I posted this photo for our friends who are viewing this blog from overseas or anywhere else but Calbayog. Nope, it's not a new denomination issued by the Central Bank. It's a 200-peso bill with the names of some candidates plastered on it. This was among the 500, 100, 50 and 20-peso bills that circulated in Calbayog during the last election.Hi there! There is an economic boom in Calbayog. As attested by many of my friends who own stores in the market and other areas in the city, there is always that shopping spree done by many people in Calbayog after the election. But they were surprised by year's election. The shopping went on 'til Saturday, almost a week after the polls.
Well, it's a given that there is money. Vote-buying? Calbayog is not unique in that respect. You may do a Ronald Reagan (remember his ill-advised statement in the 1986 snap election wherein he accused both Marcos and Cory of cheating) by saying that there was vote-buying on both sides. Well, at least one side was discreet enough to wrap the money in some paper or envelope. But the other side, or should I say sides, simply pasted the candidate's or candidates' name on the money and gave it to the prospective vote seller.
Since vote-buying is here to stay, maybe we ought to be giving out seminars on discretion and proper decorum, you know the proper etiquette on vote-buying; something like the refined way to buy votes. Smile, it's a Sunday.
