SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 LOCAL In my view Stations By Talal Al-Ghannam [email protected] ood morning dear brothers and sisters, and I wish all a blessed week to come. In this article, I Gwould like to change the style of my writing a bit to make it more fun to read, and would like to narrate experiences I had encountered personally with some of what I call ‘Stations’. The Taxi Station: One time I thought of taking a taxi for a short ride. I wanted to see for myself how those helpless taxi drivers are humiliated and put down by some irresponsible, conceited, arrogant young officers KUWAIT: Raul Dado oversees the OAV at the Philippines embassy yesterday. (Left) Filipinos in Kuwait on queues to cast vote during the start of a month-long OAV. who have just graduated from the police academy and —Photos by Ben Garcia want to show off their mad skill on taxi drivers. I picked up a taxi from Eqaila area heading to Mubarak Al- Kabeer, which is a few blocks away. As soon as I entered the car and it drove a mile away, a police car flashed the Filipinos in Kuwait start light and started the siren as if there was an invasion. The taxi driver and myself had our seat belts fastened and the driver was adherent to the traffic laws and regu- lation in terms of the signal light and driving on the OAV, hope for radical change specified lane with no single violation. The policeman yelled through the microphone saying: Taxi pull over “yalla yalla,” meaning ‘quickly’. The taxi driver pulled over By Ben Garcia who will uprightly elevate the country’s dignity to run the as requested and remained in the car as per the law. The country in the best way possible, eliminate corruption, policeman was not yet satisfied, and repeated shouting KUWAIT: A 30-day period given to Overseas Filipino refuel our economy and once and for all get rid of drugs at the driver: “Come out of the car and approach the Workers (OFWs) to cast their vote for president, vice presi- and criminality in the country among others,” said Antonio police car,” which he is not supposed to do as the law dent, senators and a party list representative under the Cadiz Barojabo. says. I told the taxi driver no problem, break the law for Overseas Absentee Voting law kicked off yesterday at the About 10 million Filipinos work abroad - but only 1.3 their sake this time. So when the poor man walked out Philippine Embassy in Faiha. Hundreds of Filipinos million are registered as Overseas Absentee Voters (OAVs). of the car, the policeman ran quickly to the taxi and said: thronged the embassy as early as 7 in the morning to cast In Kuwait, there are 200,000 Filipinos who are eligible to “Are you deaf? Can’t you hear me yell at you to come to their votes, bringing with them hopes of radical change in vote, but only around 49,000 are registered and can vote in me?” So, after that he was given a citation for obstruct- terms of governance and creation of laws that could this year’s election. ing traffic and lack of cooperation with policemen. What improve the lives of Filipinos. The process started at 8:20 can we say? am and the first 100 voters were a group of supporters of a Straight path The Bus Stop Station: Another experience also hap- well-known candidate from Mindanao. Another voter said he wanted a continuity of the pened to me when I decided to take a bus ride again Philippine Consul General Raul Dado, who is overseeing ‘straight path’ governance being promoted by the current after 38 years from the last time I had been in a bus to the Philippine embassy elections, explained the delay was administration. “Although he is not a perfect president, he see for myself the misery of bus passengers. I for a pur- technical. “All vote counting machines must be set to zero is committed to ending the war in Mindanao through his pose parked my car somewhere behind the bus stop before casting of votes, and we have to show to members BBL - I would rather support his advocacy by choosing and decided to ride in the marvelously-decorated public of the media and other representatives all the machines set someone who will continue what he started if that person bus. But before riding the bus, the biggest misery was in to zero,” Dado explained. “This is a good start in Kuwait, and wins,” said Maryam, a Muslim Filipina and a native of the behavior and attitude of some maniac bus drivers I noticed the excitement on the faces of all Filipinos com- Mindanao. who in many cases drive by you like a bullet without ing here early in the morning to cast their vote for their Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro stopping at the bus stop, unless there they see a beauti- favorite candidate. This will continue every day until May 9,” Villa reminded the Filipino public that the canvassing of ful woman standing there, that is. You would see a long Dado said. votes (on May 9) will be open to poll watchers and repre- lineup of buses waiting if there were women. I had to sentatives of political parties at the embassy. “We want to wait for at least 15 minutes until I found a less-crowded Five candidates show the transparency of the embassy on May 9, and we one. As soon as I entered the bus and gave the driver a Five candidates are running for president - Jejomar will canvass the votes publicly. Our challenge in our post is KD 5 note he frowned and yelled “Mafi khurdah” mean- Binay, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Rodrigo Duterte, Grace to be able to encourage at least 30-40 percent of the voters ing no change. “It is not my fault you must make sure to Poe and Mar Roxas. The presidential election in the to vote. We want to ask the support of employers to allow have enough cash with you for these circumstances,” I Philippines is slated for May 9, but overseas Filipinos are their Filipino workers, if they are registered, to come out replied. I told him “keep the KD 5 with you till we reach given a month’s period to cast their votes at their missions and vote for their government officials,” the envoy said. the destination and by then you should have enough abroad. In order to vote, Filipinos must be registered as OAVs at 2003 which provides for a system for citizens of the cash.” Finally he accepted but really it was a misery. The One of the early voters interviewed by Kuwait Times their respective embassies or consular offices, proceedings Philippines residing or working outside the Philippines to other thing is the bad odor inside the bus and the filthy said he voted for a president who would rightfully fight for which took place at the embassy a few years back. Voting vote in an election. The process is being implemented by and torn seats. The bus must be cleaned after every the rights of every Filipino without considering his/her reli- will continue until May 9, 2016. The Overseas Absentee Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with the help of the journey and sprayed with perfumes regularly to satisfy gion, affiliation and status in life. “I voted for a president Voting Act is a law in the Philippines passed on Feb 13, Department of Foreign Affairs. the passengers, many of whom would keep their noses closed and breathe from their mouths till they reach their destination. One last thing I had noticed that most of the bus drivers never stop completely when picking Fatwa department approves plan to turn up or dropping off passengers as the bus would keep moving, making the passenger feel as if he or she is jumping from a cliff. But who cares? electricity ministry into authority The Auction Station: In Kuwait, this modern and rich country, we have no decent car auction. Can you believe that? Yes, it is true. The auction is erected illegally after Parliament to debate grilling Tuesday Jahra area in an isolated dusty yard with no proper entrances or exits. I doubt whether many of the auction- eers there even have valid licenses to practice their jobs. By A Saleh said that the committee has a lot of If the car is actually worth KD 1,000, you would be lucky remarks about violations to be raised dur- if you can sell if for KD 500. So many want to take advan- KUWAIT: The Fatwa and Legislation ing the meeting. tage and try to make fault with the car so that you Department has approved restructuring would sell it very cheaply. I always ask myself this ques- the Ministry of Electricity and Water and Construction materials tion, where are the big companies which seek to invest turning it into an authority instead of a Responding to remarks made about the in establishing a most sophisticated car auction here in ministry, well-informed sources said. The northwest Sulaibikhat residential project, Kuwait? I am sure that the government would not hesi- issue will soon referred be to the Cabinet the Public Authority for Housing Welfare tate to give the land on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) to be studied by the ministerial economic (PAHW) stressed that it selects the best system for a reputable company to build a nice auction committee, before it can be discussed in construction materials in building its proj- with all facilities including traffic department, insurance, the National Assembly in the next parlia- ects and that all electricity fittings matched cafes, mobile shops, security, etc.