Democracy-loving netizens bemoan Comelec lines

There is a positive spin on the long lines to register to vote and the frustration felt by many: Filipinos love democracy, a discouraging sign for those still banking on a coup or martial law to straighten out this country. But the confusion and complaints are not a good omen of the Comelec's performance in next year's automated elections, which are expected to be much more complicated. The Internet has been a common venue for a wide range of expression about voter registration, which has been extended to midnight Tuesday for Comelec offices affected by power outages caused by Typhoon Santi. Just two days before the deadline, YouTube user Ricci Santiago uploaded a video of the long lines at Quezon City Hall. “The lines are so long, it will take forever; there is no order, no signs, so that we will know where we are without asking questions," he noted on his page. His sentiments were echoed by fellow YouTube user Trcls, who said, “I really should register na talaga, but the lines are too long. Man, I regret this talaga." On photo sharing site Flickr, amateur photographer George Esguerra posted a photo album of the long, slow-moving queues for voters’ registration. “Given the volume of people that are rushing to be registered… the process took hours. Most of those wasted hours are from just standing in line, mere inches of movement per hour," he said. Even as far back as August, veteran Filipino blogger Noemi Lardizabal-Dado posted an account of her own experience of the registration process, which she described as “a test of patience" because of the eight hours it took to process her registration. She attributed the delay to the long queues and the lack of enough computers to verify the registrants’ identities. On GMANews.TV’s own Facebook page, a number of users said that procrastination was to blame for the unmanageable number of people who turned out to register. “Kasalanan naman kasi ng mga tao yan eh, kung bakit hinintay pa nila ang kung saan deadline na bago magmamadali sa pag-register," said Facebook user Ailen Craig, “ngunit di nga naman masisisi ang ilan lalo na’t sa dami ba naman ng mga nangyayari ngayon sa bansa natin kaya minsan di na alam ang dapat unahin." “Dapat magkaroon tayo ng disiplina," asserted Raymond de los Reyes. In an effort to drive up public awareness of the registration process and the 2010 elections, the Comelec recently launched an official website; a voter education site; and two blogs, eComelec and Bagong Botante. Also, due to power outages brought about by Typhoon Santi on the last day of registration, the Comelec has extended the registration in affected areas. However, some online observers don’t believe that an extension is necessary: “Hindi na dapat i-extend. Last year pa yung registration. Ilang beses na ding na-extend yan," noted Facebook user Rhia del Rosario. -GMANews.TV