In less than 96 hours, the Filipino people will be waking up to dress up and get ready for the "big day". Yup, it's Election Day on Monday---how can we forget? At the Greenhills Walking Corp. breakfast forum at Ristorante La Dolce Fontana in Greenhills last May 9, Commission on Elections Chairman Alfredo Benipayo guaranteed to make the May 14, 2001 Elections "clean, credible and orderly." (Hmm, haven't we heard this before?)

Last February, President Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Benipayo, fresh from the judiciary and the academe, the new Comelec Chief. Yup, for years and years, he served the court of law. Though what may seem to most people "breezing through life" with one success after another, those truly worthy of the great things in life know its no piece of cake. 3 months ago, when he sat in the Comelec's highest position, he found out that there were almost no preparations done for the upcoming elections! Almost in shock, he hurriedly tried to organize everything nearly from scratch. To top it all off, four of the Erap Administration's appointees treated him like dirt in the office. As if organizing something that should've been organized since October wasn't enough! The newspapers say that according to the Comelec, they didn't have the sufficient amount of time to produce Election paraphernalia this year. For example, instead of using the cardboard collapsible booth that they usually use during elections, they will use instead the ordinary folder. It makes one wonder, what were these people doing last year? Guess they found watching the Impeachment Trial more exciting than preparing for the most awaited day of 2001. It is, after all, only the elections huh?

Well then, I guess we ought to really give it a hand to Mr. Comelec Chief right there. In 3 months, he was able to organize something that you usually have to prepare for months and months. Not only was he able to organize everything, he even pledged that we will have a "clean, credible and orderly elections!" Wow, is he Superman or what? Realistically speaking though, we are all aware that words are just words, and we really have to see it for ourselves if he is, indeed, a man of his words. Nevertheless, the blame is really not on him, but as always, to the people themselves. The Comelec promises us of a "clean, credible and orderly elections." Yup, it's all over the news. And though the saying "promises are meant to be broken" may hold true, it is, more than anything, a promise of the people to themselves. Do they promise to be a different and mature citizen this time, looking up with a new kind of hope and healing from this generation's People Power? Or will Election Day be another "business as usual"?