Philippines

Post-poll surprise for Philippines

At around two o’clock on Tuesday morning, with 24-hour rolling news coverage on local networks going into its second day, a very pleased-looking Commission on Elections (Comelec) official was being interviewed live on television from the national vote tallying centre.  

He could barely contain his excitement as he declared the first fully automated polls in the Philippines a success (much, it seemed, to his own surprise). 

He had been up against the proverbial wall for weeks prior to the May 10th elections as machines failed when tested, contingency plans were ridiculed, and the credibility of the process itself was questioned.  

He had been laughed at, scorned, and beseeched to put a stop to automated plans; but on behalf of the Comelec, he had said they would plough through - and the nation would be better for it.  

Now even the previous nay-sayers are flabbergasted.  

Volcano no match for Christmas spirit

It's a scene quite unlike any other this Christmas, and yet, on the surface, not too different really from any other joyous celebration this holiday season across the predominantly Catholic Philippines. 

It's the most important time of year here – and the snapshots are familiar: big smiles, lots of food, twinkling lights, and a soundtrack of pumping music and loud raucous laughter.

Even here, in an evacuation centre filled with hundreds who have had to vacate their homes around the country's most active volcano that's been threatening to explode for days now.

Yes, even these Mayon evacuees - who face losing everything they have - know how to have a good time. 

Better Christmas

It's a better Christmas than many of them say they can remember.

Really, that's what they told us. 

"Happy!" Ruth Espinas said, flashing a wide grin. 

Postcards from Parma: More tales of tropical rain

We set out before dawn to head north of Manila.  Parma had finally left the country – and the rains had stopped.  But the devastation the new deluge – which came just 2 weeks on the heels of Ketsana – brought to Northern Luzon was like nothing anyone had seen before.  “It’s worst than Manila,” radio commentators reported.

We drove for 4 hours through 3 provinces. So far, so good. But after the sun rose, as far as the eye could see – where agricultural lands had been, now there were only vast, vast lakes.  Endless kilometres of damaged crops.  And there was still water coursing through many of the roads.  But until we got to the boundary of Pangasinan province, they were still passable.

The tears of a student

She stood out in the disaster zone. A pretty 22-year-old student looking lost and lonely amongst the colorless rubble. Narrowly she had escaped the same fate as her schoolmates. A confused feeling of both relief and intense sorrow was haunting her just like most other survivors in Padang in West Sumatra.