SUFFRAGE! WHO IS CONSIDERED A TRUE WINNER?
“A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user”
-Theodore Roosevelt-
TIME FOR CHANGE
Another year, another milestone for the people of the Philippines to choose their preferred person to sit on the throne. Another set of time to analyze and realize who will be the best amongst the others. A troop of voters in every barangay who are about to cast their votes are ready. Might be people think first of the character of the person or the candidate running for the said position, and the other side thinks it might be the good doings that he/she might see on that candidate. All men are created equal as the sayings says, we have the right to have the freedom to life, liberty, and Happiness, and that is the time we are given the chance to select, to elect a deserving candidate for the office of the barangay.
MY FIRST TIME
One early morning on the 30th of October year 2023, Monday. Woke up at 3:00 am with my husband, listening to the clucking of the chicken in a placid environment. I took a bath very early with my husband because he had also a big moment during the election since he is running as a Barangay Councilor. A very long hours to give service for the BSK Election and I must make my body emotionally, physically, and psychologically ready in all aspects that I am about to encounter during the transition of that day. Can’t imagine that I had only seen this job with other teachers before and I was outside the room to cast my vote, but now, I am in the frontline assisting, administering, and guiding the people to do the process inside the room. How blessed I am to do the part of being one of the Electoral Boards 2023. I was assigned to a far-flung area, so I needed to go early and have my breakfast in a restaurant if there was an open store along the highway. The place where I was assigned was not so easy in terms of the road but the lofty tranquility of the place and mountains made me astonished. The place will always be treasured by me since it was my first time to step on that area and it was also my first time to administer in an election.
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TWO
I am very much thankful that I am with these two wonderful ladies who met in a unique place and doing their job veraciously, seeing from them the willingness to guide and teach me along the process. They didn’t even let me feel that I was different since I am new, yet, they showed me, and shared their insights and experiences in life, and that made my day holy and awesome. To ma’am Leizyl A. and ma’am Jo–Ann A., let me express here through this platform PeakD, or let me say here in Hive, that, thank you so much to the goodness, both of you really have no doubts in trusting someone and your charitable characteristic truly treasured from deep within my heart.Your kind–heartedness and your altruistic motives made my day so easy even the work so tiring and this moment of mine with you will go down in history. You were so amazing, Big salute to both of you. To the husband of ma’am Leizyl A., thank you so much, Sir, you really exerted effort to make our day not as heavy as we think, your self–sacrificing act is worth imitating.
FINALLY WE’RE DONE!
After that tiring day and night, from voting time to counting time done by us, to canvassing made by ma’am Leizyl, statistics done by ma’am Jo-Anne, and finalizing the Tally sheets done by me, this day made me realize how our service is needed by the people of the barangay, made my self so proud of doing my job well done, and I know, I can’t do this without our Chairman and our Poll clerk. Special mention to our husbands (of ma’am Leizyl, ma’am Jo, and my husband)who solemnly swear to do the task of giving a service for their wives. We are committed to doing our job peacefully in the government and our husbands are also committed to taking care of their wives since it was already late midnight and we were still in the area.
Time check: LAST STEP!
We arrived in T. Comelec at 1:00 a.m. to submit all the paraphernalia we had used during the election. Thanks to the people behind this activity, to all the teachers who devotedly ended the task calmly and were able to declare the right person to the throne. Moreover, to the Police officers for the unending support who picked all the ballot boxes to be sent to the Comelec.
24 HOURS OF NO SLEEP!
It was almost 3:18 a.m. we finally arrived home safely. Change clothes, prepare the bed, and PRAY for a very successful and very productive day.
Insights: THE TRUE WINNER ARE THE TEACHERS WHO GAVE THEIR SERVICE 24 HOURS. LEFT THEIR HOME DURING THE CRACK OF DAWN, AND ARRIVED HOME THE SAME, AT DAWN.
For the newly-elected Barangay Officials, your compassion is highly needed, so start serving people now.
-Penelope Red-
That’s all for today. Again, see you HIVERS, and don’t forget,
TO SPREAD LOVE and NOT HATE.
I AM 
