The Philippine Online Chronicles

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The Philippine general elections of 2010 is proving to be quite the experience for a lot of people. As this is the first fully automated election in Philippine history, there has been much speculation about Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine malfunctions. A few bloggers have chronicled their experiences in this historic event.

Roy Tang blogged about the annoyances he encountered while he voted. He noted that the Board of Elections Inspectors (BEI) and volunteers seemed to be disorganized.

He mentions: “I went to a waiting room at the first floor and got a number and was told to wait for my batch of 10 to be sent to the voting room at the second floor. After about an hour, we found out the voting room wasn't aware numbers were being given out and had let some people start voting already. We went upstairs flailing like an angry mob and were fortunately given priority.”

Tang also mentioned that some of the voters themselves were unruly, cutting in line to get ahead. He also noted a lot of inefficiencies in the process, such as using just a single log book for two queues, resulting in additional waiting time in an alreadly tedious process in cramped, sweltering rooms.

Paolo P and his family went to the precinct at Hulo Bliss Elementary School at 6:30 in the morning. He had the interesting experience of nearly getting indelible ink on his left index finger instead of his right. He suspects the volunteer thought that her right hand corresponded with the voter's right hand, even though they were facing each other.

Mike Togle wrote about the lack of manpower that caused a lot of unnecessary confusion and prolonged the wait as priority numbers got jumbled up. Mike told of four lines of people, each claiming to be the supposedly correct line.

The ballot itself was also potentially problematic, according to Mike. It's made of a long piece of "cardboard" and the pen's ink could potentially bleed through the paper and invalidate votes.

First-time voter John Gaisano III professes a feeling of distance from the gravity of the election up until he actually sat down and started marking his candidates.

John described the internal turmoil upon considering the various ramifications of the act of voting in contrast to the possiblity of the act being for nothing, given the many ways the system may be cheated or twisted. He left the precinct not necessarily feeling that all was going to be well, but the feeling that he has at least done his part.

Despite the various reports of torturous heat and the hassle of lines and disorganized organizers, these bloggers were glad to have been able to cast their votes and they expressed that they can only hope and pray that all will be well.

Roy even spoke in praise of Comelec officials: “Despite all the problems, don't forget to thank the Comelec staff once you're done, they're overworked and underpaid, they could use the boost,” he said in his blog post.

Mike conluded his post with, “People got to vote. People are still voting, and I just got news that the lines are starting to get thinner. All in all, after all the problems with the lines and the lack of a solid system, the 2010 elections at BF Homes Paranaque Phase 1, BF Homes Clubhouse, was still a success.”

Shortly after taking part in this historic event, these bloggers were able to broadcast their experiences to the whole world without filtering or corporate media influence. In an era where politics is becoming more vocal on the web, the difference between the chronicler and participant continues to become thinner.