Election came and went. And much to everybody's relief, it went by in relative peace. Someone mentioned that the election automation was the first of its kind - considering that we were going from 0% to 100% automation. Despite glitches that led to predictions of election failure and implotion of the automation process, the PCOS machines and CF Cards did not disappoint. We are one with the majority who say (for now, at least) that the election was a success!
The Mokongs' interest in politics came about during the aftermath of President Cory's passing as you can see here and here. After that, they asked about government, laws, Marcos, Gloria, Ninoy AquinoY. It was only natural that come campaign season, they were well-prepped and had opinions of their own on who should lead our country.
H to his classmate: I want Noynoy to be President!
Teacher J: Why?
H: Because I went to his house.
Classmate: How about X (another candidate)?
H: No, I didn't go to his house!
Another classmate: Me, I like Villar!
H: Why?! You want the roads to be zigzag?!!
(Teacher J remarked that this conversation helped her understand the controversy about diversion of roads WAAAY much better!)
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H: Villar made the roads zigzag. Remember, Tagaytay and Ko-Asia (Croatia)?
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On the way to Calatagan where the road became winding and some roads were only partially cemented -
B: Villar, what did you do?!!! (in a whining and irritated voice)
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B: When did Gloria become president?
Mommy: In 2001.
B: What?! But the last elections were in 2004!
Mommy: You're right but in 2001, the people kicked Erap out. So since Gloria was the Vice-President, she became the President.
B: But you can only be President for 6 years!
Mommy: Yes, but that is only if you became President through elections. Gloria was not elected in 2001.
B: But 9 years is too long to be President!
(At his young age, he knew that occupying the highest position of the land for 9 LONG years is much too much.)
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They also did some campaigning of their own.
B: Please, Grandma, puh-lease, can you please vote for Noynoy?
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Hadrien was also adept at reading cues. He knew who his grandparents were voting for. But he had this to say about Gramps.
H: Gramps is voting for Noynoy. If he is talking to other people, he says he is voting for Gibo. But if he is talking to Grandma, he says he is voting for Villar.
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They were also hungry to learn about the election process.
B: Where are the elections going to be?
M: All over the country.
B: There will be many elections?!!
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On the day of the elections, a slightly feverish Baz could not be deterred from participating in the elections. As we were accompanying Raffy to vote in Las Pinas, I did not want the boys to go in blue and/or yellow. But it was pointless to try to get them to do otherwise. They've waited so long for "their" votes to be cast - and they wanted everyone to know who they were rooting for.
Here are some photos of the mokongs having their first taste of the electoral process:
(waiting patiently in more than 30 centigrade heat)
(making his Laban sign, just in case someone was in doubt as to who his candidate was. in korean kasi ang campaign material sa shirt niya!)
(posing with the friendly policemen who were making sure that everything was going smoothly)
(Mokongs: There, Aquino! Lacson! - The Mokongs making sure that their Daddy doesn't forget who to vote for. The future generation is taking the future into their hands. Their logic is simple - vote for someone who (at least for now) follows the rules. If you can't obey the laws, you can't be President)
(Waiting for the "congratulations" on the PCOS machine's screen.)
At dinner time, their election fever was still high -
H: Kuya, If I run for VP and Noynoy will run for president, who will you vote for?
B: There will be 3 presidents before Hadrien will be allowed to vote and 2 presidents before I can vote. (I thought I was good in math but it took me a while to digest this statement and verify its accuracy.)
It's not that I want my boys entering politics any time. But I think it's a good sign that they're concerned about their country and having an opinion about things like these.
