Anong petsa na, hindi pa rin tapos mag-canvass dito! U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E din how slow and inaccurate the special RRA team!  V**** is screaming already why no one is reporting to her the estimated Laoag votes.  Kris and I understand her point; thus, to be sure of tangible results, we took it upon ourselves to retrieve the information she’s demanding.  After doing so, I turned my focus on the other towns.  Everyone is focused on Laoag that they seem to have forgotten we still have 11 other territories to determine and protect our votes! 

When the whole Laoag votes were officially tallied, the headless chickens suddenly realized the other towns…that they took interest in my notes, photocopied the same, and reported so to the higher ups!  Whatever!  I am not here to compete for best report nor to make myself ‘mabango’ to RRA and V****.  I know my personal duty is to make sure we’d know the real/official tally and to protect the same with the help of those with brains in the whole RRA-KRA team. 

Midday, I realized an error in my notes.  Knowing the higher ups got a copy of so, I notified them of my realization.  Whaddyaknow, napagalitan pa ako for having mistakes!  One, the mistaken bit of data came from their special RRA team.  Two, the higher ups knew pala of a different official data, hindi man lang nag-confer with us people below so we’d also be aware.  Three, I AM NOT ONE OF THEIR PAID HEADLESS CHICKENS to be treated like so.  Dang, I am sooooo mad!  But manners and having a brain should prevail — thus, I apologized and just muttered to myself on my way back downstairs.

0300 hours – Basta may pag-asa pa, I will not go down without a fight.  No matter how many and how hard the setbacks, continue pa rin to address the problems we can. As niece Cassandra clearly enunciated days ago: hindi ako nagpakapagod, hindi ako nagpaka-itim, para matalo lang!  So, FIGHT!  Aside:  I could use some Krispy Kreme doughnuts right now…I need a taste of happiness and sugar boost!  The Red Bull Kuya Roven gave just made my hands shake and my heart palpitate faster L.

0400 hours - If it could, my mobile phone is prolly screaming expletives already due to over usage.  Sigh, my bill will definitely reflect so.  But the questions and concerns just seem endless.  It should not be this way.  Unfair and sly na nga ang kalaban, problema pa pati mga sarili naming tauhan.  U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E! Thank goodness for Ate Anette, Kuya Roven, Kuya VJ, the nephews and the nieces, cousins Stephen and Sheryle, and the RRA and KRA volunteers.  Had it not for our team, walang mag-tra-troubleshoot ng mga problema.

0500 hours – What, our election lawyers are paid big time?!  Dang, I’ve been had! J  To think abonado pa nga ako rito (Thank goodness for the half-13^th month bonus talaga!  Yes, Papa, God provides J).  This is truly the classic case of ‘ang mahal na pag-ibig,’ hehehe J.   

0600 hours – Many have gone.  Medyo demoralized with the number of votes our opponent is gaining.  Even Kris isn’t hitting the number 1 spot.  U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!  Yes, I understand the stress Kris is going through, thus he is incommunicado since many hours ago. But, I also need a hand to hold in this time of nervous tension…especially since this too is my first time to experience elections ‘up close and personal.’ I’ve been gagging already due to stress and fatigue; buti na lang my stomach is empty so there is nothing to throw up — I hate being messy pa naman J

0700 hours - It’s been more than 24 hours since I last tasted sleep.  I am so tired, but I cannot rest until I know we got our copy of the ERs that weren’t turned-over last night.  I am so frustrated I cannot go out as a lawyer to do the job.  Damn the prohibitions!  But better be on the safe side than expose myself to be a target of the enemy.  My most absurd question to self:  Saan ako kukuha ng abogado? Thanks to Suncellular and Jove, I was to let out some steam and tears of frustration.  Now ko lang na-realize, dang, ang sad, I’ve got no close friends nearby here in ilocandia…L

The day started out relatively good — peaceful and somewhat quiet.  However, when the sun began to set, things started to get frantic and problematic. 

I can’t understand why despite having gone through several election seasons, most of the warm bodies in the RRA team seem to be very lost as to the mechanics of elections/canvassing.   Their incompetence and the consequent problems such brought were already evident during the campaign season; but it was unacceptable that most of them were still running like headless chickens today (for delicadeza and security reasons, I believe it’s better not to divulge specifics anymore).

I did apologize for my shouting at some people; but my exasperation over what’s happening in the HQ is truly understandable why I got mad. 

U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!

Sigh. And the night is still young…

Aside: This is the first time I did not cast my vote in an election in this country.  No regrets.  I believe, the service I did for my candidates and the passion I gave to protect the real votes of the people of Ilocandia are more than enough contribution to this nation vis-à-vis my measly ballot. 

naks!

http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/publications/benchmark/2007/04/040606.php

We had a two-day sportsfest as thanksgiving and farewell to our volunteers. 

Hats off to these young men and women who helped us campaign for re-elected congressman RRA and newly-elected provincial board member KRA.  Ditto with the nephews and nieces for helping lolo and uncle all the way.

p.s. nice ‘medals,’ ribbons, and certificates nila, ayt? hehehe, the pobre gf still at work.

Whew, after great efforts, patience, prayers, bravery, pagod, and puyat, na-proclaim na rin yesterday si Cong. RRA!  I’m still in trauma and shock to relay the gory details how we finally got to the reality of yesterday’s event (lemme process and will make kwento next time).  Sobrang na-iyak na lang ako sa tuwa ‘coz hard work and truth still triumphed.

Anti-climactic na lang tuloy pag-ka-proclaim ni Kris as a Board Member of the first district of Ilocos Norte today.

Sigh, despite the back-to-back victory, i’m wary ‘coz a scarier and more dangerous life for us begins.

oh wow! blake and jordin sa finals!  i can’t believe it! 

Actually, i was just able to peek sa internet about this news bit.  hindi ko na mapanood results on t.v. Still hectic times here.  Yeah, anong petsa na, ganito pa rin dito sa ilocos!!!!

blake lewis singing maroon 5 song….love na ito! hahahaha :p

(despite the pagod and puyat, tumakas ako to watch A.I. A desperate need for a semblance of normalcy in this madness in ilocos!)

BEFORE (in front of the HQ) AND DURING THE MOTORCADE.

I was assisting behind kris, in front of the huge speakers blasting KRA and RRA campaign jingles. Dang, i’ve gone deaf!

at the miting de avance in laoag city — kris delivering his speech while gen. albano, cong. RRA, gov. bongbong marcos, imelda marcos, and gov. MMK listen on stage.

nieces, grandaughter, and I amongst the crowd.