Since COMELEC’s continuing registration for 2007 elections end in December, Betty and I are scrambling to fit in our schedules a visit to Parañaque COMELEC.  Betty went there last Friday (she took a leave) only to discover that said office is open Sundays to Thursdays. 

            

            With Kris’ help to oversee our roof repairs, Betty and I hurried to COMELEC to get our registration done.  Nagpapaka-responsible Filipino citizens and Parañaque residents talaga! J

            Upon arriving at the COMELEC building, we were greeted by jeeps of people also wanting to register yesterday.  At the office on the 3^rd floor, an officer rudely asked us what our business is (he actually looked and acted like a nosy fixer at an LTO office).  We replied, “mag-pa-paregister po.”  To which he demanded to see a valid ID from the both of us.  Thus, Betty and I respectively handed our office IDs.  He checked them out and told us to photocopy said IDs outside ‘coz they don’t have a copier. 

            And so Betty and I scouted for a nearby photocopier. 

            Betty, a new registrant was then given a form.  Me, a transferee was lent a form — i-photocopy ko raw tatlong beses at wala raw silang transfer forms to be given [My bubble thought, “What the?!  No forms?! Ako mag-pa-pa-photocopy?! Akyat-baba uli; bakit hindi nila sinabi kanina?!]

            The fixer-looking-officer comes to the ‘rescue’ and volunteered to photocopy the form…but still at my expense though.

As my form was being photocopied, they checked my records sa computer database.  Wow, may silbi rin pala yung validation nung 2003 ‘coz lumabas nga where I was previously registered as a voter J.

            While filling up our respective forms, another nosy officer approached us.  She actually hovered and looked at the information we were writing, questioning us with this item and that (ah, taga-saan ka banda sa Parañaque?  O, anong office ka nag-ta-trabaho?) [Our bubble thoughts:  Hello?  Privacy naman!].

When Betty was having her digital photo taken, another officer hovered over me and checked out my details [My bubble thought, Encroachment on my personal space bubble alert! Is everyone here just plain bastos?].  Then he (but in his heart of hearts is really a she) noticed my office ID and announced out loud, “ay, taga-PET ka pala!  Wow, siguro may kakilala ka kaya nakapasok ka agad dun.  So, LLB ka?  From what school?”  After discretely answering some of his/her queries, he/she continued out loud, “Ay, rich kid ka pala!  Dream ko mag-Ateneo pero hindi ko ma-reach!  So, I bet undergraduate mo Ateneo rin! Blah blah blah.” 

            I just countered, not true and marami namang scholarships sa Ateneo eh kaya misinformation na rich kids lang ang Ateneo.  But then, he/she went on and on gushing over Ateneo and his/her rich kid tirade.  Dyoshkopo!

            Although the form says accomplish in two copies, three copies pinagawa sa akin.  Although the form says only those who have not previously undergone validation procedure are required to have photograph, signature, and fingerprints digitally captured by the COMELEC, I was still told to under go all of them.  Hmmmm.

            Before leaving, I tried to borrow the transfer form again and have it photocopied for Nanang so it’ll be easier when we bring her next time.  However, the officer did not want to lend said form kasi nag-iisa lang daw yun.  I told him kaya nga i-pa-pa-photocopy ko na eh.  To which he countered, am I sure for transfer din ba yung pag-bibigyan.  I answered affirmatively; yet, he asked further, how sure am I?  [My bubble thought: Dyoshkopo! Anoh bah?!]  I told him I know and I am sure ‘coz she lives and transferred with me.  After much ado, he finally relented. 

            Ang hirap maging responsableng Pilipino talaga dito sa Pilipinas!