The 2010 Philippine Elections: The Vote Count in Korea

As I think I am one of the millions who are sooooo fed up with the current Philippine president's mismanagement of the country: from the long list of her corruption scandals, to her midnight appointments, her twisted perception of whom should be called a 'national artist', and up to her fake boobs, I just wanted a change back home. I am one of those who keep her economy afloat, but I get these scandals and insults to my intelligence as a 'thank you' note.

Well, we all wanted to make a change. So I went out and voted last April 10, 2010, at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, a month before the actual elections in the Philippines as allowed under the Overseas Absentee Voting (or Republic Act. 9189).

On May 10, 2010, after the closing of the elections that day, the Special Board of Canvassers, as the Commission on Elections representatives in Korea, led by its Chairman Sylvia Marasigan, started to count the actual ballots of the Filipinos who cast their votes in Korea. The actual count started past midnight (early morning of May 11, 2010) after the accounting for and mutilation of the unused ballots, and set-up and organization for the actual count.

The candidates who received the most votes based on the official results of the count for the ballots cast in Korea are:

President: Noynoy Aquino (651 votes)

Vice-President: Mar Roxas (665 votes)

Senators (Top 12):

1. Franklin Drilon (819 votes)

2. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (807 votes)

3. Pilar Cayetano (637 votes)

4. Juan Ponce Enrile (583 votes)

5. Teofisto Guingona III (545 votes)

6. Bong Revilla (531 votes)

7. Jinggoy Estrada (494 votes)

8. Rozzano Biazon (458 votes)

9. Jose De Venecia (382 votes)

10. Nereus Acosta (167 votes)

11. Zafrullah Alonto (141 votes)

12. Martin Bautista (113 votes)

Although I trust the new president-elect, Noynoy, I have a weird feeling about the winning senators, who are mostly from the show business. I hope they don't just sing and dance at the Senate floor, or just pose for photos showing their best angle, but I expect them to actually work on legislations that will look after the welfare of the Filipinos both at home and abroad.

On June 30, 2010, the new president and his vice-president will be inaugurated. I hope that day will also be a fresh start to get rid of corruption in government, to make the economy stronger and perhaps a date when things will actually change for the better.

Ciao.