Will OFWs remain voiceless in 2010?

Six years ago, President Gloria Arroyo signed into law the Overseas Absentee Voting Act (RA 9189). Sadly, it appears to be a futile exercise; a waste of money.

Why?

Because only a fraction of the 7 million Pinoy overseas worldwide actually registered in 2004 and 2007 Elections. Apathy? Walang pakialam?

The latest statistics are appaling; "less than half of 1% of the targeted one million OAVs for 2010 elections have so far been achieved" (GMA News TV, 12 May 2009).

In 2004, 64.89 percent of 359,296 registered OAVs voted in the 2004 elections. In 2007, there were 504,124 registered overseas voters, but only 16.21% cast their ballots (ABS-CBN News).

We are supposed to be heroes, but why are our voices muted?



Registration for OAV runs until August 31. Please let's enjoin our fellow OFWs to register. Come 2010, let's not have an excuse not to vote. Even if, God forbid, Erap is allowed to run.

(Acknowledgements go to FreeSFX for the music. Apologies for the size of the movie. I honestly don't know how to minimize the loading time).

15 Responses

  1. 2ngaw says:

    Boboto ba ako pre?may pagpipilian ba tayo sa mga kakandidato? o isa na nman pangakong napako?...

    Sige subukan ko uli...

  2. Trainer Y says:

    i sometimes think na dahil sa dumi ng pulitika dito sa pilipinas, ang isang boto na magmumula sa akin ay parang wala rin silbi.. dahil hindi mo malaman kung maiboboto mo yung tamang kandidato at hindi mo rin alam kung counted ung boto mo..dahil sa dami na ng mga kalokohan ng mga kandidato sa eleksyon.. marami man akong agam-agam sa darating na eleksyon.. mga pagdududa.... pero, heto ako at nagparehistro.. magbabakasakali na.. my one vote would make a difference... na yung isang boto ko ay makaktulong sa pagiging maunlad ng pilipinas...

  3. RJ says:

    Aray! Natamaan ako! Ni hindi ko nga matandaan kung kailan ang huling registration ng absentee voting para sa mga OFW sa Canberra. Besides, napakalayo naman kasi nu'n, 2hrs domestic flight, sasadyain ko ba?

    Huhmn... Sige Kuya Nebz, aalamin ko ulit kung kailan matatapos ang registration, nang makapamasyal naman sa capital city ng Australia. U

  4. A-Z-3-L says:

    i know my vote is essential...

    pero... hindi ata ako makakapagparehistro. under 18 pa kase ako :( hahahahaha!

  5. Ken says:

    I would like to know when will be the OAV registration dito sa Al Khobar? Sa Ipsa pa rin ba? Give me a call ha. Also, I would like to propose na sa 2nd week ng June, magkita kita tayo with jON, Jess, The Thoughtskoto's, Ikaw, at si Ann and her Family, at sana if pwede yung taga Riyadh, si Blogusvox at the Pink Tarha's and Llarena noh.

  6. Pinky says:

    Naku, am guilty as charged! Was actually advised of the OFW registration at IPSA by a friend weeks ago yet hindi pa rin kami nakapagpa-register...

    May be the pessimist in me but I just feel that the upcoming elections is another exercise in futility featuring the same old Trapos - new faces but having the same old "dirty tricks" up their sleeves...

  7. The Pope says:

    Thank you for this post Nebz, napakahalagang kaganapan ito sa ating buhay bilang Pilipino, ito ang tamang panahon upang maipakita natin ang ating pagkakaisa bilang Pinoy Expat o OFW, magparehistro tayo upang ang boses natin ay madinig sa darating na halalan.

  8. We will only become voiceless if we let ourselves become voiceless.

    Let's speak up! Register now! Parang plugging eh noh?! :P Seriously, we need to represent all OFWs with our vote. Remember to vote wisely!

  9. boto? toinkz...

    registered voter ako sa pinas pero hindi ko pa na try bomoto kahit minsan...

  10. witsandnuts says:

    Yaiks, napressure ako. Lol. Hindi pa ko nakakapagparegister. Naalala ko tuloy yung post ko na'to about naked truths on politics : http://witsandnuts.com/2009/02/12/naked-truth/

  11. BlogusVox says:

    Even if we're living in a cynical world, don't let that hamper you. Practice your right of suffrage. Go out there, register and vote. Ako mismo!

  12. Francesca says:

    i wish isàng fidel ràmos ulit àng màg preside ng bànsà.

  13. Life Moto says:

    Hi Kenj,

    Para sa Khobar check my post
    http://lifemoto.blogspot.com/2009/05/eastern-region-oav-registration.html for more details, nahagip ko yan from PAGASA & POLO.

    Back to this post: well maganda po ang objective ng project. kaya lang eh nasa pinas na ay maraming vote anomaly what more kung lilipad pa ang mga balota natin to pinas.

  14. NJ Abad says:

    Hi Nebz, we've got to be heard and we need to register for the OAV.

    It is our right to vote and be a part of the Philippine political scene changers!

    Had a previous post related to this: http://desertaquaforce.blogspot.com/2009/02/overseas-absentee-voting.html

  15. Well, I agree with you there, "We are supposed to be heroes, but why are our voices muted?" We need to vote wisely and I hope to have a clean and safe election this 2010.


    -pia-

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