Brownouts During Elections

I posted in Usap Paete about the brownouts that hit the ballot counting, and at one point, only the upper palengke had no power when the rest of Ibaba the power was restored. My motivation to post was to ask why was it taken for granted that brownouts happen during ballot counting? I never read any mention of it in Usap at all when it's not without precedent that election results were affected after a brownout. I got a reply from Mr. Hernas that if I didn't see any irregularity, I should just move on. But I didn't say there was irregularity in the counting. What I said was that during the ballot counting there were "weird" brownouts including one where only the upper palengke didn't have power, where some of the precincts were located. In fact, I specifically stated that I am not accusing this or that camp of wrong-doing so that I would not be misunderstood in that area but still...

My post was intended to ask why Paetenians seemed to have taken it for granted that brownouts during ballot counting is BAU (business as usual), and since I didn't see any irregularity, I should just move on? His response is exactly why I posted my message. The brownout itself was the irregularity that people have come to take for granted. Now the brownouts remain unexplained, it continued to fuel speculations among the people that there was some wishy washy counting that went on. If we could only explain the brownouts, then maybe it can help change the perception of the people. The truth of course is not dependent on individual perception but perception to the individual is whathis reality is. If brownouts continue to plague each election like that and if the results are close enough like this one, emotions of the people run high and the town more divided. But only for some time because Paetenians eventually accept the result and move on with their lives.

Now, an alleged Paetenian living in Canada complained about my posts spoiling his/her moment of relaxation when he/she visits the site, and asked me to give him/her a break. Hello, okay ka lang? My right to express my opinion (which he/she completely misunderstood) is not superseded by your right to relax specially if my opinion is not about you.

As expected, I only got ad hominems for answers. Oh well.

New T@yangtang

New T@yangtang - an informal rational discussion group for Paetenians aimed at finally organizing a local freethought society. This group is unmoderated, and would wish to operate on the principle that members should be capable of self-censorship while carrying a rational discussion on topics that have particular relevance to Paete. Please feel free to criticize each others' opinion and be intellectually mature enough to accept your own mistakes when pointed out.

Please check it out.

Voter registration

I was able to vote in the last election but not without a slight snag. My name was still in the voters' list but when I was to cast my vote, my name was crossed out already in the list inside the precinct (not the one posted just outside). The chairman (I don't know her) was for a moment at a loss. I insisted that I be allowed to vote and she relented.

My question is, how does the COMELEC decide who should be struck out from the list and who decides? What are the criteria used? I have been abroad for over seven years now but I always make it a point to come home to Paete at least three times a year. I am building my residence in Paete and am planning of opening up my business very soon, right in the same barangay where I am a registered voter. I have vested interest in the future of Paete and have as much the same right to vote as anybody who is staying in Paete.

Inefficient utility company or deliberate?

I was in the Philippines during the last election. During the ballot counting, as this is not without precedent in Paete, power was cut-off many times, and at least in one instance, only in the portion where ballot counting was happening. This happened in the second level of the public market which is temporarily converted into public high school classrooms. I posted this in Usap Paete, just to ask the question since it seems it has not been mentioned at all:

I am wondering why the brownouts were never mentioned at all? Is it not important?

I was in Ibaba and in the upper palenke during the ballot counting and in one instance, the brownout hit only the upper palenke while in the heat of counting the ballots. After sometime, Ibaba had the power restored but the upper palenke continued to have no power for some time. It's totally irrational. It makes one think that it can only be explained as a purely deliberate action by somebody playing tricks on our townfolks as it happened a couple of times. I am not saying it's this or that camp. It could very well be just a prank but I am not sure if any effort has been made to find out why power was lost only in the upper palenke during the crucial moment of ballot counting. I have never seen anything like it before.

Just wondering.
Tony

I am waiting for the first ad hominem I'll get with this post. Pinoys are very sensitive and always resort to ad hominems as if it's always the best argument.

Reviving and Renaming this Blog

I have decided to rename and revive this blog where I can post my take on matters concerning Paete, Laguna, Philippines.

But why?

Truth is like an exquisitely cut diamond. It has to have many sides. I would like to present here yet another side of town, the side that most participants of the more established forums about Paete don't seem to accept to be existing, or would rather sweep under the rug because they would rather not be bothered about it for various practical reasons.

Paete Politics. Currently there is Ka Noel's administration and the "other" camp. The "other" camp depends on which election year we are referring to. This year, it's mainly Mr Florentono "Florsan" Velasco's camp. Three years ago, it was ex-mayor Elmoise "Emo" Afurong's camp. Unlike others who see it as red or blue or green, I see it as a mix bag of colors. I voted for a mix of candidates in the last elections. I think Kon. Kid Paraiso is doing a splendid job so I voted him. I don't know most of the other candidates but I know Mr. Manding Afuang and I voted for him as well. But I cannot deny that I am generally not pro-red, so I am not in sync with the majority of the active forum participants and this seems to be an annoyance to some of the immature (retarded?) members. To them, a contrary opinion is being utak talangka just because I disagree with them. Three years ago, I wouldn't have voted for ex-mayor Emo for mayor. I told my father why they had to do that when they could have just fielded their own candidate? This year, I voted for ex-mayor Emo to be our representative in the provincial board. As for this year's mayoral bets, I had to think very hard in order to decide. I didn't expect to be able to vote and when the opportunity presented itself almost overnight, I had to get past a dilemma - a very able and charismatic leader is really difficult to put down.

I am reviving this blog where I will put copies of my posts to the other forums for reference as well as for writing here what can be considered as "negative" or "taboo" in the other mailing lists.