Louie

I had been looking forward to May 10 since September of last year. Not only because I would be voting for the first time but also because at that time, I was sure I would be covering it. But all my excitement flew out the window when I was given a new beat assignment last year.

So May 10 came and I exercised my right by casting my vote. And as expected, I did not cover it.   The political reporters were assigned to cover it except for one business reporter. He volunteered since he lives in Tarlac, where Noynoy Aquino would be casting his vote. Just like most of the citizenry, I had to rely on updates in newsites and on TV. Bitter much? Well, let's just put it this way. I think the first automated polls would be a totally cool coverage because that would make me part of history. And I would be writing about something that matters to every individual in this country.

So my cool moment did not happen. But, I was able to cast my vote which should count as me still being part of history. I  realized that if I was still assigned to the Comelec beat, I would not have been able to exercise my right to choose the next leaders of the country. Precint polls opened at 7 a.m. but reporters assigned to cover specific presidential candidates had to be in precints where the candidates would be voting as early as 5 a.m. Some of the precints were in the province and I live in QC which would make it impossible for me to vote. To drive my point, the reporter I mentioned earlier was not able to vote even if he was in Tarlac because he had to go back to the office to write his stories for the day.

I also would have missed the feeling of anxiety with the possibility that the pcos machine would reject my ballot as I had to insert my ballot thrice. If it had been rejected, my vote would not count and the time I spent in the queue during the registration period and on the election day itself would have all gone to waste.

Apart from not being able to vote, I would have also been too tired that day since the partial results were released at 11 pm and my editor still would have asked me to write an article about that. And it is not like the next day would be a holiday.

So looking at it that way, I guess I shouldn't feel too bad. At least I had my chance to choose unlike others who couldn't because they had to do their duty by covering the elections, especially since the ones I voted for the president and vice president are not the leading candidates. If I had not been able to vote, I would have no reason to complain if the winners do not deliver because I did not do my part.

By the way, I voted for Gibo and Mar Roxas.