diary, MAY 14, 2007

It took two rides before reaching Palompon this early morning, May 14, 2007, because of the lack of passenger vehicle on election day. At around 7:30 AM, I was already at the bus terminal in Ormoc waiting for the L300 bound for my hometown Palompon.

I am already a permanent resident of Cogon, Ormoc City since last year, 2006, since I started working here as a government employee and at the same time a correspondent/ reporter and a part time instructor/ faculty member. But since Palompon is my hometown, it is understood that it is my perpetual domicile and I am still a registered voter there.

Since the L300 for Palompon is already overloaded and no available vehicles for the next 30 minutes, I decided to take Isabel route instead for only P 50.

Upon reaching Merida town, it was a very peaceful casting of votes, orderly I mean, unlike in the previous election in this town, when it claimed the lives of three Codilla supporters. The posters are still littering elsewhere, making most of the towns in the 4^th district the dirtiest, except for Palompon, where Lakas-Kampi candidates, headed by mayoralty candidate Yoly Tupa did not paste even a single poster on the walls (except for tarpulines in poster areas).

At around 8:35 AM I was already in poblacion Isabel, with the same unsightly and unattractive sights of posters pasted elsewhere, even in stalls and at the trunk of the tree.

I arrived at Palompon via PUJ from Isabel at around 9:45 AM, and heeded directly at Palompon South Central school. It took me only five minutes inside the polling precinct. It was an orderly conduct of casting of votes, with watchers facilitating the electorates in looking for their names in the list, and the very orderly manner of following the first-come, first –serve basis.

At the senate level, I voted for 4 independent candidates, 4 Genuine Opposition candidates while there are also 4 in Team Unity. Likewise in the council race in Palompon, I did not voted for in a single party, because I did not see the logic of straight voting. Besides, I believe that Palompon badly need a change (Kausaban).

At past 10:00 AM, my finger was already stained with indelible ink, after I have cast my votes. Now, I am back here in Ormoc, via shuttle van trip last 2:30 PM. I hope and pray that the election in Ormoc and Palompon, and the rest of 4^th district of Leyte will be credible, honest, peaceful and orderly.