The year has just begun and we see tough times ahead.

In the national level, the May 13 elections pose a formidable challenge not only to the Commission on Elections and its deputized agencies but to every Filipino.

Time and again we, as a nation, are given the opportunity, through the elections, to design the future. But also time and again, we fail to take this opportunity to make a difference, to start the change. Many times we give this opportunity to the dogs. 

We cannot stay lurking behind the pains and frustrations of the past. Instead, it is paramount that we take a new stride and move forward. On May 13, we will have another big opportunity to design, define and determine the future.

Definitely, the way to May 13 will never be easy. It will be a tough journey. This is the reason that Comelec and its deputized agencies are working hard out the preparations as early as the last quarter of last year.

It is, however, important to remind ourselves that the preparations are not only of the government agencies and instrumentalities. Every Filipino, regardless of age, political belief, religion and ethnical grouping, must lift a finger to make the upcoming elections a true exercise of democracy.

This week, the Regional Joint Peace and Security Control Center will hold a command conference to map out its preparations for the May 13 national and local elections.

In its launching last December 22, Atty. Dennis Ausan, the regional election director and head of the RJPSCC, announced that among the concerns to be discussed in the command conference are the validation of the election watchlist of areas, existence of private armed groups, and the issues on providing security escorts to candidates.

The RJPSCC will be looking into hotly contested areas, towns and provinces, where political rivalries are expected not only to be tough but also that violence could possibly be resorted to.

The utilization of guns and goons by some candidates will also be highly considered. Philippine politics is traditionally known for 3G's (gold, guns and goons) and the upcoming elections could not be spared of the tradition if the campaign for secured and fair elections will be taken lightly, if not for granted.

However, regardless of how the Comelec and its deputized agencies prepare for the May 13 elections, success could still be elusive without the cooperation of everyone…of every Ilonggos, of every Filipino.

Times ahead could be tough for our nation but nothing is impossible if everyone takes his/her turn in the preparations.

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