Article #62 April 29, 2022

The election is just around the corner, and it will take place on May 9. Are you certain about who you will vote for on election day? I hope we are all convinced enough to vote for that political individual not only in the Presidential election but also in local elections. Rivals on Facebook of both distinct supporters of a certain candidate are still implicated. I'm not discounting their different viewpoints, but I'm not in support of hurling insults at a post if it doesn't suit their preferred candidate. I observed several of my friends posting about their candidates, and I usually respond in a respectful manner; there is nothing wrong with supporting their opinions, but I cannot support their negative campaigning.

I am a BBM supporter, and I did much research before deciding why he is the president for whom I will vote. I've been looking forward to seeing all of the rallies and hearing their platforms, as well as how people are actually listening to them. All of them have given their platforms, and I am amazed since they have a lot of those. However, some of them were unrealistic and hard to achieve, but who knows? I also saw how they hurled false allegations at one another, yet there were still candidates who did not do so.

Before I go any further, I'd like to explain why my headline on this article is about vote buying or just being generous. I recall sis @Pachuchay 's article regarding vote buying, and I was given the opportunity to relate my experience as a first-time voter with vote buying. This is my first time voting in an election, and I am quite thrilled about it. I feel like I'm now a full-fledged Filipino citizen. Haha. That's crazy. I likewise had the experience of receiving flyers and that should we vote. They inquire how many voters live in our house, and my brother in law tells them that we have three since my younger brother, who is just 17 years old, is not yet a voter. After they inquired how many of us there were, they handed us three flyers with a list of candidates for whom we could vote. Basically, it's as if they're handing us a list of people who will vote in local elections however don't give us a penny. I'm not sure if they will or not, but even if they do, I would vote for whoever I believe is reaching out to me. I'm still looking for people to come to our house and ask us to vote for them, but there aren't any in our town. Perhaps since they have few opponents in their running position, they are sure enough that they will win that they will stay at home and not be able to present their programs.

If they're bringing things like a tray of eggs, bottles of bagoong, rice, and other goods, I'm wondering if they're buying votes or simply being generous. My sister informed me that she will offer us bottles of bagoong since some local candidates gave them a large quantity of it. I can assure you that such items are still in need in the neighborhood, and they will be grateful. I'm extremely impressed, but I'm wondering if it's a wise thing to do in the middle of an election. I asked my sister whether they may do this in Pandemic, but they didn't. So they just offer when they ask them to vote them, correct? So, I think that was vote buying? However, it is still a decent one for getting the vote of the people in their town.

Whatever they provide us, whether in the form of money or goods, I will gladly accept. Anyway, where did they get that revenue? I'm sure it came from us. I'm not sure, but I'll take it and vote for whomever I want to vote for. They will not know who I vote for since it is concealed, thus they will not know if I vote for them or not. Our Barangay Captain is one person for whom I am positive I will vote. We are living on his property since he provided his land and house to us and gave my brother-in-law land to cultivate rice. He is a courteous and respectable person, hence he has my vote for Barangay Captain.

Author's Note

Thank you for taking the time to read this. What are your opinions on this? I am attentive and responsive to your thoughts. Is this happening with your local candidates as well? Vote buying is common in the country, and while it is prohibited, it is still possible for them to do so.

Thank you dear sponsors, I wish you all the best in this platform and in your life.

Lead image is from me and edited in Canva.