Juan Luna Elementary School

Clutching my voter’s ID, I navigated the bustling streets of Sampaloc, Manila. My destination: Juan Luna Elementary School. It wasn’t my first time at Juan Luna Elementary School. I had voted here for the past three elections. The 2013 midterm elections, the barangay elections later that year, and now the 2016 national elections. Each time, the atmosphere was a vibrant mix of anticipation and community spirit. Today, colorful buntings and posters of local candidates adorned the streets surrounding Juan Luna Elementary School. The festive decorations added a layer of excitement to the important civic duty. I recalled the packed crowds from previous elections. This year, I decided to arrive later, hoping to avoid the early morning rush. I arrived at Juan Luna Elementary School a little past 1:00 PM and headed straight for the barangay help desk. After confirming my precinct number, I quickly ascended to the third floor, Room 319. The process was remarkably efficient. From joining the queue to casting my ballot, it took a mere 10 to 15 minutes. The Board of Election Inspectors at Juan Luna Elementary School worked swiftly. They ensured a smooth voting experience. After inserting my ballot into the Vote Counting Machine (VCM), I received my receipt and the familiar indelible ink mark on my index finger. Descending the stairs of Juan Luna Elementary School, I bumped into an old friend, a fellow Sampaloc resident and a teacher at Lyceum of the Philippines. We exchanged stories of our voting experience and took a commemorative photo, proudly displaying our inked fingers. As I left Juan Luna Elementary School, I couldn’t help but notice the numerous campaign posters plastered on the walls, some seemingly in violation of election rules. Children handed out sample ballots, while some senior citizens and people with disabilities faced challenges navigating the stairs to their designated precincts. Despite these observations, I left Juan Luna Elementary School with a sense of hope. Hope that future elections would be even better and that Manila would continue to thrive.