The value of a vote

October 30, 2012, a day before the end of voters' registration for the 2013 elections in the Philippines. All over the country, local offices of the Commission on Elections turned into big, hot, stinky and noisy messes of Filipinos hoping to beat the deadline, as usual, to have their votes count come May 13, 2013.

Down in Koronadal City, registrants arrived in trucks marked with the name or face of local politicians. Some people in polo shirts can be seen lining up holding handfuls of birth certificates in exchange for batches of registration forms. Come 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, when the rotating power outages kick in, a lady announces the arrival of food packages from a certain councilor for a group of registrants.

Around 400km up in Cebu City, the situation is no different. Old men and women lined up as the “pay” is rumored to be higher this election. Easy money, one might say, but disappointing as those their age are thought to be of more wisdom.

Two isolated cases, yes, but the same is observed all over the country. As far as a year from the elections, voters are “contracted” or even given special treatments by corrupt politicians to ensure loyal votes when the time comes they are needed. Some aren't even needed to be told for they know offers are bound to arrive. The only choice needed to be made is not based on a candidate's capacity to bring this nation up but the price he is willing to pay just to be seated.

And when the results are up and the corrupt are seated, the people start complaining. Stories of lies and accusations of wrongdoings are flung both ways. Fingers start pointing and conspiracies are revealed. Yet as much as we are Filipinos, those who should be made to pay for this country's bitter fortune are left to sashay amidst all the ruckus they are causing.

But who really is to blame for all these mishaps and misfortunes the country is facing today? Is it those sitting or those who made them sit in the first place?

Because as much as we take democracy into consideration, positions aren't supposedly taken or given in this country so easily. One must earn the trust of the people for one to be seated and given power to “serve” the people in a greater capacity. The people in return must be wise and not weaken to petty offers if they care to exercise their right to suffrage.

To say that the people's nationalism is nonexistent is a mere generalization for there are those who think over their votes wisely in hopes of a better Philippines, but it is no fantasy that these people's votes are run over, competing with those willing to sell theirs.

Pitiful how people are easily willing to give up their right to suffrage when they could just elect someone who could eventually elevate this country's status and give every Filipino no reason to vote for money in the first place. But alas, this is the Republic of the Philippines, a democracy where politicians must offer the right price if they really want to win the people.

In this sense, how much your vote counts is not based on the price you sold it but on how much you morally valuate it. Because if you think that selling your vote wouldn't really matter because, let's face it, it's just one vote, you really need to think it over again. A lot of other people might be thinking the same thing all over the country. That's a lot of messed up votes. You might be just a grain of sand but it's the many little grains of sand that are lifting up those who are on it.

Bottom line, May 13, 2013 is less than two months away. The matter is not just solving the problem or being a part of it. How you stop it from happening is what really matters.