Patience

As of this writing, the official count has not yet begun. All the so-called analyses are based on partial and unofficial returns. However, the unofficial returns from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) do have some credibility because it is affiliated with the Catholic Church and is the only accredited election watchdog by the Comelec.

I agree that some of the concessions being made by some candidates is a bit premature. If at all, we should wait for the official returns but I suppose if their votes garnered are less than 3 to 5 percent of the leading candidates, it is understandable why some candidates would like to already concede at this point. I think therefore that Leni Robredo’s decision not to concede yet is the correct position. I hope that this is not mistaken as an accusation that the election was rigged.

There are a few observations that are worth noting about the May 9 elections. There are widespread reports of vote buying which seems to have become a standard feature of Philippine elections. However, in this election, the buying of votes seems to have started days or even weeks before the actual election day. That is why, so far I have not seen any reports of vote buying in the precinct premises. But stories of vote buying still abound and the amounts cited have become higher than in the past. Perhaps this is also in line with the rising costs of food and fuel. It is naturally expected that the cost of buying a vote has also gone up.

However, certain features of Philippine campaigns for choosing candidates remain very strong. An Ilocano or a solid North vote is still a reality. While a Mindanao vote does not exist, there is a Cebuano vote which dominates in most of Mindanao. Perhaps, regionalism pertains to the language which dominates rather than a geographical reference.

While people talk of an Ilocano vote, there is also the reality of a Bikolano vote. There is a solid Bicol vote in every election I have witnessed, as the election results show. This became very evident when Leni Robredo won overwhelmingly in the Bicol region when she ran for vice president. In this election, every political observer has concluded that she will win overwhelmingly at least in the Bicol region where she hails from.

Time and again, even international observers have noted that voter turnout in this country remains high, compared to the United States, where a 50 percent voter turnout is accepted as the norm. The election this year has an estimated voter turnout that is much higher than 80 percent.

The 1SAMBAYAN (whose main advocacy is “Tapat na Pamumuno”) issued a statement entitled “The Fight is Not Yet Over” on May 10.  The complete statement reads:

“We in 1SAMBAYAN appeal for calm and sobriety from all supporters and allies of Team Robredo-Pangilinan: THE FIGHT IS STILL GOING ON.

“Hindi pa tapos ang bilangan at ang laban. (The counting and the fight is not over yet.) At this point, we are still receiving and validating election returns (ERs) and various data related to the elections. Keep calm and wait for the final validated results.

“Alam namin na marami kayong katanungan. Pero sa halip na magpadala sa ating mga emosyon, hinihiling namin na patuloy nating ipagdasal ang resulta ng halalan. (We know that you have many questions. But instead of being carried away by our emotions, we request that we continue to pray for the election results.)

“We extol our members and the Filipino people to remain vigilant and go through the process, no matter how long or tedious it may be. Now is not the time to foment confusion but to pool our resources and talents and continue with our quest to find the truth and ascertain the true will and voice of the people.”

As we wait for the conclusion of the official final returns, we should likewise heed the counsel of Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, De La Salle University president, who calls for a post-election reflection: “Let us take this time to gather our thoughts and emotions as we reflect on how we may sustain the spirit of volunteerism and civic engagement.”

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Young Writers’ Hangout on May 14 with Kate Evangelista (“Paint with Words”) and May 28 with Joyce Bernales (“The Secret of Good Stories”), 2 -3 p.m. Last call as a few slots are available:  Write Things’ six-day summer workshop “Writefest” (now on its 8th year) on May 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 is now open for registration. Open to 8-17 year olds, it will run from 3-4:30 pm every session.

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