Worm's eye view

MABINI, BOHOL - The last - and only - time this town barged into the headlines was two years back : 27 primary school students died after munching cassava sweets accidentally laced with poison. "We're grateful that our quiet Monday elections will keep us from the news," Fr. Julian Asucan of St. Michael church, says. He still winces at the memory of blessing 27 small coffins jammed into the barangay's ramshackle chapel.

Trouble unfortunately is news. On hearing of Napoleon's death in 1892, the Duke of Wellington muttered : "It is not an event, it is an item of news". And there've been 112 killings related to the polls so far. Thus, Lanao del Sur, Abra or Isabela grab broadcast prime time and above-the-fold coverage. They draw, like moths to a flame, well-meaning and often patently amateurish foreign observers.

But it's not news when voting proceeded quietly within six precincts here. "There were a few verbal spats between election rivals," said Fr. Asucan who oversaw church volunteer watchdogs. "But that was all".

That was, all, too in most of the precincts, scattered throughout 81 provinces. That's also the judgement of one of the most sensitive of indicators : the pocketbook as reflected in the stock market: "The peso broke into the P46 level against the dollar, for the first time, in six years as financial markets cheered the peaceful conduct of Monday's mid-term national elections," Doris Dumlao and Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson wrote. And Philippine Stock exchange president Francis Lim added :"The surge in local stock prices is the immediate reward" for Monday's polls.

"All politics is local." Thus movie director - and Boholano -- Cesar Montano surged to top of the list here. "Of course, I voted for Boboy," explained parish cook Lilia as she served lunch. "He's Boholano, like me." The pastoral council president agreed. Church watcher tallies show these candidates who, in descending order, got the nod of San Roque's 1,200 plus voters : Manuel Villar; Ralph Recto; Edgardo Angara, Miguel Zubiri; Joker Arroyo; Mike Defensor; Vicente Magsaysay; Loren Legarda; Benigno Aquino; Francis Escudero and Panfilo Lacson.

This unpretentious church tally is not a sophisticated exit poll where a portrait is sketched from answers of people, whose ink-stained forefinger indicates they'd just voted. Administration leaders, meanwhile, furiously strafed release of an exit poll straight-jacketed within traditionally oppositionist Manila . "It does not reflect the whole country," presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio argues. So, is that barely-disguised "trending" operation?

The count here offers a worm's eye-view. And it is rooted in actual - not just projected - votes. They spotlight Bohol's TU machinery, headed by Governor Rico Aumentado. A former Manila Times corresponedent, Aumentado racked up an impressive record as governor. Bohol 's excellent roads symbolize his hands-on governance, which critics grouse, borders on micro-management.

Despite Aumentado's record, and gaps in the opposition's roster of local candidates, Benigno Aquino, Francis Escudero and Panfilo Lacson squeaked into the winning circle. And so did Loren Legarda, defeated decisively here by Noli de Castro in the 2004 vice-presidential election.

Inquirer's Visayas Bureau, meanwhile, pinpointed significance in church monitoring reports. "The Team Unity sweep that administration officials predicted is not happening in Visayas provinces considered strongholds of President Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies. Early returns, gathered by Church-based quick count centers in Cebu, Iloilo , Negros Oriental and Occidental, Capiz, Antique, Leyte and Easter Samar showed that Genuine Opposition candidates dominate the senatorial race."

"It ain't over until the fat lady stands up and starts to sing." In primitive manual counts, like the Philippines, booby traps litter the road ahead. Scrutiny of election returns and proclamations could prove nasty. But it's not too early to count our little blessings now.

Like what? Like walloping former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and boxer Manny Pacquiao in Bukidnon and General Santos. But their opponents, the Acostas and Antoninos, also should reflect : did voters feel they were the lesser evil?

The best mayor in the Philippines , Jesse Roberdo, may win in Naga despite harassment. And in Pampanga, Fr. Ed Panlilio, leads jueteng operators and quarry wreckers. Win or lose, he proved --to swipe a Mark Twain line - that reports on the death of people power was an exaggeration. Salamat po.

We thank those challenged entrenched dynasties, even if they lost, like the Kapatiran trio. "Our fundamental premise was : Politics is not a means of livelihood…but way of giving, " Dr Martin Bautista said. "If we have, even in a small, tentative way… awakened a hope that such reform is possible, then we have been fully recompensed for our efforts". What balance they had from campaign contributions, "will be turned over to Gawad Kalinga in accordance with our conviction that politics is not an enterprise for profit."

Cheering of supporters should not fool the "victors". Democracy is always unfinished business. Incoming officials must act decisively on issues like the abduction of Jonas Burgos, revamp of Comelec and poll computerization and radically alleviating poverty.

We can not continue "drawing a knife through a bowl of marbles." Reforms must come willingly. Or upheaveal will impose it on us.*

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