Most netizens cool to grass-roots polls

MANILA, Philippines—Perhaps barangay (village) elections are not the stuff for social media.

On Monday, while over 800,000 candidates jockeyed for more than 300,000 positions at stake in 42,028 barangays nationwide, netizens were also busy tweeting about concerts, interuniversity games or young actor-singer Daniel Padilla.

The barangay elections were a trending topic early in the morning—when most netizens presumably were asleep.

Most of those tweets were postings by reporters covering the elections, government agencies involved in the elections and some of the early birds at the polls, who also posted an “inked fingernail” as proof that they had done their duty as citizens.

One netizen tweeted about her worries that her newsfeed would be filled with pictures of “fingernails with violet run.”

Comelec reminder

By noontime, it was gone—replaced by such topics as #GoNickySong, #Unigames2013,  #BestLoveTeamEverJAILENE, #G2BIThinkImInLove Wolf 88,  #Recovery Kai Manila, #HappyMondayViceRylle and #throwback.

On the eve of the polls, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez reminded voters—especially the younger set—against taking snapshots of their ballots after they had been filled out.

Jimenez said that while it was legal to take photos of a blank ballot, it was illegal once the ballot had been filled out.

“Such action is tantamount to making a carbon copy of it, which is prohibited,” he explained.

He said it was also OK to have one’s picture taken in front of the Board of Election Inspectors—but no picture of a “‘selfie’ with the filled-out ballot.”

“Selfie” refers to a photograph one takes of oneself with the use of a smartphone or a digital camera. Such photos are usually posted on social networking and online photo-sharing sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bianca and Ryzza

Tweets that touched on the barangay polls included that from netizen @shleystb, who said: “Sick, but that’s not an excuse for me not to go out and vote. Barangay elections matter just as much.”

TV personality Bianca Gonzalez, who uses the name @iamsuperbianca, said: “Hoping for a peaceful and orderly barangay elections!”

“Saving my barangay elections vote for when Ryzza Mae runs for office,” netizen leiron said, referring to child star Ryzza Mae Dizon.

Another netizen who uses the name @fbealopez said: Breaks my heart that my young niece and nephews already know how dirty the barangay elections can be? saw it themselves!—With a report from Denison Rey Dalupang