A call for unity to safeguard every Filipino vote

Originally published in Manila Bulletin

With just one week remaining before Filipinos march to the polls, our archipelagic democracy finds itself awash in campaign colors—red, yellow, pink, and green fluttering from lamp posts, storefronts, and the sleeves of fervent partisans. For years, voters have endured long queues and unpredictable weather to exercise their constitutional right. Yet true victory will not belong to any one color or coalition; it will belong to the Filipino people only if every ballot is protected, tallied correctly, and ultimately respected.

In the weeks leading up to this pivotal election, political operatives have deployed their visual arsenals with gusto. Yellow banners trumpet one camp’s promises of reform. Red posters extol another slate’s vision of progress. Pink ribbons beckon supporters to a youthful, transformative agenda, while green streamers rally advocates of fresh environmental priorities. These symbols have their place: they help voters identify their chosen candidates and foster spirited debate. But in the end, an uncounted vote is an unfulfilled pledge of citizenship—and no banner, however bright, can illuminate the path to true democracy if markets and machines swallow even a single ballot.

Safeguarding our elections is not a cause for one color alone. It demands a national fellowship of watchdogs and advocates transcending partisan stripes. Imagine a yellow-shirted volunteer standing shoulder-to-shoulder with colleagues in red, pink, and green—not to campaign, but to monitor, report, and rectify any irregularity. When a vote-counting machine stalls, they will insist on a swift replacement. When tally sheets fail to appear in a precinct, they will demand transparency. When a voter’s name is inexplicably omitted, they will escalate the issue until the ballot is cast and counted. In these final days, let every Filipino—regardless of political preference—embrace this shared mission.

Civil society groups, youth volunteers, religious leaders, and everyday citizens must equip themselves with the knowledge and tools to protect the vote. Training sessions on poll-watching protocols, secure digital platforms for real-time reporting, and clear guidelines on request procedures for recounts and audits are vital. Social media, when used responsibly, can amplify credible calls for accountability; yet it is up to each of us to verify before we share, to corroborate before we protest. Misinformation is democracy’s silent adversary, capable of undermining confidence as surely as a lost ballot.

Election Day itself will be a litmus test of our collective resolve. Let us remember that every polling place—whether a Manila high-rise gymnasium or a bamboo shelter in a mountain barangay—deserves our vigilance. Poll workers should welcome observers in all colored shirts as guardians of process, not impediments. Security forces must treat each precinct impartially, ensuring a safe environment for voters and volunteers alike.

Above all, let us reject apathy. When turnout dips because disillusioned citizens feel their single vote cannot matter, democracy itself suffers. When allegations of machine malfunction or tally-sheet tampering arise—and they inevitably will—we must not splinter into red-versus-yellow echo chambers. Instead, let us unite under a higher hue: the hue of Filipino solidarity in defending our most precious right. An act of unity this week is the surest antidote to cynicism and the firmest foundation for credible results.

So, as the campaign trail winds down and flags are folded away, remember this simple yet profound truth: I don’t care how you vote—only that your vote is counted. Wear your red, your yellow, your pink, or your green with pride, but stand ready to partner with fellow citizens of every shade to guard the ballot box. Only then can we ensure that, when the final tallies are announced, no voice has been silenced and no ballot left behind. In that unity, we will find the true spirit of Philippine democracy.

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