Domoguen: Lost to vote? Something and more did not tally

THE other week, many local politicians with their choicest of words and demeanor courted a religious group's endorsement for their cause. When this endorsement was given by the religious group to its chosen politicians, those who were not endorsed reacted as bitter critics, even taunting the group like some wayward sect, not part of the Christian world.

Guinaran: The parable of decentralization and local autonomy

DURING our diploma course, we were exposed to Finland's primary care and we visited the Pirkkala Health Center. What struck me most was the very organized referral system and health organization in the area. Another thing is the realization that local governance and decentralization of health services are working in this town. I took a taste of real devolution and saw how local governments really are autonomous.

Tibaldo: What I believe is a platform of governance

IN order for a platform to serve its purpose as a pedestal or facility to accommodate things, it must be strong, stable and enduring. It must be built with a good intent and purpose that serves a particular group or individuals. It may be square, circle or triangular but it must withstand loads and allow certain footholds. Also, it must be functional in order for it to be used and not just displayed or wasted.

Editorial: More of the same

IT wasn't even midday yet but reports of election-related violence was already streaming in the house of a barangay captain supportive of Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod was peppered with bullets on the eve of the elections, 18 armed men on 13 motorcycles were stopped at a police-military checkpoint in Malita, Davao del Sur. Three high-powered firearms and one double-blade hunting knife were seized from seven men in Laak, Compostela Valley.

Voters in New Bataan, Compostela Valley had to contend with rain by midday.

Estremera: Just proud to be

IN A tricycle going to Matina Crossing to take the jeepney ride to Bago Aplaya where my polling precinct is was a fellow passenger, a middle-aged man who was carrying a bottle of mineral water. Since we don¡t normally go around bringing our own water supply because we are still blessed with clean drinking water straight from the faucet, I surmised he was on his way to vote. I myself was carrying a nalgene tumbler of water.

Hidalgo: Enrichment programs of education policies

PERMIT me to write this note first. A day after election, I could just wait, perplexed and ill-at- ease. Is it successful in fulfilling the general clamor of citizens for a CHANGE or " PAGBABAGO"? Was the election peaceful, clean, honest, and wise? This is our dream. After seeing the official results of the election, we can answer this question. We do hope that the answer is yes. Our dream is fulfilled. If the answer is no; ask yourself if this is your answer. Say this, "mea culpa", through my fault. I chose a Philippines and its government, which I deserve. Regrettably all of us are in it too.

Editorial: Time for campaign reforms

THE computerized vote count for yesterday’s elections has ensured that by today many of the winners at least in the local polls and for the House of Representatives have already been known.

Roperos: Decision day

NOW we know. After six months, the feverish heat has subsided, not like the setting of the sun, but rather the rising of a new day. After days of groping in the “darkness” of many nights, we find ourselves rising to a new day and wiping off the clutter generated through the past months of electoral fencing.

Cabaero: Short wait

ELECTION officials promised the results would be known in a matter of hours or a few days from the end of voting at 7 p.m. Monday.

By the time you read this, the winners in the contest for mayor and vice mayor or at least the leading candidates will already be known. Chairman Sixto Brillantes of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that winners in the city, municipal and provincial levels will be known within the day on Monday or early Tuesday. City and municipal officials may be proclaimed within 12 to 24 hours; congressmen in 36 hours; and senators, 48 hours.

Malilong: Voting

SUCCESS!

The city was still asleep when I headed for Pondohan, Boljoon, 110 kilometers southward. The roads were deserted save for a few proverbial early birds and Celing, the driver, had taken advantage of the absence of traffic. The speedometer hovered between 110 to 120 km/h but I paid no heed. I was determined to become the first voter in my precinct to insert my ballot in the PCOS machine.

Seares: Confusion over terms: failure of elections and manual voting

WHEN a number of PCOS machines bogged down or spat out ballots early in yesterday's voting, sending a shiver of fear among us, the words freely used by complaining voters and agitated news reporters were "failure of elections" and "manual voting."

Did You Know That

…Contrary to what had been widely assumed, control of the entire Phillippine archipelago by the Spanish during its rule was limited?

It’s not true, for example, that by the year 1660, the entire population of the Philippines was already under colonial control except for the Moros of Mindanao and Sulu.

Tell it to Sunstar: 2013 elections

YESTERDAY, Filipinos marched to their respective polling places to exercise their right of suffrage.

This year’s elections are important as these are a prelude to the presidential election in 2016.

Limlingan: As of this writing

YESTERDAY marked another milestone in the political history of the country as electorates trooped to precincts to cast their votes. Some candidates' supporters likewise stormed the entrance of schools and other polling places for their last-minute efforts to somehow pick up some votes especially for the undecided voters.

Despite reminders of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the campaign period has ended last midnight of Saturday, many political supporters defied the poll body's ruling and are unstoppable in distributing flyers and unofficial sample ballots of the candidates they support.

Luczon: Prayers

DEAR God,

Last week, thousands of Malaysians came out on the streets to protest the election results in their country because of alleged cheating by their ruling political coalition. Hopefully today, we won’t experience what they have experienced here in Cagayan de Oro City whose fate lies in the hands of the people.

Editorial: One vote

LORNA’S household employer let her go home today to cast her vote. According to her employer, Lorna went home to keep a family tradition: every election, each voter in the family received P250. Those working outside of Lorna’s hometown in the south of Cebu also had their round-trip transportation costs covered by their “sponsor.”

Wenceslao: Vote buying and conceding

TODAY is May 13, election day. I reckon that on this day majority of Filipinos of voting age will exercise their right of suffrage and troop to the polling precincts to choose names they want to fill the various government positions made available, including those for senators, congressmen and party-list representation, plus those for local government units.

Nalzaro: Go out and vote

AN ESTIMATED 52 million registered voters will troop to various polling precincts in the country to participate in today’s midterm elections. They will pick 12 senators, one party-list, a member of the House of Representative, a governor, a vice govenor and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (depending on the number of the district’s representatives), city/municipal mayor, vice mayor and members of the city and municipal councils (again, depending on the number of seats available).

Seares: Political landscape: how much will it change?

THOUGH elections leave a lot of loose ends after the balloting, they settle major scores.

Results in today’s exercise will tell us whether:

Mongaya: Election Day surprise

IF THERE is a candidate who can surprise us today, that should be Rep. Teddy Casiño.

That’s what I sensed after going through different Facebook timelines of friends, fan pages and groups yesterday as well as Twitter.

Echaves: Here comes today

SO, NIA ka sa Lunes o dili?,” I asked our janitorial temp last Saturday. “Dili lang, Mam, kay mobotar ko,” he answered.

Seeing the shy smile, I asked, “Kinsa ma’y mayor nimo?” He said, “Depende na, Mam.”

Editorial: This is it!

IT'S election day again, 24 years since what was bandied around as the first ever free elections after the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, 15 years since people rose up saying no to charter change for fear that President Fidel V. Ramos intended to run another term; 11 and a half years since we gasped in collective outrage upon learning that President Joseph E. Estrada was Jose Velarde; 12 years and four months since we shouted in outrage when the second envelope during the impeachment trial was decided to remain closed and Estrada walked away from Malacanang; 10 years since the Oakwood Mutiny against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; nine years since accusations of massive rigging of elections rang loud and clear; nine years since the fertilizer fund scam exploded in our communal faces and taking the life of journalist Marlyn Esperat in the process; three years since we have personally seen envelopes with money being distributed in a barangay in the city.

Tabije: Our votes, our future

THIS column appears right on Election Day, May 13. Let me repeat my appeal to all voters. Let's choose those who have track records of integrity, public service and efficiency.

If we are very strict in selecting our household helpers, our drivers, our office employees-i.e., they have to be honest, hard-working, etc.-- we should be equally strict in selecting government officials who will have the power and the capacity to make our lives better or worse in the future. It's really crazy when we gamble our future for a mere 100 pesos or a bag of sardines and noodles given by candidates of questionable repute.

Valle: Nothing happens by chance

THEY say everything in this world is a matter of choice... that all of us humans are gifted with intellect, therefore the capacity to be what we ought to be, what we need to be, and no one can dictate on us but ourselves.

Mendoza: Follow your dreams, vote wisely

Director's Cut: "I am your team leader and you are my teammates; together, let us work as a team." – DepED-11 Director Gloria Benigno, CESO IV.

*****

Editorial: Our Votes, Our Future

THE PAMPANGA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) only has one appeal to Kapampangans: Vote wisely.

The message of the influential business group is clear in banners put all over the province a day or so ago: "Go out and vote wisely! Your vote. Our future."

Pangan: An Event Passes

WRITER David L. Balangue sums up the May 13 elections as another event that came and went, one that will be completed and the promises heard, soon to be forgotten, and to be heard once again in the big event of 2016.

He articulates so: "The hopes and expectations we have will remain just that, for the great majority of our voting population still continues to elect officials on the basis of popularity and relationships rather than principles, integrity, capability and true love of country and its people."

Mercado: Oca

PROBABLY I was the first member of the local media who discouraged City Mayor Oca Rodriguez to run for congressman.

I thought mayor "world class" had no chance against congressman "first class" in a local setting. I would be proven wrong.

Sapnu: Magiging peaceful at orderly ang eleksyon - Purisima

MAGIGING tahimik at maayos ang eleksyon ngayong Lunes, tiniyak ni Chief PNP Director General Alan Purisima nang nakapanayam ng mga local reporters sa Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) headquarters sa Camp Olivas.

Si Purisima ay bumisita dito noong Biyernes upang i-check ang lahat ng mga Police Regional Offices sa bansa sa kanilang paghahanda sa eleksyon.Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ni Purisima mula nang siya'y naupo bilang Chief PNP.

Editorial: The dirty finger

MORE THAN 900,000 registered voters in the Cordillera Administrative Region are expected to troop to their respective precincts today, Mondat, to decide on a heavy mandate by way of shading a cutesy oblong shape beside the names of their chosen candidates.

In Baguio City, around 140,000, and in Benguet, around 180,000 registered voters will end this day with a mark already synonymous to elections -- the dirty finger, the one smudged with something so recognizable but whose name is utterly forgettable ñ the indelible ink.