x
advertisement
Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Against all odds: PWDs, senior citizens, pregnant women cast their vote on Eleksyon 2022

By GMA News

There's nothing more inspiring for the Filipino people, especially the youth, than seeing the older generations and persons with disabilities (PWD) exercise their right to vote on Eleksyon 2022.

Despite the hot weather and the crowd, senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women on Monday braved the humid weather, long lines, and crowded precincts to cast their votes for the 2022 national and local elections.

Evelyn Nazareno, a 77-year-old woman battling stage 4 cancer, voted on Monday morning. Her daughter, Pia Nazareno-Acevedo, shared her mother's story on social media. "On this day we shout out loud our love for our country! Bumoto na kami! #ParaSaBayan"

Rona Sharp—who is nine months pregnant and due to give birth anytime—lined up in her precinct early Monday morning. According to GMA reporter Joseph Morong, Rona said that "it's important to vote."

Morong also reported about sight-impaired brothers who cast their votes. They brought their candidates list encoded through braille and the votes were dictated to their parents who shaded the ballots.

In Parañaque City, a voter with a leg injury did not let the long climb up the stairs to the third floor of his precinct prevent him from doing his duty to the country and his child, according to a report by GMA News' John Consulta.

Doctors had advised the voter to refrain from moving and leaving the house as it may worsen his injury.

Consulta also reported about Natividad Rapada, a 93-year-old Parañaque resident who braved the threat of COVID-19 and went to her precinct early Monday morning to exercise her right to vote.

Senior citizens and PWDs at Julian Felipe Elementary School in Cavite City have started voting through the emergency accessible polling place (EAPP).

Eighty-seven-year-old Lolo Rodolfo, who uses a wheelchair, didn't let his situation prevent him from exercising his voting rights at his precinct in Cainta Elementary School.

Emergencies are inevitable during elections, especially for elderlies and PWDs. In this woman's case, she needed first aid after she felt nauseous while waiting for her turn to vote.

In Pasig City, a PWD walked for at least 30 minutes to the Nagpayong Elementary School to cast his vote despite having trouble walking.

However, Virgilio Flores had to wait for more than an hour at the polling center before he was eventually told that he was not on the list of voters, according to a report by GMA News' Jun Veneracion.

Despite this, Flores said he will not leave the center. A volunteer has vowed to look for his name in other precincts.

Meanwhile, an 83-year-old woman in Imus, Cavite could not help but tear up after casting her vote at the Bayan Luma 1 Elementary School, saying it is her duty to vote.

This was the first time that Loida Reparial left her home since the COVID-19 pandemic. She was in a wheelchair and needed assistance to reach elevated areas.

“Gusto ko bumoto, eh. Sayang ‘yung boto ko. Pinag-pray ko talaga ito. Kasi hindi pa ako masyadong nakakalakad,” she said.

Senior citizens and PWDs also had a somewhat difficult time voting at the Capiz National High School in Roxas City, according to a report by GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas reporter John Sala.

Before they can enter the voting precinct, voters must first go through the infirmary or inspection area to get a form and for contact tracing.

Some senior citizens who headed straight to their voting precincts were ordered to return to the infirmary to get a form.

One senior said they were relieved that they were able to drink their maintenance medicine due to the long line.

Another, meanwhile, who had undergone chemotherapy persevered in voting as they believed that this would help their family.

For its part, the Commission on Elections advised voters, especially senior citizens, to bring umbrellas and water to prevent dehydration and heat stroke.

One senior citizen was given first aid after experiencing dizziness while waiting in line, according to a tweet by Jun Veneracion.

Meanwhile, some senior citizens and PWDS refused to avail of the EAPP because they preferred to be the ones to feed their ballots into the vote-counting machines.

If they can find their way to vote, so can you. As of this writing, there are roughly six hours left until the polls officially close. –  Hermes Joy Tunac, Joahna Lei Casilao/KG/RC, GMA News

Tags: Eleksyon 2022, seniors, pwds, pregnant
Most Popular