PCOS and I

I haven’t voted for three (3) consecutive national elections now and I made sure this time would be different. Been away from my mother precinct during the 2001, 2004 and 2007 elections, our role that time was far more important than casting votes, we, together with the STI Halalan Vounteers during that time guarded the Filipino Votes. In our own little way, we made sure that each vote will be counted. We succeeded in the precinct level but not in the echelon of the Lower House where our supposed Representatives know better how to count. But that’s another story.


I was at our Barangay more known for the beauty that rest in the middle of its sea, the Aguirangan Island. (Rose Island) a day prior to Election Day. Just like the old folks whom I occasionally met for casual discussions, I too am pretty excited to try the new electoral process. I ended up talking to them again about the coming election and their apprehensions of the system and the PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan) Machine as we wait for the PCOS machine delivery to arrive. Yes, the PCOS are yet to arrive at the Polling Center and are yet to be tested with less than 24hours before the election.


The shadow of the PCOS machine showed itself at 9AM. We gathered around the Polling Precinct wondering how the hell this machine looks like in real life. We only get to see them in TV and news but not in person. I watched my elementary teachers, (my Auntie included) carry the machines at the precinct from the office. We didn’t bother to help, I know it was heavy, but their instruction was “nobody should touch the machine but the teachers” so we let them be.

It took the teachers and the election technician about an hour to setup the machine. With each component attached to the machine, the teachers, (3 of them) had to consult the manual and each has to agree that what they did was right. It was funny but that probably was the instruction they got from the COMELEC. At last the PCOS was ready to go, how? Gee! They forget the extension wire so somebody has to run back to get an extension wire. Relax. There’s always a first time for everything.


Three polling precincts made a simulated election on that day. I squeezed myself up to be one of the “trial voters” on the wrong precinct. I need to see how the ballots and the PCOS machine works. So I got myself one trial ballot. The BEI was not strict during this mock election so my kids, Angel, Xavier and Motet were with me at the room. No ballot secrecy folders yet, just shade your candidate and insert the ballot in the PCOS once done. I need to make sure how candidate shading works, should it be perfectly shaded, half shaded, partially shaded and overly shaded. I tried everything just to see how the PCOS will react to my vote.



While I was about to insert my vote in the PCOS machine, Angel noticed something, she told me, “Tatay, I though you’re voting for Gibo, why did you shaded Noynoy instead?” to which I replied “this is just a trial anak, tomorrow I’ll do the right thing.”


All set and with all the preconditions in mind done, I inserted the ballot in the PCOS machine. After a while it says “congratulations”. The BEI told me my vote has been counted. It works. So it doesn’t have to be a perfect shade, it could be any type of shade basta shade.