YESTERDAY, I managed to extricate myself from a business lunch meeting so that I can cast my vote. I arrived at the Philippine Embassy (Singapore) at around 2:15 p.m., only to be told that I was not on the list of overseas absentee voters (OAVs) with returned ballots.

I registered as an OAV in 2005, and my name was on the 2005 OAV list, I told the poor, hapless embassy staff, who had to endure the wrath of a number of OAVs like me because they were miraculously “deleted” by the Commission on Elections from the master list. I told her in no uncertain terms that I am here to do my duty for my country and I will not leave until I cast my vote, so please be kind enough to give me a ballot quick!

While she went off to find a ballot for me, most of the OAVs that were waiting outside were lamenting our situation. One woman said the government is getting worse, and as usual things are topsy-turvy. We were all in agreement that something must be done to save the Philippines from this present administration, whose cheating tactics has crossed foreign shores.

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