On the news; President Arroyo promised laborers non-wage benefits, including a tax break if they vote for her Team Unity.

I thought vote buying is prohibited? or maybe I am wrong? Promises, promises. Politicians are fond of making promises but are not fond of fulfilling them.

Im not a PRO-Administration or even PRO-Opposition. Im just your average kind of guy who will be voting for the first time this May. What amazes me is that administration already assumed that they will have a 12-0 slate for the senatorial race. And how on earth will they do that? Is the adminitrastion so desperate that they even used the president to make promises like that?

Sorry for my opinion, but on their line-up, for me only 4 of their candidates are qualified for the position. I dont want to vote deserter and dancer people, a liar (he proclaimed that he was one of the poorest senatoriable! look at his animal kingdom in ilocos!), a person once what to abolish the senate, a showbiz personnel and posers!

What Mrs. Arroyo promised was good, but my question is, are they not capable of doing these promise thingy by Mrs. Arroyo if the line up of team unity is not on the senate?

Don't worry. In my country we are in the final days for a new president. Each candidate promised hundred of euro billions for poors, education, health... but we will not see half of that

I'm not too sure if the ambiguities in our laws prohibiting vote buying would help in stopping people such as our president from making promises like the one you mentioned stormrage10. Personally I think she has every right to pull every remaining card she has out of her sleeves so that her party would maintain or retain their hold in governing the country.
One thing I'm sure of though is that if the Filipinos are not careful in choosing our supposed "servants" this coming election, then, 'we reap what we sow' like the familiar passage says.
If you fancy 2 out of 12, be strong in principle, cross out the rest or leave blank if that's the proper instruction.
Please encourage all of our people to GO OUT & VOTE, and be wise in doing so, instead of murmuring in the alleys about how hard their lives are or were under somebody's regime. It's really time to wake up people.
Be vigilant in safeguarding the ballot boxes. A measly amount of pesos you get right now could mean a loss of a supposed new school or hospital or laws protecting you, your family or your country.

In the coming election and all through out its process, exhaust every means necessary to educate others of the importance of choosing the right people for the job and ensuring that they do get the job and not let anybody rob you of that right.

<br><br>Post edited by: kayum, at: 2007/05/02 13:22

i am not voting again... ever... been there than that... and it really SUCKS!

i hate to be pesimistic... but its all just going to be the same scenario again and again.

after the election the winners will start refunding their millions/billions of peso used during campaigns with interest of course.

and where they will get it?... of course from government fund and tax payers money.

and the loser will claim that they heve been cheated... but the true reason why the contest the election result is they cant refund their expenditures.

and until the next election came the elected are gathering funds again for the next campaign. and the losers, still protesting but will not be hindered from running again.

politics in this country is a very BIG business.

and business is booming... but the people are suffering... and they really dont care...

and thats the bitter truth...

so to my kumpadre kayum, pardon me if i will not vote. hehehe

and another thing why i will not vote again...

voting is really a pain in the ass.
the voting lines are very long..
voters list are like a word hunt puzzle.. heatstroke is likely to occur...
and after all of that ordeal, your vote will be place in an ping-pong like election counting we called &quot;DAGDAG, BAWAS&quot;

so im sorry to my countrymen if im not enthusiatic about our one and only democratic right. its just i cant feel any LOVE... anymore...

bow

Point noted my friend...

I hate being in the shoes of an idealist sometimes because reality just keeps hitting you in the face once you're in the game. Truth is I feel I shouldn't say more because I am currently in a foreign land and I won't be able to exercise my right to vote this coming election (the first time I'll be missing an election). Though in the back of my head something's telling me that I shouldn't just sit here and do nothing. I have that urge to encourage and that's me. I know that in reality the events, status and situation seems so dark and hopeless because nothing seems to go right. Like you're bound by burning tar that nothing you do will ever save you anyway... That my friend is the view of a very, very vast picture of the state of our country right now. To be more particular, I was trying to encourage everybody to continue doing their part... their &quot;small&quot; part which is so personal and sacred that nobody, even in reality, can take away from you: Your right and your freedom. Sure, they do have the guns, the goons and the gold. Sure, most of them may have the most cruel of intentions and that is to make politics a lifetime business for their dynasty. But what about us? We can virtually have that same level of power too if we will it. We boast of our genuine, high level intelligence &amp; wisdom but to what use? We are so proud of our &quot;silly&quot; feats like sending text messages at 200rpm or something like that but why not use that to send updates to others regarding the election process. Why not use our gossiping prowess to good use by informing others on the candidates who gives the most money? I'm sure our &quot;wise&quot; voters would get the money but vote for the deserving one anyway right?

There are just so many countless ways to get even with these &quot;dirty politicians&quot; and that would only happen if we do something about it when the situation calls for it... and fortunately for you, the situation is calling on your move right now. A &quot;small&quot; act your accumulated wisdom, knowledge and courage will eventually build up to a bigger act which will solve the next level problems. We just got to keep holding on to our faith a little more because the moment we give that up, we have lost our identities and our purpose.

The problem still lies with our vulgar &quot;individualism&quot;... The islands that compose the Philippines should really be working as a nation now more than ever. Some foundations laid are at risk of being lost again if we stopped believing that the system can still be renewed and work for the people the way it should.

Exercise your right to vote. It is the most logical move anybody can do now

Months ago, I considered not voting this coming elections. Since it's going to be a long weekend, I initially planned on spending the extra day (the Election Day) on a well-deserved vacation. Why I was disinterested? I had same sentiments as neoblack mentioned. I grew tired of Philippine politics.

My political disaffection developed over time since my first time to exercise the right to vote in 1998. That was the time when Estrada was running for the presidency. Then I felt the need to vote because I knew my one vote could help NOT to put Estrada in the Presidential seat. But to my horror, he won --- landslide.

Fast forward to present, I'm still &quot;terrorized.&quot; But I realized that I can't be horrified forever by the system. It's a fact the Election is the only way for me to get rid of these horrible and &quot;unwanted&quot; public servants. This is my absolute right that I can NEVER take for granted. Hence, that initial thought of abstaining from voting this year disappeared. Voting is my moral obligation to myself, family and country.