To Vote or not to Vote
by Johanna Gwendale Adanza
Well, what else can I say? "Filipino time" is never on time. Let us take a brief look at the not so distant past before arriving at our probably opposing conclusions.
In the past administrations, registration for new voters were conducted 120 days before elections, as our law requires. But unusually the span of time was very short to accommodate the millions of Filipinos in the 7,107 islands. Only 1 to 3 days were allotted for the said registration of the new voters. Indeed, designated areas became battlefields for the new voters' rights. It was very common for people to get into catfights, especially if only a single form is left.
To make things a whole lot easier for us, our government very recently accepted listing from 1998 up to the 28th of December 2000. Now tell me where the 4.5 million youths were in the 2 years prearranged by the government?!? It goes the same for other deadlines. Every 15th of April is the deadline for the submission of Income Taxes Though this is the case, the public is still given the opportunity to pay before the said deadline. But why do you thing centers are opened until midnight of April 15? Filipinos prefer the "last minute" in almost everything. Some can't even make it.
Our beloved president works for the proliferation of democracy. Hail to that, but discipline shouldn't be compromised. I understand the many critics watching the president but in any case there SHOULD be nothing she can do because COMELEC is a constitutional body. Whose fault is this anyway? Bear in mind that not all were INFORMED. Part of the blame really does belong to the administrative even so, tolerance of the youths' behavior would only lead to more propaganda against her... but then again I may be wrong. Suffrage or the right to vote is also constitutionally protected. I need not lecture anybody regarding this but allow me, for the record. It wouldn't actually matter if some fellow citizens forgot to register, however considering the huge number involved, officials would indeed think a thousand times.
Now let's shift our minds to the point of view of the opposition, meaning the "candidates" outside GMA's party. There's no need to think. "NO" comes as natural as a human reflex. These would be the two main reasons: 1) fraud, 2) defeat. Don't tell me if the extension of the registration were permitted, everything would be clean and accurate. I have lived long enough in this country not to believe in the honesty of our somewhat shrewd system. The opposition would also be reminded of the fact that 90% of the people in EDSA II are comprised of the youth. They are the same people asking for reconsideration. Surely, defeat is at hand. Nevertheless, are we going to deny the young people their right? I leave that for you to decide.
The clamor shown to us by the youth is actually a very good sign, not a disadvantage. Come to think of it, Filipinos are becoming more aware and knowledgeable of the word DEMOCRACY at a younger age. Although I truly wish that they've realized that much sooner.
Our country is in dire need of discipline. We have it all. We have a beautiful, talented, and brilliant race, not to mention the resources that go along with it. All we lack is the effort to control our seemingly unbeatable urge to delay things. We delay small things, projects, payments, and a whole lot more. We pay attention to the insignificant, but all in all, the only thing we are delaying is our success as one nation. That's why we never get to be champions. But the most saddening part is that we think it's just okay.