As temperatures soared outside, inside Pinoy Sentral, people were sweating in anticipation of the Philippine Community Council elections. And this year, it was hot, hot, hot! Presidential hopefuls, in one corner was Ronaldo Villaver for the white “CREW” team and in the other corner was Marivic Manalo for the red “Action” team.

Both teams were colour coded by their attires, complete with posters and flyers to post and multiple beso-besos were passed around that one could have dislocated one’s waist from tilting over.

To the normal unsuspecting observer, everything was seemingly flawless and organised. To the new recruit, it would seem that there was a buzz of excitement in the air. Both teams were friendly and cordial to each other. To an old timer like me, you could cut the tension with a knife, as the guilty fidgeted and avoided eye contact at all costs.

Villaver won the much coveted seat with 43 votes (Manalo got 35 votes). From there on end, it was nail-biting as numbers see-sawed during the tally. The voters mixed and matched both teams and ended with just the right blend desired. That’s two and half men, and the rest were females; or an Ilocano team sprinkled with a Visayan, a Capampangan and a Davaoeno. That covers north to south, I guess.

The 2009 board included: VP external, Cen Amores; VP internal, Elsa Collado; Secretary, Emma Braceros; Treasurer, Serna Ladia; PRO, Alric Bulseco; Auditor, Alexis Leones. The directors were Albert Dimarucut, Millie Banan, Nora Ferrer, Josie Maynard, Rosie Taboada, Violy Miguel, Lourdes Wilman and Cita Hoersch.

A total of 78 associations came to cast their votes and this time, unlike Amores’ time – the scores tallied. But let’s see if the maths really add up.

When Andres was President, the numbers were in the 30s or 40s and hard-pressed to get attendance. Soliman succeeded with a 25-13 win (that’s 38 present during the election). However this number ballooned to over 90 during Soliman’s term with the ever-able recruiting general, Jimmy Lopez obtaining 41 new members which subsequently got him elected the following year. Amores followed infamously with an 88-98 final score (88 came–98 voted) that did not tally and nobody wanted to give a hoot. Next on line, Manoto and membership dropped to 46 which is a more believable figure. People got the hint! And now, with Villaver, backed by the same group of 2007 – it’s back to 78!!

Simply put, the number increased by 32 from last year. That means 32 clubs renewed their membership or there are 32 new clubs. Question: If these 32 clubs were real, why then did they not renew anytime during the last year. Why do they find the clubs just before election? Impeccable timing! Who were revived? Who were resurrected? Who were reincarnated? Whose registrations were paid for?

Both teams resurrected clubs. The question is whether the clubs knew they were being resurrected. Some were reincarnated into other humans. Even the candidates themselves, would not have known what was going on.

Looking at Manoto’s Presidential Report, he attended the events/activities of 23 affiliates and 2 of non-members. Give and take a few I may have missed, it still does not add to 78.

Campaigning was bold, but the elections itself was a top secret operation and one needed Columbo or James Bond to break the code. Despite a request, no full list of affiliates was read; no association or head of the club was called. As you registered, you were given an envelope containing different coloured ballots corresponding to each position. More organized perhaps, but definitely not transparent. They were smarter – and yet not so smart. Despite the effort to keep things under wraps, some things were just so glaringly obvious – or some just thought they had an audience full of Forrest Gumps.

I requested for a list of the registered voters but I doubt if I will get it. Neither do I want to waste my time, this time. I phoned someone on the mobile and requested for their landline (as it was cheaper) and the answer I got was “my son is using the computer which is connected to the landline coz’ we only live in a town house.” The landline may have been tied up with the use of the computer but what is the connection with the town house. An evasion tactic, if I ever heard one!

St. Scholastica was represented by Cita Hoersch and Albert Dimarucut was representing (and advertised as such) Hot Mamaz formerly Black & White (a group no longer in existence). Even allowing that carry-over for a name change which is not legal under the new constitution, the question still remains what group was Soliman voting for. Clarifying this with Ms. Soliman over the telephone, after squirming, replied that she voted for Hot Mamaz. So what group did Dimarucut represent? The reply I got was Tarlac Association. How can that be when Dimarucut is Capampangan?

What about the other groups: Baybay & Friends, De La Salle, UPAA, , Fil- Oz Tennis Group, Boholanos and Friends, Yari sa Laguna, and Nojon Entertainment (a profit organisation should have been disqualified). Kahirup and Fofasca, I heard, still voted, though no one wants to confirm. But if they did, the late Mr. Gumban and Mrs. Soriano voted by postal ballot from somewhere beyond their graves.

To convince a club to return to the fold is okay – to resurrect dormant clubs is okay – if there are members. But not when it’s long been gone and buried, and when you have to pay for that reincarnated club for that one vote – that’s a big no, no!

The cheating does not happen on the floor, on the day. It happens well prior to the actual election – during the campaigning. Here’s how they do it. One, they spot the individual to run for a position. Two, if you belong to a club, they’ll ask you to represent your club. If your club does not allow you to be the official representative, they’ll find you a club (as in the case of Baybay & Friends.) Three, they start pulling in the voters. They’ll ask you to re-register – to return to the fold. If you don’t agree, or if the original club president is already dead, they’ll resurrect or reincarnate the club and pay on their behalf. Dare not too, say your club can’t attend –someone could be voting on your behalf. Fool’s generosity! I should have brought some candles to light up every time a club was resurrected or reincarnated.

I felt like an alien who just landed, where the concept of honesty was so absurd. I was told “ganyan talaga yan”. In another instance, Jimmy Lopez said I was “so idealistic…sa Pilipinas nga mas masahol pa diyaan” (it’s worst in the Philippines).

This time though, I am not alone. Those who benefited two years ago and got elected by the mass reincarnation then, were now on the other side of the fence. They were thrown out and fried! Now they understand what I’ve been talking about.

All the Presidents men were there except for Jess Diaz and Malyn Andres-Chun. They all fussed to look important but nobody knew the rules – nobody checked the constitution – nobody screened the registry of members – nobody confirmed the legitimacy of the clubs. It is here that the anomaly occurs. Here’s another observation, Jimmy Lopez who couldn’t declare on whose team he was, likewise could not rejoice for any win for fear of recrimination.

Ms. Constitution-Mischief, Kate Andres was there too with her full endorsement of Bulseco. Despite having passed her used-by-date, she rambled on about things of no relevance to the day’s issues and then suggested that PCC conduct quarterly meetings with its affiliates. What’s interesting about this was that it had been done during the time of Diaz and continued on until Kate Andres herself discontinued it for reasons unknown. Soliman tried to revive it, but it died again as Jimmy Lopez and Ruben Amores avoided having to answer questions at all costs. If there’s one thing that Manoto’s term did right was to keep Andres out.

Manalo was away during the campaigning so it was left to her campaigners. In her election speech, she talked about the inherent desire of all to be almost famous and hopefully reconciling the community. She was one of a handful willing to sacrifice the win for integrity. She preferred to be transparent and win clean. As she said “Kahit sampu lang ang members ko, basta malinis!” And on that she’s a winner! So although Marivic Manalo lost the seat, she has already won! Besides she can’t change her name.

Newly elected President, Ronaldo Villaver says “let’s move on.” He takes over the reins of PCC, his dream for the presidency fulfilled. To his new found recruits, who will once again wonder what the fuss is all about – in time, you will find out, if not burnt.

So let’s move on. Turn a blind eye for the sake of ‘pakikisama’ – question not – and you’re on your way to being almost famous. It’s the way of the Filipino. So they say.

Frightening, don’t you think?

(Photo courtesy of Manny Roux)