Spending half a day at the COMELEC Office

Two months ago, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) satellite registration visited our barangay, Brgy. Cabantian, for five straight days. On the last day, I went to the gymnasium of the Cabantian Elementary School, where the COMELEC held office.

My brother and sister and mother, having gone to the gym, advised me to go there early to beat the crowd. By 6 in the morning I went there, only to find out about 25 more people were already waiting. Like them, I waited for two hours, stood in the heat of the sun, and went home still unregistered.

My mother berated me. "Kana dugayan man gud," she said. "Tan-awa, wala na hinuon ka narehistro."

Months later, she would still prod me to go and register.

Having had enough of my mother's ire and having realized lately that it's time to take my duties to my country seriously, I sent a note yesterday to my online friends that I'd be going to the COMELEC office at Magsaysay Park today. I then told my mother of my plan when I arrived home at night.

Did I go?