I was down at our Barangay Hall yesterday. I went there past eight in the morning together with my parents. They were getting some papers from the office while I line up to apply for my voter's id from the COMELEC since they were in town to cater to new applicants and those who are transferring to vote here and the like.
There were already a bunch of people lining up. On second thought, there was actually no line. I mean the first phase of application, that is getting the forms, particularly has no line because people were stampeding toward the door. The second phase was to have your filled up form tallied on a record book so you can obtain your application number. Then, proceed to the third phase to have your picture and biometrics taken. After that, the last phase was to mark both thumbs on the form and submit.
The senior citizens, disabled, pregnant and those with children were given priority. While I was there, I observed how the seemingly rich just went pass everyone, as though a fast lane was provided for them too. And some of the people, who were able to notice it, was just left with not much, but to murmur. Talk about power play. Tsk. Tsk.
All of the people wanted to get it over and done with. Some were discretely cutting in the line. Perhaps, it is a part of human instinct, the urge to get ahead of everyone else. What do you think? Or I guess the lack of discipline and respect for others. It seems so apparently rampant nowadays. Which would it be? We always see it everyday all around us in the news (scams and the like), in the streets (hold up), in our workplace (kiss ass) and even at home (sibling rivalry). Just a few examples of everyday life, as we live it.
Then, I saw this old man of 69, if I remember correctly. He was sitting holding his form. I asked what he was waiting for, since he should have been given priority. I learned that he was illiterate. I spoke with a woman who with him to assist. I thought she was his daughter but she told me she was a wife of one of her sons. She told me there was none but her who pursued to accompany the old man and two other illiterate boys. No one else was willing to go, maybe because everyone else back home were too ashamed to be lining up with them. She doesn't know if it's because of the lack of money or the deliberate disregard for education of their parents that cause them this unfortunate destiny.
Experiencing yesterdays so called "turmoil" (you know how it is with government services) left me with mixed emotions. I felt disgusted and irritated because of the lack of discipline, respect, and education of the people especially the power play that took place. At the same time, it was heart breaking to witness mostly the poor bringing their children with visible scars and allergies on their skin. Some brought their babies. There were even newly born present under the scorching heat of the sun. Their mothers breastfeeding them to sleep. Perhaps, because there was no one else to babysit for them. Oh what a sad sad reality this is. Helpless, they do not have much of a choice but succumb to what poverty has brought them. It got me to thinking if I am really sure I want to settle here in the "Pearl of the Orient Seas" or am I better off somewhere else. All the scams we hear everyday, such has become a norm. Even I felt the helplessness it brings. How could we ever change the way that it has been.
Disheartened, I can only do so much as to pray for our nation and be a good citizen. I'm hoping justice is served to where justice is due. Many has suffered and are still suffering and it gets worse by the second. May our land be healed and people be reunited to stand side by side to do what is right and just, not because, people are watching but because of the passion to serve with honor and utmost sincerity for the Philippines and the Filipino people.
There were already a bunch of people lining up. On second thought, there was actually no line. I mean the first phase of application, that is getting the forms, particularly has no line because people were stampeding toward the door. The second phase was to have your filled up form tallied on a record book so you can obtain your application number. Then, proceed to the third phase to have your picture and biometrics taken. After that, the last phase was to mark both thumbs on the form and submit.
The senior citizens, disabled, pregnant and those with children were given priority. While I was there, I observed how the seemingly rich just went pass everyone, as though a fast lane was provided for them too. And some of the people, who were able to notice it, was just left with not much, but to murmur. Talk about power play. Tsk. Tsk.
All of the people wanted to get it over and done with. Some were discretely cutting in the line. Perhaps, it is a part of human instinct, the urge to get ahead of everyone else. What do you think? Or I guess the lack of discipline and respect for others. It seems so apparently rampant nowadays. Which would it be? We always see it everyday all around us in the news (scams and the like), in the streets (hold up), in our workplace (kiss ass) and even at home (sibling rivalry). Just a few examples of everyday life, as we live it.
Then, I saw this old man of 69, if I remember correctly. He was sitting holding his form. I asked what he was waiting for, since he should have been given priority. I learned that he was illiterate. I spoke with a woman who with him to assist. I thought she was his daughter but she told me she was a wife of one of her sons. She told me there was none but her who pursued to accompany the old man and two other illiterate boys. No one else was willing to go, maybe because everyone else back home were too ashamed to be lining up with them. She doesn't know if it's because of the lack of money or the deliberate disregard for education of their parents that cause them this unfortunate destiny.
Experiencing yesterdays so called "turmoil" (you know how it is with government services) left me with mixed emotions. I felt disgusted and irritated because of the lack of discipline, respect, and education of the people especially the power play that took place. At the same time, it was heart breaking to witness mostly the poor bringing their children with visible scars and allergies on their skin. Some brought their babies. There were even newly born present under the scorching heat of the sun. Their mothers breastfeeding them to sleep. Perhaps, because there was no one else to babysit for them. Oh what a sad sad reality this is. Helpless, they do not have much of a choice but succumb to what poverty has brought them. It got me to thinking if I am really sure I want to settle here in the "Pearl of the Orient Seas" or am I better off somewhere else. All the scams we hear everyday, such has become a norm. Even I felt the helplessness it brings. How could we ever change the way that it has been.
Disheartened, I can only do so much as to pray for our nation and be a good citizen. I'm hoping justice is served to where justice is due. Many has suffered and are still suffering and it gets worse by the second. May our land be healed and people be reunited to stand side by side to do what is right and just, not because, people are watching but because of the passion to serve with honor and utmost sincerity for the Philippines and the Filipino people.
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