There are only certain occasions when Filipinos truly unite as a nation: an important sports event (e.g. boxing match), an international pageant or competition (e.g. Ms. Universe), and lastly during Election Day.
ALSO READ: Embassy Announces New Contract System for Filipino Domestic Workers
But more than exercising our right to vote, Election Day has longer lasting implications – and that is securing the future of our nation. And for this to happen, we need to be critical in choosing our leaders, and the first step to get there is to vote.
Hundreds of Filipino Voters Visit PH Embassy for Overseas Voting
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), hundreds of Filipinos trooped the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait to vote on the first day of the month-long election period for overseas voting.
The early turnout of voters was welcomed and commended by Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot, and noted that the Filipinos’ (in Kuwait) sense of patriotism was truly admirable.
Lomondot further appealed and encouraged the first-day voters to inform their friends, family, and loved ones of the on-going electoral exercise.
The Embassy has announced that the 2019 midterm elections which will decide the next 12 senators and a party-list representative will run from April 13 until May 30 2019.
In a video statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. called out to all Filipinos in Kuwait and all over the world to go out and vote, explaining that it is their right and a chance to make a change for the country. Locsin was the principal author of the Overseas Voting Act and was also its chief proponent in Congress.
According to CDA Lomondot, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has already surpassed its 22-month target and registered over 96,000 Filipino overseas voters. The next challenge would be to increase the voter turnout starting with this election cycle, he explained.
CDA Lomondot shared that the embassy has intensified its omni-media campaign by using all possible platforms to disseminate information to all Filipinos and thanked their partners in supporting their goal in raising voting awareness among the Filipino community in Kuwait.
All over the internet and through various social media platforms, the Embassy continues to carry the Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) and Commission on elections’ (COMELEC) battle cry/slogan throughout this election period: “Let’s strengthen our democracy. It’s our right and duty. LET’S ALL VOTE!’ (Paigtingin ang ating demokrasya. Ating karapatan at katungkulan. BUMOTO TAYONG LAHAT!)