My fellow Filipinos, this year is indeed an overwhelming tests to all of us with the first automated election that we faced as citizens of this country.  This might be the defining moment of our history, as the Philippines struggles to rise from poverty and reform our corruption- ridden government.  The efforts of the COMELEC, PNP, teachers and civilian volunteers who all risked their lives during that first ever automated election  are indeed laudable!

 Thank goodness!  The election is now over with the SMARTMATIC power- that- so called automated machine with all the questions hovering in the minds of the people. “Could it really be a more secured one? How about those persons assigned behind the manipulation?   Questions that up to this time are still being battled in both the Houses of Senate and Congress.  Questions that are still unresolved and indeed may not have answers even to the next election year. 

 Well, that would be a great story dealing on that!  No matter how well matters are organized, and even with the use of all highly-power full technology, we Filipinos continue to be distinct as we are, highly aggressive, questioning, doubtful yet strong to face what ever awaits us both as individuals and as a people in general.

                  So Filipinos, let’s continue to be awake and be on Guard!  Let’s continue to be vigilant as we look to the next events after the election.  We are going to have a transition in governance from the highest leader of the land down to our local officials.  Let’s be on guard particularly to the sweet promising reforms released during the campaign period from television and radio ads, to billboards and print media ads.  We all look forward to it.  We dream once again to see another dawn coming to our country.  A new day full of abundance, a life with no stomach going hungry, with every child educated and with every one content in an environment devoid of violence and persecution.           

  This is now our new and greater task, our burden,  to go beyond these “emotional” responses over the election fever.  Let us rather settle with what is now to come, what we can do, what we can share to continue rebuilding this nation of ours.

                  The Philippines is a very rich country.  So, let us not allow its destruction. Let us now begin to walk hand in hand with our next new leaders.  Let us all put aside all differences that took place before and after May 2010 and look forward to what we can contribute to the welfare of our country and people.

                 God gave us two gifts. The one is choice and the other one is chance. Choice of good life and a chance to make it best. We exercised these gifts last May.  We went to the polls, cast our votes, chose our leaders according to our conscience.  Now is our chance to help, rebuild, cooperate and pray for our country.  Now is our chance to be the best of who and what we are for this nation.