look for the classroom. Good thing, we were heading in the right direction even though no one guided us. And the room my cousin was also just beside my precinct so we could just see each other after voting.

Just before my turn, I was so happy because I was one of those early birds. After five minutes, I was surprised to see many voters waiting already even if that was still so early. I then realized that it is better to be early to avoid a large crowd and avoid waiting for so long since it is expected that there are thousands of voters in my community.

The election was on a first come first serve basis. However, there was an express lane for pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. For ages 15 to 17 years old, they will surely vote for the Sangguniang Kabataan officials only. For ages 18 to 30 years old, they will both be for both Barangay Officials and Sangguniang Kabataan Officials. And for ages 31 and above, they will vote for Barangay officials only.

Meanwhile, one of the members of the electoral board came near me and gave me details so that it would be easier for the pork clear, chairman, and board member to check on the Election Day Computerized Voters List. And then after I was allowed to go inside. When I entered, I had already seen both young and old voters seated at the armchairs as they chose for their candidates.

As I entered, the members of the electoral board thought that they were supposed to give me two ballots, which meant one ballot for the Barangay Election and the other ballot for the Sanggunian Kabataan Election. Funny how they thought that I was still younger and could still vote for the Sangguaniang Kabataan Election but I am years older to vote for it and could only be allowed for the Barangay elections.

When it was my turn to vote, I was given the ballot and I was glad since there were many available seats and I could choose where I would be seated. Honestly, I so love the murals in the classroom, the designs of the floor, and most especially the pink chairs.

Afterward, I sat at one of the front chairs so that the others could occupy the back. It took me just a minute to vote since I already have in my mind d in my mind who to vote for. I noticed that the first to get inside was still at the back of me writing on the ballot.

Although it was too quick for me to vote, still I had the follow the election procedures and fall. in line once more so I could submit my ballot, put it on the ballot box, have my fingerprints, and put an indelible ink since the Election in the Philippines is manual voting unlike the National Election that used the computerized machines and automatic counting of votes.

As I fell line, I am bringing with me the closed ballot so no one could see who are my candidates for the Barangay Election. I am allowed to vote for 1 Barangay Captain Official and 7 Kagawad members. Here in my community, there were 4 candidates for Barangay Captain and 32 candidates for Barangay Kagawad.

After voting, I went outside to look for my cousin. I strolled for a while to look at her precinct and I was able to capture some quick snapshots of the classrooms with several voters looking at their names on the list and precinct number as well. It was nostalgic strolling around this place since I had my elementary days here at Alae Central Elementary School.

A lot has changed here over the past twenty years. Although the place where we used to play before was replaced with classroom buildings, I am happy to see its development. Honestly, coming back here made me remember my elementary friends as I also saw them earlier.

After a while, I saw my cousin and we went home together. I was so happy to see beautiful shadows on the pavement. Here are our shadows as we walk back home. It was nice to see these awesome shadows.

Perhaps it feels so good to exercise my right to vote. The election process ran smoothly and I had a great time going back to my old school when I was in elementary.

Disclaimer: All texts and pictures are my own unless otherwise stated.