'Waving Our Flag'

A week before the elections, social media was at its most vicious. We were in a wellness camp, and I had a few days with my kids, so I did not mind that at all. Chill lang. Never mind that there were election-related threats here and there, or it was so humid I could not breathe. I wanted that week for 'now', I lived in the present. Which was a balm to my tired mind and body. Getting old has its rewards;  one no longer is under the 'tyranny of the should's' (Ana explained that to me one time.) The older I get, the better I am at letting go of the things I thought I should do, or continue to do, even if I am under no obligation whatsoever to do these. I always took pride in doing more than I should when I was younger,  which really in retrospect, made me look more like an idiot than a hero. Not to mention the other stuff this tyranny I imposed upon myself took from my otherwise normal, healthy 'being'. 

This week was exciting and a wee bit scary. At the back of my mind, I knew the election was going to be generally peaceful and clean. The COMELEC made sure that this time, it would be different. I was hopeful for my candidates, of course. But I did not for a minute wish that my candidates would cheat, just so they would win. Towards the evening of election day, it was becoming clear who would win. I was antsy about the results, honestly. There were moments last night, I was hyperventilating in silence. This is going to be rough ride, I told myself. Yet, what is there to do but hang on? And hope? 

I saw my candidate on video just a few minutes ago, as he conceded, and said all his thank you's to those who stood  by him through the campaign. Then he said something like, 'it was an honor to have waved our, your flag'. An honor. Even in defeat, he recognized the honor in it all. Last night, I said a prayer, asking for His grace, that I be able to understand what happened, His grace to accept it, His grace to put me back together, His grace to make us whole again, as a nation. Today, my prayer was answered. I understand better now: The majority of those who cast their votes have spoken for and in behalf of the Filipinos, in perhaps the most peaceful, orderly, and clean elections I have known. For that alone, I, too, am proud. Not because I have posted one sarcastic remark or a vulgar meme at some point on social media. I am proud because we all fought a good fight, and this nation can now claim an election that we all helped to be with integrity. What better way to wave our flag than that.