Philippines: A Million Candiates For 41,900 Village Posts In 'Barangay Elections'

[Islander Expat]

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=14644&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1718&hn=pacificnewscenter&he=.com

The voters troop to the polls today, in the Philippines, for Barangay (Village or Barrio) elections and youth councils. 120,000 police and the Philippine Armed Forces are on alert in the most local of Philippine polls, due to potential for violence. Teachers will supervise the voting and the counting of the votes in 238,000 precincts. Unique, to the Philippine local government structure, the Barangay –- is a form of government that is not part of the 'politcal party system' - of small councils, where an elected council chooses a Chairman, often called a ‘Kapitan’ (captain) and form the most basic of the Philippine government's structure.

About a million candidates are running to gain posts in more than 41,900 barangays around the country, as well as in village youth councils, elected by younger members of communities, to work on projects and programs.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is calling on all registered voters to exercise their Constitutional right to suffrage by going to the polls to elect their Barangay and Sanggguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders on Monday. In a radio interview yesterday, Press Secretary and Acting Executive Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said the President has stressed the importance of the Barangay and SK elections, as these are the frontline offices of government and the very first organizations that people go to for assistance.




All went well here on our part of Negros. A wonderful display of democracy in action.
IE

[MaggieSwanson]

1. Manila seems fairly orderly as well.

Orderly being a relative term. ;-)

Lots of firecrackers.

And Democracy is a wonderful thing.

[Islander Expat]

2. Have you been there for a New Years yet?

I caught a couple of New Years celebrations when I lived in Ermita years ago.

And it was total uncontrolled insanity, absolute anarchy, the whole city was exploding.

This Texas boy loved every single bit of it, real freedom with all the hazards. I love it here.

[MaggieSwanson]

3. No, not yet.

But I can hardly wait.

I completely get what you mean by "real freedom, with all the hazards". Talk about personal responsibility, this country has the market cornered. It's all at your own risk, even crossing the street.

I love it here, too. :)