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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THE SECOND week of the ongoing Overseas Absentee Voting ended this evening. While there was a slight increase in the number of voters who cast their votes this week compared to last [week] at the embassy here in Riyadh, still it is much lower than we expected. But the sight of three company buses transporting voters to the embassy was a good sign, and we hope the remaining two weeks will really see more company buses bringing in more voters.

Ask anybody, especially government officials, what they think is the reason why the turnout of voters has been very low, [and] the most common answers you will get are that: many overseas Filipinos think that since this election is not a presidential election it is not so important; many think that it is useless to cast their votes because these will not be counted anyway; and many say “nakakatamad naman kasing pumunta sa embassy.”

At one point I did believe that maybe those are the valid reasons. But this afternoon, I realized that those earlier statements may not be the reasons at all…

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ON SUNDAY, the day off for most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, Defensor and Zubiri went to the former crown colony Ââ€Ŕ"not to campaign” but to inform OFWs there of their accomplishments.

My golly, how do you call that? Social Studies? Or Arts and Sciences? Or rather Math lessons? Or what else.. Current Events? They should be barred!

– Antonio Costales, San Fernando City, La Union (via e-mail)

THIS is a reaction to the disappointment of [Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin] Abalos.

Sir, the message is very clear, the OFWs here are busy with the more basic things — that is, the welfare of their respective families. Charity begins at home.

Personally, I did not register because I do not want to be counted as among those who place people with their own personal agenda in any position in our government.

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A FILIPINA in Koror, Palau is the first overseas absentee voter to cast a ballot, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Here’s an excerpt from INQUIRER.net reporter Veronica Uy’s Breaking News story:

In a text message, DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal identified the early bird as Nicanora Maglinis, 56, originally from Maasin, Southern Leyte, who personally went to the embassy in Koror and vote at 9 a.m. (or 8 a.m. Philippine time).

Citing the report from Koror, Cristobal said Maglinis had been an overseas Filipino worker in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 18 years before moving to Koror, where she has been staying for the last 10 years.